Best Cinematography Books...

Hi All,
My book THINK in 3D is now out on Amazon.
Kindle version is available (can also be read on an iPad or iPhone with the free Kindle app)


http://www.amazon.com/Think-in-3D-ebook/dp/B007DK92J0


Hopefully it provides food for thought on directing and composing a good stereoscopic 3D frame, but more importantly on the art and science behind this new medium of visual storytelling.
Next week the paperback version will be up.

Do take a look,
Clyde
 
Hi there,
I have been reading about the Jackson Rose Cinematographer's Manual.
My grandpa was a pretty big aerial cameraman for many films, and I am writing his biography.
He has written about this book being a life saver in the early years.
Can anybody tell me, when it came out, as I can only find an American version. Is this the only version?

Thank you in advance,

X
 
Has anyone mentioned, "Masters of Light" (Conversations with Contemporary Cinematographers), by Dennis Schaefer and Larry Salvato. Though this is not a 'How To' manual, it is very inspiring and does help with various tips and approaches, etc. I read and re-read this. It's not expensive either.

"A Man With A Movie Camera" by Nestor Almendros (Cinematographer on, "Days of Heaven", etc.) is also a very inspiring read. It's biographical, though it describes each Movie he Shot, his approach, the problems he faced and how he solved them. It's a great read.

The two above books really help with approach, frame of mind, attitude, etc., and are full of useful tips, though not really instructions.

I'd also recommend the Dave Viera' "Lighting for Film & Electronic Media" book mentioned earlier in the thread. This is instructions, though you can't really just learn this stuff from a book - you have to do it and experience it.

The Ross Lowell, "Maters of Light & Depth" is also good, with a light hearted approach - as you can see from the title. The Lowell Lighting web site also has a lot of useful information on.

"The Five C's of Cinematography" is heavy going and possibly a bit dated though contains some useful stuff.

The John Alton "Painting With Light" is really about Lighting for an earlier era, though it does have some useful stuff in. It's kind of about working with Lighting fixtures that aren't used anymore and Black & White Cinematography - which is becoming a lost art/skill.

I am also often looking at Blaine Brown's, "Cinematography - Theory and Practice".


Neil.
 
flying_films said:
Hi there,
I have been reading about the Jackson Rose Cinematographer's Manual.
My grandpa was a pretty big aerial cameraman for many films, and I am writing his biography.
He has written about this book being a life saver in the early years.
Can anybody tell me, when it came out, as I can only find an American version. Is this the only version?

Thank you in advance,

X
Click to expand...


Sorry for the late reply...

The official American Cinematographer handbook has 9 versions.... but there were many before it.

The earliest I know of is the Cinematographic Annual Vol. 1 and 2 from 1930 and I believe there was another one in 1931. I have the Cinematographic Annual 1930 Volume 1. Then, there were 9 editions of the American Cinematographer Hand Book and Reference Guide, the 1st being in 1935 and the 9th being in 1956. I have the 7th and 9th edition of that, both by Jackson Rose. After the 9th edition of Jackson Rose's Handbook, that is when we see the classic American Cinematographer Manual Arrive. The first edition of the American Cinematographer's handbook is in 1960 by Joseph V. Mascelli. The second edition was in 1966, the fourth edition (editors Charles Clarke, ASC and Walter Strenge, ASC) was in 1973, the fifth edition was in 1980 and that was mainly by Charles Clarke. The 9th and current edition of the manual was in 2004. I remember this because that is when I bought mine and it had just come out, as many who bought it before me had the 8th edition.

So here it is in short form:

Cinematographic Annual 1930 (Vol. 1 and 2)
Cinematographic Annual 1931?

American Cinematographer Handbook and Reference Guide (9 editions from 1935- 1956)

American Cinematographer Manual (9 editions from 1960-2004)

Much has changed since 2004... Looking at how often these came out in the past, (every 5-6 years or so) I'd say we are due for volume 10! If they take lead from the past, maybe this series will end at edition 9 and we'll get a new version... did someone say American Cinematographer App Edition 1? lol.
 
Even though this is a great thread, it's a little bit unorganized, is there a way we can organize this into categories like lighting, composition, camera movements etc?
 
Thanks everyone for sharing these books and their links...It would be very helpful for the beginners in this field...Looking forward to read these amazing books!!!
 
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