Product Description

Few cinematographers have had as decisive an impact on the cinematic medium as John Alton. Best known for his highly stylized film noir classics "T-Men", "He Walked By Night" and "The Big Combo", Alton earned a reputation during the 1940s and 1950s as one of Hollywood's consummate craftsmen through his visual signature of crisp shadows and sculpted beams of light. No less renowned for his virtuoso colour cinematography and deft appropriation of widescreen and Technicolor, he earned an Academy Award in 1951 for his work on the musical "An American in Paris". First published in 1949, Alton's study of cinematography remains a major statement on the art of motion picture photography, as well as an interesting historical document on the workings of the postwar American cinema. In simple, non-technical language, Alton explains the job of the cinematographer and explores how lighting, camera techniques and choice of locations determine the visual mood of film. Todd McCarthy's introduction, written especially for this edition, provides an overview of Alton's biography and career and explores the influence of his work on contemporary cinematography.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #2748550 in Books
• Published on: 1995-05-18
• Original language: English
• Binding: Hardcover
• 191 pages

Customer Reviews

Illuminating!
Although the technical end is obviously about fifty years out of date, this is still a rewarding read for anyone interested in film lighting. For one thing, you'll never look at a film from the 30's and 40's again without the satisfying feeling of being able to recognize a clothing light in action. On a practical level, it's still got a lot of tips worth thinking about for the amateur or even professional filmmaker. The simpicity of the equipment might even be a bonus for those just learning, or shooting on a limited budget. Certainly I've never seen a technical lighting book this clear, practical, and real-world.

My favorite thing about this book though is the extra chapter on Lighting for Ladies. Now this is a guy who LOVES light and is out to do his bit to beautify the world. So naturally, he includes an appendix on how any women who happen to be reading, can use Hollywood lighting tricks to enhance their appearance. I swear I'm this close to rearranging my office so that the daylight can hit me just so... although I don't know if I'm ready to go around my flat with a mirror before a date, so I can figure out the optimal place to sit on the sofa!

This book is a time capsule from the era of Film Noir
I have had a photocopy of a photocopy of this book for about seven years, so I was understandably extatic to learn of the recent reissuing of this long out of print and much sought-after title. For decades, critics have discussed Film Noir as the apex of American film in terms of style as well as content. And Academy Award winner John Alton has long been hailed as perhaps the most important cinematographer of his era. Such was his passion for the art and craft of cinematography that he wrote a book on the subject at a time when such books just were not being written. Painting With Light has great verve and wit, and serves as a very practical how-to exploration of cinema- tography as it existed at the time. But, as such, it is now also a fascinating slice of movie history. In the end, however, I believe it is most valuable as a tool to help the modern cinema- tographer rediscover the texture and mystery brought to the screen in an era when films pulled you in instead of trying to leap out at you. The book co

Still one of the best manuals on film lighting.
Oscar winning Alton wrote this book years ago, but it still rules among the most interesting books about film lighting, filmmaking, and the perpetual wonders and mysteries of Light. A must, really. Alton's writing is clear, clever and funny.