"From Still To Motion" - The Only DSLR Book You'll Ever Need

Stephen Mick

Stephen Mick

Totally Usable
Listen, I'm not much for pimpage. I mean, my pimp hand is strong, but I'm not in the habit of shilling products or hawking gear. (There's enough people doing that.) But when I come across something I really think is useful…no, indispensable…well that I have to share.

If you shoot on HDSLRs, you need to buy the new book "From Still To Motion…" by Matt Gottshalk, Robbie Carman, Jim Ball and Richard Harrington. LINK At just over $30, it may be the single best shooter's resource for DSLR shooting available. Period.

(Don't get me started on how poorly-named the book is. The title makes it sound like just a photographer's guide, but it most certainly is not. It's for anyone who picks up a DSLR with the goal of shooting and putting together quality work.)

Written by working pros who deal with all aspects of production, the book takes you from start to finish, from lens selection to workflow and final output. It is the most thorough resource out there, and is valuable even if you've been shooting with DSLRs for a while, like I have.

The book is not camera-specific, so whether you're on a GH1 or a 1DMkIV there is plenty of great information here. And at the back of the book is a DVD with hours of tutorials, project files and sample videos. The DVD alone is worth the price of the book.

Buy. This. Book. Now. It's that good. And it will make your work better. I consider this book to be nothing less than the bible of HDSLR shooting.
 
Interesting book, may be worth a read to us who are new to shooting video with a DSLR.

Now, if Philip Bloom came out with a book, you know it would be good too :)
 
Thanks. Just ordered from Amazon. I'm in pre-production for a music video, so every little bit helps.
 
dalethompson said:
Interesting book, may be worth a read to us who are new to shooting video with a DSLR.

Now, if Philip Bloom came out with a book, you know it would be good too :)
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Actually, I made the mistake of buying Bloom's 7D training video. It isn't even in the same league as this book.
 
I seriously doubt you'll be disappointed.

Whatever you think of the book, please post it here in the thread.


Cheers!
 
I love Philip's work and there's not too many people out there who can utilize a DSLR like he can (for video anyway). However, I do know the 7D training video didn't go really in-depth, it was made with a DSLR beginner in mind, not someone who's already used it for a long time. Philip's whole approach is that he moved from using video cameras (for 20 years) to using DSLR's, so he set up the video for people who did the same thing (like me).

In his defense though, if he did a book, it would be pretty good, he's got tons of experience already with DSLR's (including going to Skywalker Ranch to show what the DSLR is capable of to George Lucas and Quentin Tarantino).

Of course, until he does a book, comparisons can't really be done. I'm sure this book is pretty in-depth though, should be a great read for sure.
 
Thanks for confirming Stephen. I made the mistake of getting Bloom's 7D dvd as well and looking it over, well..it was a waste of two hours or however long it was. One long commercial.

As long as this book is better than that DVD, maybe I should consider it. What's so special about it? You've been shooting on DSLRs for a while - learned a lot of stuff from it? I've used my 7D in a variety of situations since it came out too.

Thanks,

Kegan
 
Seriously, don't take me for a Bloom-basher. He's done more to advance the idea of using these cameras for "pro" work than most anyone else. I follow his blog quite a bit and have learned more than my fair share from him. (Thanks, Phillip!)

But this book ("From Still To Motion") is just so much more in-depth than anything else I've seen on the topic. In fact I purchased a digital copy from the Kindle Store just so I can have it with me on my iPad everywhere I go.
 
For sure, I know what you were trying to say too. I'm a newbie to the world of shooting video on a DSLR, so the video helped me out a lot for that reason alone. If seasoned people saw it, well, they probably knew a lot of what he was showing as well, so it was probably not worth watching it for.

On a side note, Kegan, I'm responding to your email as well (you sent to me last week), thanks for sending it by the way, I really appreciate it!
 
Stephen - I respect Bloom as cinematographer for sure. He's definitely good at what he does and I don't want to come across as a Bloom basher either, but I really didn't think the 7D dvd was worth it. I guess that's entirely subjective.

If you can benefit from it and I respect your work - I definitely can as well. Ordering it now.

Dale - great, looking forward to your response.

Kegan
 
Hunter007 said:
Thanks for confirming Stephen. I made the mistake of getting Bloom's 7D dvd as well and looking it over, well..it was a waste of two hours or however long it was. One long commercial.

As long as this book is better than that DVD, maybe I should consider it. What's so special about it? You've been shooting on DSLRs for a while - learned a lot of stuff from it? I've used my 7D in a variety of situations since it came out too.

Thanks,

Kegan
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K-

Without going on and on about everything in the book (which would take most of the evening), I'll touch on a few topics that I think are particularly well-explored.

First…lighting. Now, this is certainly a topic on which many here are well-versed, but Jim Ball and Matt Gottshalk go much deeper into the details of controlling light, the nuances of using available light to your advantage, and even provide video tutorials on the DVD that show you how to make a softbox, a reflector and a dimmer. Hell, those things alone would likely save you the price of the book five times over.

Second…audio. I won't go so far as to say this book will make you a Matt Gettelmeier (MattInSTL), but for those of us who record audio at a second-grade level, the book is a godsend. From mixers to mics to audio terminology, it's covered here, in easy-to-understand language.

Finally…the DVD. The stuff that these guys put together on the DVD that comes with the book is incredible. There are 37 video tutorials covering everything from setting up an external monitor to putting together a timelapse in After Effects. The book uses real-world examples from a music video shoot and a documentary, and footage and project files are provided on the DVD as well.

On my bookshelf I have a very small collection of filmmaking books. I have Jay Rose's book on audio (which I need to read again), I have Malkeiwicz' book on Cinematography, a couple of books on editing and "From Still To Motion."

Oh, I also have a copy of the Fargo screenplay for reading as a bedtime story to my nieces and nephews.
 
Great - thanks for the quick response. I've placed my order, based on your recommendation and now am happy I've done so. I hardly ever purchase filmmaking books, but I'm happy to hear there are solid sections on lighting and audio - always nice to read good stuff on those subjects.

Kegan
 
Keep in mind that it's not an "audio" book or a "lighting" book, but those sections are both much, much beefier than I've seen in any other resource. I think it's plenty of information for a solo-shooter (like me) who wants to improve in both of those areas. And at some point, when I feel like I need more, I can dive into the Jay Rose book on audio.

Man, Gottshalk should cut me a check for pimping this book so hard. :D
 
Yes, that's fine - I don't expect it to be a lighting or audio book...but it's always handy to reference. That's exactly what I want it for - to improve in both those areas. I usually have a sound guy that handles sound though, but I'd like to get much better at lighting (and will check out some other cinematography books for that specific purpose as well).

He really should - I just bought the book because you told me to!

Hah,

Kegan
 
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