Painting With Light by John Alton Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of Painting With Light
Book Review: Amazing!
Summary: 5 Stars
Okay, lets put this review in perspective. This book will teach you hardly anything about anything technical because it is so outdated. It is also mainly about studio lighting on big productions, so it doesnt have much practical information for extremely low budget film makers. But having said that, this book is the best book there is on basic cinematography and lighting. Although the book is outdated technically, Alton's technique can never be outdated, the basic fundamentals of incredible artistic lighting. This book is especially helpful to black and white cinematographers and still photographers. I recommend reading this book after you watch some of his films so you can see his technique in action. Amazing book that you will keep forever in your collection.Book Review: Classic historical instruction, a must for cinephiles
Summary: 5 Stars
Not your average "how to" manual, this is more of a collectors item than practical advice for working cinematographers. I bought it to study the history of film lighting, and for that it was perfect and an ideal short read that isn't terribly technical. Some of the advice is still useful today, but lacks much of the practical working knowledge that most DP's take for granted. Still - I recommend it to all photographers and lighters as a solid foundation book to build from.Book Review: Excellent Book for Professionals
Summary: 5 Stars
I really had to laugh when I read the review of one film school student who was looking for books on lighting that explained how to do lighting "fast, cheap, and beautiful." In that statement lies the failure of todays film schools, and the genius of "Painting with Light".In filmmaking we are faced with the same Paradigm that faces all industries. The pyramid = Fast, Good, and Cheap. Each of these occupies its own corner of a standard triangle. But here in lies the rub, you can only choose two: good and fast, fast and cheap, cheap and good, etc.
"Painting with Light" comes from an era were most of Hollywood understood this paradigm. Most people in Hollywood, particularly those in "Key" positions knew that good, if not great, lighting took time, and often time took money.
It's an excellent book for those that wish to know more about the general technical requirements of film. Along with "The 5 C's of Cinematography". I would also reccomend, if not require, this book for any aspiring indie filmmaker. Want to make a movie that competes with the majors? Learn what the majors know, and forget what they taught you in film school.
Book Review: Great book!
Summary: 5 Stars
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Book Review: Interesting biography of a movie innovator; detailed explanation of his principles of lighting in cinematography/photography
Summary: 4 Stars
A fascinating book about how to conceive, organize, and illuminate scenes in movies (and shots in still photography).
This book, originally written in 1949, and recently re-issued in a new edition, was written by a man considered to be a key innovator in cinematography, John Alton. An extensive biography of Mr. Alton precedes the main body of the book, and is well worth reading in and of itself, as it helps to explain Alton's important role in movie making.
The main portion of the text describes how to use lighting, not only in cinematography, but also in still photography. Mr. Alton employs numerous diagrams and pictorial examples to explain his very carefully thought-out principles and insights. Although some of the lighting equipment described may be out-of-date, the principles are not.