Ours is a craft of tradition. Every image we create, every choice we make — whether technical or aesthetic — never comes from nowhere. To paraphrase Sir Isaac Newton, with every shot we make, we stand on the shoulders of giants.
I have always seen the craft of cinematography as one of those artistic professions that can only be understood with an awareness of the aesthetic tradition it comes from. I am convinced that those who do not know our history are doomed to be blinded by fleeting fashions.
The history of our craft, and its specific place within the history of cinema, is one of my greatest passions. That is why, on the occasion of these end-of-year holidays that many of us will be spending indoors, I wanted to share a list of fascinating books that tell the story of our craft, its aesthetic traditions, and the influence of technique.
Making Pictures: A Century of European Cinematography
Five hundred European films whose cinematography left its mark on its era. For each film, a quick summary of its production history, information on the cinematographer’s work, and magnificent frame stills.
A Hidden History of Film Style – Christopher Beach
A fascinating book that re-examines the history of cinema (usually centred on producers and directors) through the lens of the great director/cinematographer collaborations, using a sharp historian’s methodology to ask: what if the history of cinema owed far more to cinematographers than we tend to think?
Cinematographer Style, vol. 1 and 2
A collection of interviews with an impressive list of great cinematographers. A goldmine of unfiltered thoughts on our craft.
Every Frame a Rembrandt – Andrew Laszlo
A very precise and detailed logbook kept by Andrew Laszlo, recounting his shooting experiences on five feature films (including the cult classics The Warriors and Rambo). A book of great sincerity, one of those rare documents that plunge us into the mind of a great cinematographer at work, decision by decision.
FilmCraft: Cinematography – Mike Goodridge
This book is part of a series (FilmCraft) that looks at all the artistic roles that make up the art of filmmaking. Designed for the general public, this volume on cinematography is nonetheless a genuine reference work on the aesthetics of cinema.
L’Arte della Cinematografia – Vittorio Storaro
Storaro’s love letter to the giants of our craft. A list of great cinematographers, their work, their influences. A true encyclopaedia.
Painting with Light – John Alton
Another reference book on the art of cinematography. The striking contrast in tone between this book and Storaro’s is a fascinating way to grasp the differences in mindset that have always characterised European cinematographers and our American colleagues.
Des Lumières et des Ombres (Lights and Shadows) – Henri Alekan
Somewhere between technique, politics and philosophy, Henri Alekan (known as one of the great masters of French black and white) offers us a deeply personal vision of his craft.
A Man with a Camera – Nestor Almendros
This book by Nestor Almendros is a monumental work, serving at once as a biography, a film-by-film logbook of his entire career, and a notebook of aesthetic inspirations. Perhaps one of the most complete books available in French.
Conversations with Darius Khondji
A more recent book, tracing Darius Khondji’s career film by film, period by period. Packed with references, aesthetic inspirations and technical detail, a book that projects us straight into the mind of a towering cinematographer.
