Product Description

Lavishly produced and illustrated, Cinematography covers the entire range of the profession. The book is not just a comprehensive guide to current professional practice; it goes beyond to explain the theory behind the practice, so you understand how the rules came about and when it's appropriate to break them. In addition, directors will benefit from the book's focus on the body of knowledge they should share with their Director of Photography.

Cinematography presents the basics and beyond, employing clear explanations of standard practice together with substantial illustrations and diagrams to reveal the real world of film production.
Recognizing that professionals know when to break the rules and when to abide by them, this book discusses many examples of fresh ideas and experiments in cinematography. Covering the most up-to-date information on the film/digital interface, new formats, the latest cranes and camera support and other equipment, it also illustrates the older tried and true methods.



*The definitive guide to cinematography

*Up-to-date coverage of technical topics, including High Definition and digital imaging

*Full color throughout brings issues of color and light to life

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #13685 in Books
• Published on: 2002-10-22
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 303 pages

Review
"A gorgeous piece of work that bids to become a classic text on cinematography....Few books on cinematography meld aesthetics and pragmatics as deftly as this one."
American Cinematographer

"The gorgeous illustrations bring movies to life, and the modern approach that incorporates digital as well as film means that this book can be used for years to come."
Judy Irola, ASC
Head of Cinematography
USC School of Cinematic Arts

"The book is a wonderful, well-organized and knowledgable collection of all information a cinematographer may need. I recommend it highly."
Andrew Laszlo, ASC

"This book shows that there is more to the DP than holding the light meter--he needs to understand so much more about using photography to tell a story, create a mood, evoke an emotion. No other text I know of stresses this to this extent."
Douglas C. Hart, First Camera Assistant, Instructor, and Author of The Camera Assistant

"Blain Brown has created a masterpiece. Cinematography is the best reference book I have ever seen..the theories and practices revealed here will never go out of date. This is a "must have" book for anyone claiming to be a cinematographer that hasn't got at least two Academy Awards sitting on their mantle." - Rick Gerard, Creative Cow

From the Publisher
Cinematography presents the basics and beyond, employing clear explanations of standard practice together with substantial illustrations and diagrams to reveal the real world of film production. Recognizing that professionals know when to break the rules and when to abide by them, this book discusses many examples of fresh ideas and experiments in cinematography. Covering the most up-to-date information on the film/digital interface, new formats, the latest cranes and camera support and other equipment, it also illustrates the older tried and true methods.

About the Author
Blain Brown was educated at C.W. Post College; M.I.T. and Harvard Graduate School of Design. He began in New York as a commercial still photographer before starting in the film business. After working as a gaffer, be became a cinematographer doing primarily commercials and music videos.After completing his first feature film, he moved to Los Angeles where he has been Director of Photography on 14 feature films as well as national commercials, promotional films, industrials, music videos and documentaries. He has worked in many states in the U.S. as well as Mexico, Canada, India, Italy, France, the Philippines and Jordan.His experience includes 35mm and 16mm projects, as well as 24P High Def, DigiBeta, BetaSP and DV. He has completed projects as a director, editor and screenwriter; with three screenplays produced. He has also taught courses in storytelling and visual communication. As a Director of Photography specializing in features and commercials, he is now based in Los Angeles.His books include A Sense of Place; Motion Picture and Video Lighting and The Filmmaker's Pocket Reference. His work can be seen at www.BlainBrown.com.

Customer Reviews

Essential reading.
This excellent book should be mandatory reading for everybody who's about to make a short film. Having watched hundreds, if not thousands, of short films in recent years, I know that would-be directors are so keen to be original, that they make their first few films without having the first clue about film-making. Cinematography (Blain Brown) provides the reader with the technical knowledge required to communicate with a director of photgraphy, to create a story through images. Beautifully illustrated, it's a concise presentation of the basic principles behind shooting a film. Many amateurs assume that cinematography is either 'getting the camera right' (exposure, focus etc), or 'setting up pretty shots' (composition, framing etc.) Thankfully, this book shows how much more is involved. It explains everythign so clearly you only need to read it once, but you'll probably use it as a refence manual from time to time.

essential reading
essential reading for anyone wanting a bit of 'know how' - clear text and great illustrations, if your a student this is essential reading.

Essential!
In short: If you only want to have just ONE book on cinematography, get THIS ONE! Compehensive content, interesting, entertaining to read with lots of illustrations, yet very professional.