good cinematography books?

[Guest jason]

Hello

 

I'm a 3d animator and I need to learn more about camera angles, and panning to set the right mood.

 

I'd like to find a good site that I could sponge from, but I'm willing to settle for a good book as well.

 

Perhaps this has already been discussed here. Would anyone have some good searching advice for this site?

 

Thanks for your time!

[Chris Keth]

Hello

 

I'm a 3d animator and I need to learn more about camera angles, and panning to set the right mood.

 

I'd like to find a good site that I could sponge from, but I'm willing to settle for a good book as well. 

 

Perhaps this has already been discussed here. Would anyone have some good searching advice for this site?

 

Thanks for your time!

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

 

It's not a cinematography book exactly, but "Film Directing Shot by Shot" is an excellent book that fits your description exactly.

Edited December 29, 2004 by Mr. Bunnies

[oscar jimenez]

Yes, Film Directing shot by shot is a good one, and 5C's of cinematography is an option, I find a little bit more "actualized" the first one.

[Greg Gross]

Hello Jason

Two books which might be helpful to you are: "Setting Up Your Shots"-Jeremy

Vineyard(Michael Wiese Productions), "Painting With Light"- John Alton(Califor-

nia Press, University of). For craft of cinematography maybe: "Reflections"-Ben-

jamin Bergery(ASC Press)," Cinematography Screencraft"-Peter Ettedgui(Focal

Press). Camera angle can give you mood,show the action, give you separation,

depth,demension,emphasize or de-emphasize your character. I have never shot

with a movie camera with film in it. I have set up shots in the classroom with my

mentor directing,using a Panavision camera and an Arri 16mm camera. One im-

portant aspect of lighting is it's direction that doesn't get talked about a lot. I use

a PD-170(Sony) to shoot my own dv productions. I do not actually do that much

panning and what I really need is a Steadicam(new type for PD-170,$6000.00).

Suggest an exercise for you: With you actor standing stationary,move the cam-

around the actor while looking through the the lens. Next have your actor move

slowly, try to maintain same distance from actor with camera, move camera

around the actor while he/she is moving. This is assuming you have set your

lights for the scene. I've been a professional photographer for over 20yrs and I

will often times move the camera around the subject. I have used panning with

a master shot in one of my dv productions,where I wanted to show the location

of my character. Greg

[Greg Gross]

Jason,

I forgot to tell you about a recent motion picture thats out now- "Ocean's

Twelve". Its directed by "Marty" and the dp is Peter Andrews. It has extra-

ordinary camera angles,use of color,practicals,directional lighting. Mr. Andrews

lit Catherine Zeta Jones so beautifully in this film. Great examples of eyelight

also. This film has the potential of being a great learning tool. I have never

seen so many practicals used in one film that I can recall. I would suggest

that you see film.

 

Greg

[Jason Maeda]

"peter andrews" is a pseudonym used by soderberg (is that how you spell his name?) when he dp's his own films. he likes to operate as well. solaris was really well shot, though not nearly as sublime as tarkovsky's original.

 

jk :ph34r:

[Greg Gross]

Marty did not direct "Ocean's Twelve". I had the film "The Aviator" going

through my mind when I posted.

 

Greg

[Micky Govern]

I just found this one recently.

 

Digital Cinematography & Directing

 

I paged through it at Barnes & Noble. It seems to focus on the cinematography aspects of 3D animation rather then the programs themselves. It wasn't what I was looking for but it might be a good choice for you.