Cinematography for Directors: A Guide for Creative Collaboration

I love love love this book! If you're like me, as a director all the actors stuff I got down. However, the technical stuff not so much. I bought a DSLR camera with lenses to get an understand of photography and I have a hard time understanding exposer and how to use a light meter, DoF and how all those work together to get a great shot. I don't understand the language of a cinematographer. I've read the most complicated Cinematography books when I was in film school and this book was the first time it all just clicked for me. The author explains the information in a way that not only do I understand but I can take out into the field immediately. I can read a chapter about lenses and take my camera out and use what I've learned. That is so refreshing to do. I spent so much time with other material trying to understand some mathematical foreign language. Also it's a great resource to carry around and refer back to, but the information is so easy to understand that you will get it in your head quickly and use less of the book as a reference. I feel a lot more technically savvy now thanks to this book.

Great book. Very insightful as I am a filmmaker. Currently making music videos and will be doing a web series and some shorts in the very near future. Just beginning this book has enhanced my engagements with lighting scenes and or developing moods to the situations and scenes. I love the fact that different cinematographers share their views and perspectives to their given situations and how they approach them. It greatly increased my knowledge of this subject. Simply lighting a scene is not what cinematography is. I'm looking forward to reading the rest of this book when I complete some of my projects. I'm sure it will be a multiple read. The book is not a hard read either. Great book and asset of knowledge!

This was one of the first books I read as I got into film making. I thought it was a great place for beginners, especially ones like me who have never been to film school. It goes though the basics of the cinematographers world, making it easier for the two collaborators to understand each other. I also recommend Shot by Shot. A must have for all directors and cinematographers.

As an aspiring cinematographer I was recommended this book by some friends. Deciding to give it a glance I found myself learning or clarifying certain elements of cinematography that go beyond the director. This book is a great introduction to the soul of a cinematographer; not just the facts.

Just great. Not enough praise for this one. One from the hear of movimng images.Any film enthusiast as well as pro filmmakers must read this one.Give it a try.

The format runs between block quotes from established and worthy filmmakers and commentary by the author. This combination allows for some stunning insight. The problem is that it often becomes redundant and ultimately boring. The filmmakers quotes will repeat for pages and pages. So the one take away gets watered down and drowns you with multiple voices spewing the same concepts. Then, though perhaps for legitimate transitional fluidity, the author restates the same quote and prefaces the next one. It could be an essential 120 page staple of any young filmmaker. Instead it's a 250 page insightful slog. Sure, pick it up when it's on sale. Then do not hesitate to skim and skip as you read.

A good reference for directors who want to focus more on the actor while not confusing their cinematographer on set.

listen. don't think twice about this book. its a must have. Brilliant book.