Lighting books and other things
Eric DeBlackmere, S.O.C.
Farnsworth) wrote:
>Hi all,
> Ron in the Netherlands asked if I could recommend some books for reading
>since he has to do the mail order thing and can't flip thru the pages to see if
>he is on the right trail.
> Here are a few of my favorites.
>The Five C's of Cinematography.
>Mascelli
An excellent book and a must-have in ANY library.
>Lighting for Television and Film
>Millerson
Any of Millerson's books, as well....
>OK. Who has anymore suggestions?
Lighting for Video
3rd Edition
ISBN 0-240-51303-7
Motion Picture Camera & Lighting Equipment
2nd Edition
ISBN 0-240-51016-X
Masters of Light
ISBN 0-520-05336-2
Motion Picture & Video Lighting
Revised Edition
ISBN 0-240-80249-7
Painting with Light
ISBN 0-520-08949-9
Matters of Light and Depth
ISBN 1-879174-03-0
Lighting Technology: A Guide for the Entertainment Industry
ISBN 0-240-51449-1
Just to list a few.... :>
Eric
Eric DeBlackmere, S.O.C.
Director of Photography/Operating Cameraman
Deep Focus Productions
edeb...@earthlink.net
http://home.earthlink.net/~edeblack
Eric DeBlackmere, S.O.C.
Farnsworth) wrote:
>Ron wirtes;
><<Snip>> ....... I think I'll order the Five C's - looks very interesting.
>
>Ron,
> That book is the "must own" for everyone who is serious about a career as
>a cinematographer or videographer.
>I got my first copy of it more than twenty two years ago.
I have to back Bill up on this one. This book is definitely a
"must-have" for EVERYONE. Even those who think they know everything
(or actually DO know everything) can benefit from the invaluable
information this book has.
Bill Farnsworth
Ron in the Netherlands asked if I could recommend some books for reading
since he has to do the mail order thing and can't flip thru the pages to see if
he is on the right trail.
Here are a few of my favorites.
The Five C's of Cinematography.
Mascelli
Film Lighting
Malkiewicz
Lighting for Television and Film
Millerson
Now............
Here are some internet sites that will also help.
www.chimeralighting.com
www.tiffen.com
www.ultimatte.com (technical library)
There are great tips at these sites.
OK. Who has anymore suggestions?
Bill Farnsworth/Videographer
Redmond, Washington
Nabet-57 Hollywood
GTC
R.Peperkamp
--
_____________________________________________
Ron Peperkamp
r.pep...@speed.a2000.nl
steadicam and TRV900 information:
http://people.a2000.nl/rpeperk/steadicam/
Bill Farnsworth
>Painting with Light
>ISBN 0-520-08949-9
>
>Matters of Light and Depth
>ISBN 1-879174-03-0
>
>Lighting Technology: A Guide for the Entertainment Industry
>ISBN 0-240-51449-1
>
>Just to list a few.... :>
>
>
>Eric DeBlackmere, S.O.C.
>Director of Photography/Operating Cameraman
I knew I could count on you Eric.
Bill Farnsworth
<<Snip>> ....... I think I'll order the Five C's - looks very interesting.
Ron,
That book is the "must own" for everyone who is serious about a career as
a cinematographer or videographer.
I got my first copy of it more than twenty two years ago.
Bill Farnsworth/Videographer
Charles Pope Jr.
> Hi all,
> Ron in the Netherlands asked if I could recommend some books for reading
> since he has to do the mail order thing and can't flip thru the pages to see if
> he is on the right trail.
> Here are a few of my favorites.
> The Five C's of Cinematography.
> Mascelli
>
> Film Lighting
> Malkiewicz
>
> Lighting for Television and Film
> Millerson
>
> Now............
> Here are some internet sites that will also help.
> www.chimeralighting.com
> www.tiffen.com
> www.ultimatte.com (technical library)
>
> There are great tips at these sites.
>
> OK. Who has anymore suggestions?
I have just one more suggestion for r.v.p. subscribers: download this post to your
hard drive for quick, easy future reference!
CPJ.
TJF7
educated electronic video photographer.
The two books that have made an impression on me have been:
1. Electronic Cinematography
I do not know the author. Maybe Peterson. But this book was essential in
teaching me about the way in which a television camera works and how one can
manipulate it. I read the book when The Ikegami HL 79E, a tube camera, was the
rage. Whether the author has updated it or not, it still has a very viable
message to convey: your camera is the most valuable light meter/color
temperature meter you own. Learn how to understand what it is telling you. Know
how to manipulate your camera to maximize your results.
2. Masters of Light (Mentioned before by Eric. Refer to him for the author
since I have no idea.)
This book interviews some of the major Hollywood cinematographers of the
last thirty or so years: Gordon Willis, Vitorio Storaro, etc. Reading them talk
from the heart about how they approach the ever-present dilemma of creating a
"look", their look, is extremely interesting and inspiring. Storaro, it goes
without saying, is a Genius -- capitol G. And a humble one at that. He stopped
shooting and went back to school, to learn more. And we have hot shots who have
learned all they know from other people and they think they are great at
lighting. Oh well.
Masters of Light also was a film and is out onj video. Read the book
first. Watch the video next.
Humbly Yours
Tom Storaro, I mean, Fahey
Charles Pope Jr.
> Tom Storaro, I mean, Fahey.
In a related vein, the video, "Visions of Light" (available on laserdisc and [I
think] VHS) is a marvellous history of film lighting. Storaro is one of several
master DP's who discusses his work.
CPJ.
Eric DeBlackmere, S.O.C.
>2. Masters of Light (Mentioned before by Eric. Refer to him for the author
>since I have no idea.)
The authors are Schaefer and Salvato.
> Masters of Light also was a film and is out onj video. Read the book
>first. Watch the video next.
The title of the video is:
VISIONS OF LIGHT
A joint effort between the AFI and NHK TV. An -excellent- video on the
history of cinematography. One of the best documentaries made. Very
inspiring.
Eric
Eric DeBlackmere, S.O.C.
Director of Photography/Operating Cameraman
Morgan
television production school in Tacoma in 1968. I had lost it somewhere over
the years and just got a new copy (new cover same book) from Amazon.com for
$30somedollars.
I've got Lowel's "A Matter of Light and Depth" but I'll order one of the
others I think.
Thanks,
Morgan
Alaska Digi Video Productions
Bill Farnsworth <billfar...@aol.comnospam> wrote in message
news:19991010223603...@ng-bd1.aol.com...
Morgan
other information on camera jib techniques?
Thanks,
Morgan
Charles Pope Jr. <charle...@sympatico.ca> wrote in message
news:380171A4...@sympatico.ca...
> TJF7 wrote:
>
> > Bill Farnsworth asks for suggestions for books for the always willing to
be
> > educated electronic video photographer.
> > >OK. Who has anymore suggestions?
> >
> > The two books that have made an impression on me have been:
> >
> > 1. Electronic Cinematography
> > I do not know the author. Maybe Peterson. But this book was
essential in
> > teaching me about the way in which a television camera works and how one
can
> > manipulate it. I read the book when The Ikegami HL 79E, a tube camera,
was the
> > rage. Whether the author has updated it or not, it still has a very
viable
> > message to convey: your camera is the most valuable light meter/color
> > temperature meter you own. Learn how to understand what it is telling
you. Know
> > how to manipulate your camera to maximize your results.
> >
> > 2. Masters of Light (Mentioned before by Eric. Refer to him for the
author
> > since I have no idea.)
> > This book interviews some of the major Hollywood cinematographers
of the
> > last thirty or so years: Gordon Willis, Vitorio Storaro, etc. Reading
them talk
> > from the heart about how they approach the ever-present dilemma of
creating a
> > "look", their look, is extremely interesting and inspiring. Storaro, it
goes
> > without saying, is a Genius -- capitol G. And a humble one at that. He
stopped
> > shooting and went back to school, to learn more. And we have hot shots
who have
> > learned all they know from other people and they think they are great at
> > lighting. Oh well.
> > Masters of Light also was a film and is out onj video. Read the
book
> > first. Watch the video next.
> >
Mike Kujbida
TJF7 <tj...@aol.com> wrote in message
news:19991011002856...@ng-fm1.aol.com...
> Bill Farnsworth asks for suggestions for books for the always willing to
be
> educated electronic video photographer.
> >OK. Who has anymore suggestions?
>
> The two books that have made an impression on me have been:
>
> 1. Electronic Cinematography
> I do not know the author. Maybe Peterson. But this book was essential
in
> teaching me about the way in which a television camera works and how one
can
> manipulate it. I read the book when The Ikegami HL 79E, a tube camera, was
the
> rage. Whether the author has updated it or not, it still has a very viable
> message to convey: your camera is the most valuable light meter/color
> temperature meter you own. Learn how to understand what it is telling you.
Know
> how to manipulate your camera to maximize your results.
>
of print for some time. I grabbed a copy of it several years ago and it's
always the first one I loan to interns and others interested in
understanding the technical side of TV. He delves into fairly complex
issues (gamma, waveform & vector monitors, etc.) but does such a great job
explaining them that even a layman can understand.
A few good web sites to check for their application notes are:
http://www.leitch.com/Reference/Reference.htm#Tutorials
http://www.videotek.com/notes.html
http://www.tek.com/Measurement/video_audio/index.html (select "Application
Notes")
BTW Bill, thanks for the tip on Barbizon. Great site with lots of good
info.
Mike Kujbida
Bill Farnsworth
>A few good web sites to check for their application notes are:
>http://www.leitch.com/Reference/Reference.htm#Tutorials
>http://www.videotek.com/notes.html
>http://www.tek.com/Measurement/video_audio/index.html (select "Application
>Notes")
More good sites.
And let us not forget good ol' videouniversity.com as a first stop for anyone
interested in this biz.
>BTW Bill, thanks for the tip on Barbizon. Great site with lots of good
>info.
Your welcome Mike.
It was Tom F. that got me searching thru this site last year.
Bill Farnsworth
>Excellent book!<<(five C's)>>
>I used to carry that book around with me when I was in
>television production school in Tacoma in 1968.
Where did you go to school in Tacoma?
The old ch 13 or 11 or PLU.
Just asking off list.
Bill
Bill Farnsworth
>The old ch 13 or 11 or PLU.
>Just asking off list.
>
>Bill
OOPS my goof. Wrong button.
Steven Bradford
advice, and he is not specific on one brand or type of lights, as you might
expect him to.
Like his book better than his lights. Except for the original lowell Light.
I miss it sometimes.
Tim Gibbons
copyright: 1984)
A great autobiography. Chronicles the wild career of a master who
started in Cuba shooting post revolutionary films, moved to France to
shoot for Truffaut, then broke into Hollywood and taught us Yanks a
thing or two about natural lighting. The book is broken down into
chapters that detail each project he worked on, classics like Sophie's
Choice, The Last Metro and Days of Heaven ( A film that, incredibly, was
shot mostly at 'magic hour'). It's a wonderful book, that gives insight
into the inspirations, passions and philosophies of a very talented
cinematographer.
"History of Art" - H.W. Janson ISBN: 0-13-062356-3
The book from a art history course I took 13 years ago. Goes through the
"History" of visual arts. Lot's of pretty plates from guys like
Carravagio and Renoir etc.
-- Tim
Kelly Marcott
Bill Farnsworth wrote in message
<19991010205202...@ng-fr1.aol.com>...
>Hi all,
> Ron in the Netherlands asked if I could recommend some books for
reading
>since he has to do the mail order thing and can't flip thru the pages to
see if
>he is on the right trail.
> Here are a few of my favorites.
>The Five C's of Cinematography.
>Mascelli
>
>Film Lighting
>Malkiewicz
>
>Lighting for Television and Film
>Millerson
>
>Now............
>Here are some internet sites that will also help.
>www.chimeralighting.com
>www.tiffen.com
>www.ultimatte.com (technical library)
>
>There are great tips at these sites.
>
>
>
>
>
>Redmond, Washington
>Nabet-57 Hollywood
>GTC
Don't forget "Lighting For film And Electronic Cinematography" By Dave
Viera available through Focal Press..
Rbsoul
lighting from pretty much the beginning of motion picture making to the present
and shows so many styles, with compelling clips from a lot of great films. My
favorite section is in the "Film Noir" era. Some truly wild lighting. But to
get to a more practical area for study...and away from books for a
moment...practice, like in any other subject you want to get good at, is
essential. A great study to work on at home if you have the lights (you don't
really need the camera or you could use a 35mm reflex to look through as you do
it) is to use a painting in a book (if you have the original, you shouldn't be
doing this...on many levels) by a Master (Vermier is my favorite) and try to
reproduce the lighting in the scene. Still lifes and portraits are especially
difficult to do. Give yourself a time limit as you most likely will have a time
limit in the field. You will find it almost impossible to recreate these
lighting set-ups. Although you may come close. A painter uses light as it moves
through his scene at different periods of the day. So there may be lighting
mixed from the morning the painting began...and the late afternoon of the day
the painting was finished. The light sources may seem incomprehensible...but
for some reason, in the painting it works...in reality it could never happen.
I've had a lot of fun with this excercise and learned a great deal.
Ken Willinger
Bill Farnsworth
> You will find it almost impossible to recreate these
>lighting set-ups. Although you may come close. A painter uses light as it
>moves
>through his scene at different periods of the day. So there may be lighting
>mixed from the morning the painting began...and the late afternoon of the day
>the painting was finished. The light sources may seem incomprehensible...but
>for some reason, in the painting it works...in reality it could never happen.
>I've had a lot of fun with this excercise and learned a great deal.
OUTSTANDING excercise in lighting Ken.
I know I'll croak if a producer shows up with a masters book and says.
"Ok...... just like this one.......... here"
On a lighter side you mentioned Film Noir.
Russ Meyer once said. "I love Film Noir." "Whenever I couldn't afford color. I
would shoot in Noir."
Bill Davis
billfar...@aol.comnospam (Bill Farnsworth) wrote:
GREAT quote, Bill!
This has me remembering the "Pagent of the Masters" the yearly evening in
La Jolla, CA.
The producers, talent and volunteers work like ants for months to put on
an evening's special performance where they "re-create" masterpiece
paintings ON STAGE.
As in using actors, scenery, lighting, etc to "create" a dozen or so exact
replicas of famous paintings as "still life" scenes.
It's REMARKABLE. Something all visual artists should experience.
Plus, when I was lucky enough to score tickets years ago, the incomparable
Thurl Ravenscroft (voice of Tony the Tiger!) was the narrator.
Fabulous evening! Now THERE's a lesson in composition and lighting!
--
Bill Davis
NewVideo
R.Peperkamp
Is it OK to do some exercises with Vermeer instead of Vermier?
BTW: Peter Greenaway did reproduce some of Vermeer's paintings in his
films.
Which raises the important question if the reproduction of painted light
'works' the same in film - for Greenaway's images were extraordinary but
not as stunning as the original paintings. Must be that motion distracts
the viewer too much of the subtle mysteriousness of Vermeer's "natural"
looking light. Just a thought...
Ron (In Amsterdam where we have lots of 17th century houses with high
windows - unfortunately not living in one)
Rbsoul wrote:
>
> "Visions of Light" is a must see if you are intersested in lighting. It covers
> lighting from pretty much the beginning of motion picture making to the present
> and shows so many styles, with compelling clips from a lot of great films. My
> favorite section is in the "Film Noir" era. Some truly wild lighting. But to
> get to a more practical area for study...and away from books for a
> moment...practice, like in any other subject you want to get good at, is
> essential. A great study to work on at home if you have the lights (you don't
> really need the camera or you could use a 35mm reflex to look through as you do
> it) is to use a painting in a book (if you have the original, you shouldn't be
> doing this...on many levels) by a Master (Vermier is my favorite) and try to
> reproduce the lighting in the scene. Still lifes and portraits are especially
> difficult to do. Give yourself a time limit as you most likely will have a time
> limit in the field. You will find it almost impossible to recreate these
> lighting set-ups. Although you may come close. A painter uses light as it moves
> through his scene at different periods of the day. So there may be lighting
> mixed from the morning the painting began...and the late afternoon of the day
> the painting was finished. The light sources may seem incomprehensible...but
> for some reason, in the painting it works...in reality it could never happen.
> I've had a lot of fun with this excercise and learned a great deal.
>
> Ken Willinger
Rbsoul
Yes!! As a matter of fact, I do prefer Vermeer over Vermier...a distant
cousin...and much better artist!!
<< Which raises the important question if the reproduction of painted light
'works' the same in film >>
I think you can achieve that incredible softness and wrapping of light the
Masters achieved but the highlights and background/foreground motivations
cannot truly exist in real life (or with film in real time) which negates the
possibility of it being able to "work" as it does in a painting. Which is why
you can't acheive the "stunning" beauty of those original paintings.
Ken Willinger
thaicam
quote from that source here, but hey, why not? :)
While we are in the sayings realm, this reminds me of the true meaning of
cinema verite; "sorry, I left the sticks in the trunk."
eric
Bill Farnsworth
>While we are in the sayings realm, this reminds me of the true meaning of
>cinema verite; "sorry, I left the sticks in the trunk."
>
>eric
Or........ "OK, we have 18 pages of script to get thru today." "Forget the
sticks."
Or........ " STICKS!" "You want me to shoot this on STICKS?"
"I don't have to show you no STINKING STICKS!"