Books in French are on www.livres-cinema.info
The Filmmaker's Eye
The Language of the Lens: The Power of Lenses and the Expressive Cinematic Image
(0 vote)Average rating:
| 0 | rating |  = We can do without |
| 0 | rating |  = Good book |
| 0 | rating |  = Excellent book |
| 0 | rating |  = Unique / a reference |
Your rating: -
Book Presentation:
The Language of the Lens explores the expressive power of the camera lens and the storytelling contributions that this critical tool can make to a film project. This book offers a unique approach to learning how lenses can produce aesthetically and narratively compelling images in movies, through a close examination of the various ways lens techniques control the look of space, movement, focus, flares, distortion, and the "optical personality" of your story’s visual landscape.
Loaded with vivid examples from commercial, independent, and world cinema, The Language of the Lens presents dozens of insightful case studies examining their conceptual, narrative, and technical approaches to reveal how master filmmakers have harnessed the power of lenses to express the entire range of emotions, themes, tone, atmosphere, subtexts, moods, and abstract concepts.
The Language of the Lens provides filmmakers, at any level or experience, with a wealth of knowledge to unleash the full expressive power of any lens at their disposal, whether they are shooting with state-of-the-art cinema lenses or a smartphone, and everything in between.
About the Author:
Gustavo Mercado is an award-winning independent filmmaker with well over a decade of experience as a writer, director, and cinematographer of narrative films. His first book in the Filmmaker’s Eye series, "The Filmmaker’s Eye: Learning and Breaking the Rules of Cinematic Composition", has been translated into French, Spanish, Chinese, Polish, Turkish, Portuguese, Japanese, and Korean, and is used by film programs at colleges and universities worldwide. He teaches cinematography, editing, screenwriting, and film production at Hunter College’s Film & Media Studies Department in New York City.
Press Reviews:
"For the new moviemaking generation, Language of the Lens can serve as a reference point of how some of cinema's greatest auteurs make use of the lens, as well as a key for how to use the tool. After reading Language of the Lens, moviemakers will be equipped with the ultimate knowledge to command any lens, from an iPhone to the most expensive glass money can buy." - Sophie Jonsson, MovieMaker Magazine
"The Language of the Lens is a truly illuminating book, inspiring for emerging filmmakers as well as veteran directors and cinematographers. Mr. Mercado elevates our understanding of the expressive power of artistic lensing and the incredible force of creative filmmaking."
- John Inwood, Emmy nominated cinematographer of Scrubs and The Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt
"The Language of the Lens combines beautiful visual examples from a wide range of films to explain the aesthetic and emotional connotations of lens language. Understanding the technical and creative aspects of the lens is essential for cinematographers and directors to punctuate the thematic essence of the scene. A very useful visual reference, this book is a must read for any aspiring filmmaker."
- Jacqueline B. Frost, Author of Cinematography for Directors and Professor, California State University, Fullerton
See the publisher website: Routledge
> Books with the same or similar title:
The Filmmaker's Eye (2022)
Learning (and Breaking) the Rules of Cinematic Composition
Subject: Technique > Cinematography
> From the same author:
Voice & Vision (2025)
A Creative Approach to Narrative Filmmaking
by Mick Hurbis-Cherrier and Gustavo Mercado
Subject: Technique > All techniques
The Filmmaker's Eye (2022)
Learning (and Breaking) the Rules of Cinematic Composition
Subject: Technique > Cinematography
> On a related topic:
Introduction to Cinematography (2024)
Learning Through Practice
by Tania Hoser
Subject: Technique > Cinematography
Technology and the Making of Experimental Film Culture (2023)
by John Powers
Subject: Technique > Cinematography
The Cinematographer's Voice (2022)
Insights into the World of Visual Storytelling
Dir. Lindsay Coleman and Roberto Schaefer
Subject: Technique > Cinematography
Cinematography (2021)
Theory and Practice: For Cinematographers and Directors
by Blain Brown
Subject: Technique > Cinematography
Cinematography for Directors (2020)
A Guide for Creative Collaboration
Subject: Technique > Cinematography
Back
