Top 10 Books on Cinematography and Filmmaking
Here are my Top 10 Books for learning Cinematography and Filmmaking
There are a lot of books on cinematography and filmmaking, I put together this list of some of my favourites. There are even a couple that are meant more for photography that are incredibly useful for video work as well.
In this video, we're taking a look at 10 of my favourite books to help you with your cinematography and filmmaking.
I've had most of these books since I was a student and they helped me to get through both of my degrees, so hopefully, you'll find them useful as well.
These are in no particular order but starting out at number 10 we have:
10.
Parasite - Bong Joon Ho
A graphic novel in Storyboards
This is one of the newest additions to my collection but I thought it was worth including in this list as it gives us a fantastic insight into Bong Joon Ho's storyboarding and writing process. I'm sure a lot of you are familiar with the oscar-winning film Parasite and I'd highly recommend this book if you're a fan and even if you're not.
It demonstrates how much planning he puts into his script and storyboards, even before they start shooting. There are tonnes of notes and lighting diagrams. It's interesting to see how close the storyboards are to the final film.
International https://amzn.to/2SezaJj
9.
Studio Anywhere - Nick Fancher
A Photographers Guide to Shooting in Unconventional Locations
I thought this would be an interesting one to have on the list as it's primarily a still photography book, however, it's full of cheap affordable lighting setups for when you are first starting out.
In this book, Nick demonstrates a variety of techniques to create unique lighting for commercial work and so much of it can be transferred from still photography to video.
I learned so much from this when I first started to use flash photography and now I'm still using a lot of that with my cinematography work.
If you shoot a lot of product work, I'd recommend this and I actually think he's got a couple of new books out as well which might be worth taking a look at.
International https://amzn.to/3fGVXp8
8.
Set Life - Mattew Webb
A Guide to Getting a Job in Film (And Keeping it)
This is a brilliant little book and I have a feeling not a lot of people have heard about it.
This includes everything about working in film and not just the fun stuff.
From making coffee to call sheets, what to say on the radio, pretty much everything you'd want to know about set life is in this book.
There's also plenty of interviews with various members of crew and how they got their first job in film and TV, as well as useful lists on all of the various names and terms used throughout all the departments.
International https://www.setlifebook.com/
7.
Film Directing Shot by Shot - Steven D. Katz
Visualizing from concept to screen
This book feels quite old now and I'm sure there must be a new edition by now but a lot of the content that it includes is still relevant today.
This is a great guide for how to put a film together, scene by scene, shot by shot. It covers everything about framing, shot type, and more importantly why you would use one particular shot over another.
This is something that is often overlooked.
The book covers a lot about camera blocking as well as much more. I'd keep an eye out for the most recent edition if you are interested in this as this edition was printed in 1991! but as I mentioned before the main information is still relevant today.
International https://amzn.to/2TdS8QT
6.
Screenplay The Foundations of Screenwriting
A step-by-step guide from concept to finished script
This book is pretty self-explanatory but I wanted to include it in this list as even if you are primarily working as a cinematographer, videographer or camera operator, I think it's still incredibly useful to know how a screenplay is put together.
If you want to work in TV and on Film sets, you will need to be able to have a solid understanding of how a screenplay is written. This will help you in the long run as eventually as a director of photography you will have to break down scripts yourself and work with the director to produce a shot list and bring their vision to life.
The book itself is the gold standard in terms of screenwriting books, everything you need to know is in here. If you Google screenwriting books it will either be this one or save the cat which shows up probably.
International https://amzn.to/3fy60N6
5.
The Photographers Eye - Michael Freeman
Composition and Design for better digital photos
This is the best book on composition that I've ever read.
This whole thing is just about composition, in some of the other books I mentioned, composition is just a section or a small chapter, this is the whole book!
Again, this is primarily a still photography book, but so much translates to film.
While it obviously doesn't cover things such as movement within a frame, It's so intricate and detailed in other areas that it makes up for things like that.
Composition has always been something I aim to improve in my work and this book has helped so much!
International https://amzn.to/2SimLUH
4.
The Technique of Film and Video Editing - Ken Dancyger
History, Theory and Practice
In a similar way to the screenplay book, I wanted to include this one into the list as I believe that having the knowledge of how all the different stages of production and post-production work will help you to improve as a cinematographer.
So much of how a narrative is put together is in the edit, it's our job as cinematographers to give the editor everything they need to put together the final product.
Having an understanding of how they construct scenes and narrative will only help you to improve in your own work.
For most of my career, I've worked as a videographer and so I've shot and edited all of my own work. Knowing in my head how I'm going to put the final video together, saved me so much time in production not wasting it getting shots I knew I wouldn't use.
This is a great book that covers everything you need to know about editing and is extensive. It's not one you need to read cover to cover, but it's ideal to have as a reference.
International https://amzn.to/3yAkogP
3.
Lighting for Cinematography - David Landau
A practical guide to the art and craft of lighting for the moving image
These last 3 books are all on cinematography but each offers its own particular take on the subject.
This first one focuses mainly on lighting.
It goes into detail on the different types of light, how to use them, when and why. It also covers things such as diffusion and positioning.
Pretty much everything you need to know about lighting is in this book.
A great pick to have on your shelf!
International https://amzn.to/3oPP896
2.
Cinematography Theory and Practice - Blain Brown
Image Making for Cinematographers, Directors and Videographers
This one is more of a big overview of everything cinematography related.
It covers the history, technique and equipment.
I believe there is a newer version of this out now as this one is a bit outdated.
I used this one and lighting for cinematography so much throughout my time as a student, I've still got all my little tabs sticking out as I always like to go back and refer to these.
International https://amzn.to/2SlH3Nf
1.
Set Lighting technician's Handbook
Film Lighting Equipment, Practice, and Electrical Distribution.
This last book is all about the technical side of lighting.
This book goes so in-depth, it's another one that you don't need to read cover to cover but works as a great reference tool.
If you do a lot of Grip work, this is a must-have. This covers everything about power supplies, how to rig lights up, knots, literally everything.
It goes into so much detail, on all of the different type of diffusions, what bulbs you will need, how much power, the list goes on!
I think this one paired with the last two covers pretty much everything you need to know about cinematography and grip work.
When it comes to learning, I'm much more of a visual learner. I prefer to watch tutorial videos, online courses and practical demonstrations.
I like to use educational books as more of a reference tool, rather than my primary sources of information, as a lot of what is published, quickly becomes outdated but having said that, as I mentioned before the main facts and techniques never change.
International https://amzn.to/3fFKMx1
As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you. Links marked as “PAID LINK” are affiliated.
Here are all of the books I mentioned in the video again:
Parasite - Bong Joon Ho (PAID LINK)
UK https://amzn.to/3udHW7J
International https://amzn.to/2SezaJj
Studio Anywhere - Nick Fancher (PAID LINK)
UK https://amzn.to/2REB1XX
International https://amzn.to/3fGVXp8
SetLife - Mattew Webb (PAID LINK)
UK https://amzn.to/2TcYBvn
International https://www.setlifebook.com/
Film Directing Shot by Shot - Steven D. Katz (PAID LINK)
UK https://amzn.to/34ed4sY
International https://amzn.to/2TdS8QT
Screenplay The Foundations of Screenwriting (PAID LINK)
UK https://amzn.to/3hOF1Q7
International https://amzn.to/3fy60N6
The Photographers Eye - Michael Freeman (PAID LINK)
UK https://amzn.to/3ucqfW3
International https://amzn.to/2SimLUH
The Technique of Film and Video Editing - Ken Dancyger (PAID LINK)
UK https://amzn.to/2RFeABY
International https://amzn.to/3yAkogP
Lighting for Cinematography - David Landau (PAID LINK)
UK https://amzn.to/34nANHD
International https://amzn.to/3oPP896
Cinematography Theory and Practice - Blain Brown (PAID LINK)
UK https://amzn.to/3oJVJl7
International https://amzn.to/2SlH3Nf
Set Lighting technician's Handbook (PAID LINK)
UK https://amzn.to/3oHrKKI
International https://amzn.to/3fFKMx1
Honorary mention! This is the film/video version of the composition book I talked about in this video:
The Filmmaker's Eye: Learning (and Breaking) the Rules of Cinematic Composition (PAID LINK)
UK https://amzn.to/3fgerxM
International https://amzn.to/3fGPVoz