Interested to know if there are any books on cinematography and lighting that members of the community can recommend?
Something more practical than theoretical, maybe with pictures and good technical data.
What do you think of the Kodak Cinematographers Field Guide?
bakanosaru
Recommend a Cinematography book
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bakanosaru
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Ashesoftime
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The Movie Book of Photography by David Cheshire is a very thick, extremely comprehensive text on film making. Much of the emphasis is on super 8 cinematography but there is some stuff on 16mm in there as well. Lots of pictures and practical advice as well as informative text and charts and tables.
The American Cinematography Manual is even more in depth but more theoretical and with few pictures.
The American Cinematography Manual is even more in depth but more theoretical and with few pictures.
For Christmas, my girlfriend bought me "The Filmmaker's Handbook - a comprehensive guide for the digital age" written by Steven Ascher and Edward Pincus. It is over 600 pages of technical info covering every aspect of production, both film and video. I find it to be extremely informative. $18.95 USD
http://search.barnesandnoble.com/bookse ... 9577&itm=3
Simon. :idea:
http://search.barnesandnoble.com/bookse ... 9577&itm=3
Simon. :idea:
Re: Recommend a Cinematography book
Hello Bakanosaru,bakanosaru wrote:Interested to know if there are any books on cinematography and lighting that members of the community can recommend?
Something more practical than theoretical, maybe with pictures and good technical data.
What do you think of the Kodak Cinematographers Field Guide?
bakanosaru
I think there's two approaches to Cinematography - Technical and Aestetic. I haven't found one book that covers both of those in necessary depth.
Good books about "setting up your shots"
J.Mascelli: "Five C's of Cinematography"
- this book has published on 1965, but is still a good source on this subject. Book's age shows clearly on selected pictures, but content is still viable.
J.Vineyard&J.Cruz: "Setting up your shots"
- Some people have liked this book very much. It consist only camera moves and how-to -diagrams for those, but it can inspire you when needed. Also, it costs only 15-19 usd.
Technical side of cinematography
Kris Malkiewicz: "Cinematography"
- This book has previously been the basic textbook on many cinematography classes. Basic facts presented on quite easily digestable form.
Bruce Mamer: "Film Production Technique"
- At 75 usd, this book is relatively expensive. I have heard that this is now the textbook for first-year film students. Reviews on amazon have been mixed, i have had no opportunity to look this. wort hlooking, i guess.
Blain Brown: "Cinematography"
- Mr. Brown's previous book on lighting has been my favourite, and i have great expectations of this book. definitely worth looking.
Good books about lighting
Blain Brown: "Motion picture and video lighting"
- I think this is the best book about technical side of movie lighting, color and exposure. Good resource. Recommended.
Ross Lowel: "Matters of light and depth"
- This is about aestethics of lighting. Many have liked this book. Worth looking.
Grammar of the Film Language by Daniel Arijon
Not exactly a cinematography book, but I have found this text to be invaluable when planning shots or storyboarding. It describes visual narrative techniques, positioning and moving of actors, camera position and movment, and pacing.
I second the Malkiewicz recommendations. I don't think the Lipton is what you are looking for, but it is IMHO a must-have in any film book library.
For inspiration, I keep handy a copy of Notes on the Cinematographer by Robert Bresson. It's like a book of cinematography koans.
Nothing beats the ASC handbook for technical material.
Not exactly a cinematography book, but I have found this text to be invaluable when planning shots or storyboarding. It describes visual narrative techniques, positioning and moving of actors, camera position and movment, and pacing.
I second the Malkiewicz recommendations. I don't think the Lipton is what you are looking for, but it is IMHO a must-have in any film book library.
For inspiration, I keep handy a copy of Notes on the Cinematographer by Robert Bresson. It's like a book of cinematography koans.
Nothing beats the ASC handbook for technical material.
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flatwood
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i love books and have been collecting them for a few years. i dont read em all but the ones that pulled me in are all on this list already with a few exceptions. recently i got hold of a copy of "professioal cinematography" by charles g. clark. its a first edition of 5000 copies printed in 1964 published by, i believe, the american society of cinematographers. its a small book, a half sheet, hard covers and about a half inch thick printed on nice coated paper. its a great read and packed with anecdotal information and photos. i bought my copy on ebay for a few bucks. worth every penny!!!
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http://TabbyCrabb.com
http://TabbyCrabb.com
That is a great book, Flatwood. Like you I have dozens, perhaps hundreds, of books, many of them old books on filmmaking acquired on eBay for $5-10 each.
And it brings to mind something I've noticed (and something helpful to the novitiate, who may not want to plop down $eriou$ money for a brand new cinematography text or ASC handbook): the older cinemtography books seem to have as much, and sometimes more, relevant technical information than the more recent ones. (The ASC handbook is of course the exception. It's overkill for a beginner, but will become required if one pursues the art professionally.)
It seems to me that, with the exception of information about film stocks, most of the information needed by a cinematographer is fairly timeless. A cinematography book published in 1964 is as informative and helpful as one published today.
Lighting instruments of course have changed considerably since 1964. But the principles of lighting remain the same.
Camera information of course changes by the minute, and besides it's in the Professional Cameraman's Handbook where it belongs, not a cinematography guide.
Lens information is acquired from the lens manufacturer (or the camera manufacturer in the case of fixed-lens systems).
Of course I could be wildly wrong here. This is mostly the way it "seems" to me. I am an amateur, after all. ;)
(P.S. I also recommend reading the memoirs and other writings of cinematographers. Néstor Almendros book A Man with a Camera[/i ]changed the way I thought about lighting. Walter Lassally's Itinerant Camerman was an excellent account of a working DP's career. And perusing the archives of American Cinematographer is also educational and is perhaps the best source of learning how current film stocks, lenses and other matter are used in contemporary films.)
And it brings to mind something I've noticed (and something helpful to the novitiate, who may not want to plop down $eriou$ money for a brand new cinematography text or ASC handbook): the older cinemtography books seem to have as much, and sometimes more, relevant technical information than the more recent ones. (The ASC handbook is of course the exception. It's overkill for a beginner, but will become required if one pursues the art professionally.)
It seems to me that, with the exception of information about film stocks, most of the information needed by a cinematographer is fairly timeless. A cinematography book published in 1964 is as informative and helpful as one published today.
Lighting instruments of course have changed considerably since 1964. But the principles of lighting remain the same.
Camera information of course changes by the minute, and besides it's in the Professional Cameraman's Handbook where it belongs, not a cinematography guide.
Lens information is acquired from the lens manufacturer (or the camera manufacturer in the case of fixed-lens systems).
Of course I could be wildly wrong here. This is mostly the way it "seems" to me. I am an amateur, after all. ;)
(P.S. I also recommend reading the memoirs and other writings of cinematographers. Néstor Almendros book A Man with a Camera[/i ]changed the way I thought about lighting. Walter Lassally's Itinerant Camerman was an excellent account of a working DP's career. And perusing the archives of American Cinematographer is also educational and is perhaps the best source of learning how current film stocks, lenses and other matter are used in contemporary films.)
I reccomend Nestor Almendros' A MAN WITH A CAMERA too: beautifully written, interesting, moving. A great book from a great, great cinematographer.
It is not a technical manual, anyway I think every aspiring cinematographer should read it (and every aspiring director, as well...).
As for technical information see also LIGHTING FOR TELEVISION AND FILM, by Gerald Millerson (Focal Press).
Quite expensive, but very useful.
(You could look for a catalogue of Focal Press' publications: they're incredible!)
Giovanni
It is not a technical manual, anyway I think every aspiring cinematographer should read it (and every aspiring director, as well...).
As for technical information see also LIGHTING FOR TELEVISION AND FILM, by Gerald Millerson (Focal Press).
Quite expensive, but very useful.
(You could look for a catalogue of Focal Press' publications: they're incredible!)
Giovanni
Kodaks Student Film makers hand book. If you talk nice to your kodak rep they will send you one for free. Also request the latest catalog and cinematographers handbook. They cover all the basic stuff. If you cant wait you can download the adobe acrobat PDF off the web site.
Regards,
Paul Cotto
Regards,
Paul Cotto
Don't worry about equipment so much and make your movie!
I recently picked up "Cine Photography for Amateurs" by Carlton Wallace, written in 1960 and published by Evans in London. It cost me 50p in a charity shop.
Obviously it predates Super 8, and a lot of the more technical information is very out of date, but it contains useful pointers on using cameras, scripting, lighting, editing and exposure. It is full of great photographs - the cover is of a woman in a headscarf and puffball skirt filming a smiling toddler sat in a 1950s open top sports car.
It is written in a wonderfully stiff "Mr Cholmondley-Warner" style, and I can imagine that the author was probably a bespectacled, pipe-smoking man in a pinstripe suit, perhaps a bit like Fred in "Brief Encounter".
120 (mostly!) useful pages, and very entertaining too!
Lee
Obviously it predates Super 8, and a lot of the more technical information is very out of date, but it contains useful pointers on using cameras, scripting, lighting, editing and exposure. It is full of great photographs - the cover is of a woman in a headscarf and puffball skirt filming a smiling toddler sat in a 1950s open top sports car.
It is written in a wonderfully stiff "Mr Cholmondley-Warner" style, and I can imagine that the author was probably a bespectacled, pipe-smoking man in a pinstripe suit, perhaps a bit like Fred in "Brief Encounter".
120 (mostly!) useful pages, and very entertaining too!
Lee