Dave Bourbois Posted June 8, 2004 Share Posted June 8, 2004 Hey guys, I own a few Jon Fauer Books, have collected a few manuals and printed some off the internet, mostly Arri and Aaton. I also own an ancient book called Motion Picture Camera Techniques, and the 16mm Camera Book by Mr. Underhaul. I'd like to get a solid cinematography library going, so what are the top ten, or at least a handful of books, you guys would recomend? -Dave Bourbois Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marty Hamrick Posted June 8, 2004 Share Posted June 8, 2004 I would suggest the latest ASC Manual as well as the Professional Cameraman's Handbook.There's a great book of anecdotes from early cinema in Joe Walker's The Light on Her Face. Marty Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guy Meachin Posted June 8, 2004 Share Posted June 8, 2004 I'd highly recommend: Blain Brown's Cinematography: Theory and Practice, Making Pictures: A Century of European Cinematography Paul Wheelers Practical Cinematography is also quite good Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patrick Neary Posted June 9, 2004 Share Posted June 9, 2004 although it's slightly dated, and not a tech manual, "Masters of Light" is packed with great interviews and valuable info that's still very relevant. I learned a ton just from the interview with Gordon Willis. other favorites on my shelf are "Film Lighting" by Malkiewicz and John Alton's "Painting with Light" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stijnbarbe Posted June 9, 2004 Share Posted June 9, 2004 "Cinematography Screencraft" a collection of interviews with cinematographers about their work. Staarts with Jack Cardiff and ends with Darius Khondji. also: Nykvist, Kaminski, Seale, Couterd, Willis,... all the big names... lovely book Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Member John Pytlak RIP Posted June 9, 2004 Premium Member Share Posted June 9, 2004 Kodak offerings: http://www.kodak.com/US/en/motion/train/?id=0.1.4.7&lc=en http://www.kodak.com/US/en/motion/students...d=0.1.4.9&lc=en http://www.kodak.com/US/en/motion/newsletters/index.jhtml Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Member Bill Totolo Posted June 9, 2004 Premium Member Share Posted June 9, 2004 Although its a bit pricey I thought "Reflections:Twenty One Cinemtogrophers at Work" was comprehensive. From the ASC website: "It is divided into seven sections: cinematography basics, the key light, portraits, day interiors, night interiors, lab techniques, and the designing sequences." It lists for $89.oo but you can usually get it cheaper at events like Cine-gear or UCLA Festival of books. Bill Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leon Rodriguez Posted June 9, 2004 Share Posted June 9, 2004 Hey Dave, Seems to me some books are better at one thing than another, they all have overlapping subject matter but here's my fav's as I view their impact on me. Y'know it's all subjective. Theory 5 C?s of Cinematography???????...Mascelli Cinematography, Theory and Practice??..Blain Brown The Negative????????????.Ansel Adams Film Form: Essays in Film Theory????Sergei Eisenstein Practice/Field The ASC Manual???????????....ASC (The daddy-o) The Camera Assistant?????????.Douglas Hart The Camera Assistant Manual??????David Elkins Cinematographer's Pocket Reference....Blain Brown Cinematographer's field guide...............Kodak Lighting Painting with Light??????????John Alton Matters of Light and Depth??????...Ross Lowell Film Lighting????????????.Kris Malkiewicz Motion Picture & Video Lighting???? Blain Brown Interior Color by Design????????Jonathan Poore Movement & Blocking Cinematic Motion??????????.Steven Katz Grammar of the Film Language?????Daniel Arijon Shot by Shot????????????..Steven Katz Gee-whiz-ology(inspiration) Cinemtography.......................... Peter Ettedgui Don't take your books on the set, they grow legs. (And nothing is silly in the growth process). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Member Mark T. Ingham Posted June 11, 2004 Premium Member Share Posted June 11, 2004 Although its a bit pricey I thought "Reflections:Twenty One Cinemtogrophers at Work" was comprehensive. From the ASC website: "It is divided into seven sections: cinematography basics, the key light, portraits, day interiors, night interiors, lab techniques, and the designing sequences." It lists for $89.oo but you can usually get it cheaper at events like Cine-gear or UCLA Festival of books. Bill I just noticed, as an 85th Anniversary deal, the ASC Store is selling "Reflections" and "Painting With Light" in a special 2-pack for $75. I couldn't resist that and had to take advantage of it myself. -Mark Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob Hayes Posted September 2, 2004 Share Posted September 2, 2004 Leon: Great list. I would definately add: Theory The Visual Story???????????? Bruce Block Lighting Reflections, 21 Cinematographers at work ??Benjamin Bergery Cinematography Screen Craft????????Peter Ettendgui Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob Hayes Posted September 2, 2004 Share Posted September 2, 2004 I would also add to this list a section on Biographies: A Man With A Camera ?????????.. Nestor Almendros I think this is a great book for starting film makers because Nestor?s approach was always to try and take advantage of natural lighting and location. He talks about lighting 35mm features with natural light through a window and a bounce card. He was a great DP. That said when you work on larger budget films with more responsibility you can get yourself into trouble thinking you?ll light the whole scene with sun through a window if you don?t have a bunch of electrics standing at the ready with a 12K. Also Nestor complains that Americans sets seem to be obsessed with MORE. More this, more that, which really just meant ?More coffee and more doughnuts? in Nestor?s eyes. However when Nestor got on bigger films he always had plenty of stuff to cover his ass. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ryan Puckett Posted September 2, 2004 Share Posted September 2, 2004 While not the most entertaining read compared to these others... I'd add David Samuelsons Cinematography Handbook to the list. It contains just about every technical detail you could ever need, and sometimes wish you didn't need... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arnaud M. St Martin de Veyran Posted September 4, 2004 Share Posted September 4, 2004 Hey, I just rode "Film Lighting" from Malkiewicz and it's a very good book ! I mean, i rode many books about cinematography and lighting in French(there is not so much of them) and everytime i was disapointed because too much theorical. This one, "Film Lighting" is more about the craft and tricks of some of the best DP's and gaffer in Hollywood. Old but still ok. Soon i'm gonna start "Painting with light". Enjoy your reading Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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