Customer Reviews

Reflections: Twenty-One Cinematographers At Work

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This is one expensive book, but what a joy!

Personal work flows of some of the very best cinematographers of our time, described by them in their own language. Lighting diagrams for many common shots and explanations of exactly what made them look so good. Footage examples galore, with many what-if comparisons.

Haskell Wexler on lighting interiors. Vilmos Zsigmond talking about what makes for great portraits, and why "key-to-fill lighting ratios are an important stepping-stone for students but [he rarely uses them in his shooting]. Laszlo Kovacs talking about the dangers of video assist, being specific about it and not judgmental. Allen Daviau on "why we hate multiple cameras: because we [light differently] for close-ups." And much more...

This book was put together with love by ASC Press and this also shows in the great color printing and gorgeous paper.

A true joy, IMHO.

This book is perfect if you might say the following:

"I care deeply about making good videos, and hope to work on films. I have a decent understanding of light temperature and how much light I need for a good exposure. I even know what a key and fill light are, and I prefer a kicker to a hair light, but for some reason when I start to set up a scene I am hesitant. I don't know exactly what I should do to light whatever interior scene I'm working on, and I scramble to try to be interesting, but usually my scenes are either boring or weird. I need more experience. What can I do to get the right kind of practice?"

If you have no idea where you are at with lighting and shot selection, particularly lighting (the definite focus of this book), then this book will be really cool for you, and you will learn something. However, you need to have some background to have the optimal experience.

I'm sure that even pros will pick something interesting up, and the interviews are great.

This is a great book that I used just recently in coordination with an cinematography class at NYU. Its my favorite of all my textbooks on the subject because it deals with actual application of teachings by people actually making movies right now. But the book showcases those people first and foremost and teaches second. And it expects an experienced reader, often using industry terms and concepts without any explaination. That said, I totally reccommend it. It is the best book in actually helping you come to your own conclusions as to how to light a scene and why.

The ultimate book about cinematography in technical and artistical ways. Excellent and richly illustrated.

Reflections is to put it this way, simply amazing. I find myself going back to it everytime I have to set up lights. The diagrams and pictures are detailed and precised, showing different approaches to lighting and image control. No other book gives you the inside to the minds of some of the greatest filmmakers around! I would not doubt about gettting it!

Yes, it's one of the best book... with a lot of french cinematographers. Eric is right ;-)