The Filmmaker's Eye: Learning (and Breaking) the Rules of Cinematic Composition

Telling stories with moving images is one of the most exalted art forms of our era, and this fully revised and updated new edition of the classic book on cinematic composition will equip the reader with the skills and understanding needed to harness the power of making impactful films that tell a story. This is the only book that combines conceptual and practical instruction on creating polished and eloquent images for film and video with the technical know-how to achieve them.

Containing hundreds of revised full-color examples, the second edition has been completely updated to take into account all of the technological developments over the past 10 years, including HD, 4K, 8K and 12k, improvements in SMOS sensor technology, the DSLR revolution, and the applications of this technological evolution on commercial and independent film. The technical considerations section of every chapter gives a special focus to lenses, and advice relating to exposure, lighting, and production logistics have been revised to reflect current practices and equipment. Every case study has been re-examined and expanded, with the addition of brand-new and an extensive range of shot types, and a complete revamp of the Rule of Cinematic Composition and Technical Concepts chapter to include discussion of every rule, and the newly available options for shot previsualization. The book is now broken into 3 parts - size, composition, and dynamics - to make it an even more accessible, easy-to-reference guide.

This is essential reading for anyone with an interest in motion media and cinematic storytelling; independent filmmakers, directors, producers, cinematographers, editors, as well as students studying filmmaking, composition, media aesthetics, and film studies.