Lighting for cinematography : a practical guide to the art and craft of lighting for the moving image / David Landau.

Includes bibliographical references (pages 261-264) and index.

Introduction: No matter how good a camera, good lighting is what sells the picture -- The magic of light: what lighting does and what we can make it do -- Who and what makes light?: the lighting crew, lighting units, basic electricity -- Lighting the subject: motivation and three-point lighting -- Lighting the shot, not just the subject: more than three lights, three planes of lighting -- Common practical lighting setups: cross key, chicken coop, China ball, bathrooms -- Lighting for movement: subject and camera, ambient soft lighting -- Dealing with daylight 1: shooting exteriors -- Dealing with daylight 2: working with windows -- Night light: lighting night exteriors and interiors -- Working with color: using color for mood and using gels -- Light the scene, not just the shot: high key, low key, contrast ratios, exposure choice, Chiaroscuro lighting, Rembrandt, and butterfly lighting -- Special lighting considerations and effects: fire, water, rain, fog, lightning, poor man's process shot, green screen, and product shots -- Nonfiction lighting: interview, corporate, newsmagazine, documentary, reality -- Inspiration and lighting looks -- Appendix 1: Advice from the field: interviews with cameramen and gaffers -- Appendix 2: Resources.

"We can't shoot good pictures without good lighting, no matter how good the newest cameras are. Shooting under available light gives exposure, but lacks depth, contrast, contour, atmosphere and often separation. The story could be the greatest in the world, but if the lighting is poor viewers will assume it's amateurish and not take it seriously. Feature films and TV shows, commercials and industrial videos, reality TV and documentaries, even event and wedding videos tell stories. Good lighting can make them look real, while real lighting often makes them look fake. Lighting for Cinematography, the first volume in the new CineTech Guides to the Film Crafts, is the indispensable guide for film and video lighting. Written by veteran gaffer and cinematographer David Landau, the book helps the reader create lighting that supports the emotional moment of the scene, contributes to the atmosphere of the story and can augment an artistic style. Structured to mimic a 14 week semester, the chapters cover such things as lighting for movement, working with windows, night lighting, lighting the three plains of action and non-fiction lighting. Every chapter includes stills, lighting diagrams and key advice from professionals in the field, as well as lighting exercises for the reader to put into practice what was covered"--

"A how-to book on the art, craft and practice of lighting for film & video for students and filmmakers"--