Digital Cinematography & Directing

I just bought the book and it's a great value. I also just bought a new 3D storyboarding program which allows me to apply the ideas in the book and incorporate them into my current project. I am NOT an animator but a writer-director planning the remaining hour of a low-budget indie feature film (DV) in production. This book is valuable not only for storyboard artists but also independent filmmakers and writers! I just recommended this book highly on the forum for the storyboarding program, which is called FrameForge 3D Studio (see the product offers at The Writer's Store website).

I'm reading through these reviews, and the one guy saying it's just satisfactory? What? IF YOU"RE SO ADVANCED - WHY DO YOU NEED A BOOK????? It's really amazing that all of these "pros" are great at critiquing and what have they done? Where is their great work? Digital Cinematography is and excellent book. Yes - IT'S FOR BEGINNERS! Why else would you get a book? If you're advanced, you don't need a book. Duh! This book could have better illustrations, but what's there works just fine - the illustrations prove a point, and that's it! The information is excellent for any 3D animator who wants to bone up on their camera skills, shots, angles, planning, and even editing. Get this book. It's a great reference!

"Digital Cinematography & Directing", is the newest book in my Lightwave library. and by far the most entertaining. I have found Dan's books to be the best Lightwave training resources available. This book is no exception! I like how the book focuses on the aesthetics of animation, rather than the typical "how-to". It's the story that can really make the difference and I feel that this book guides you in the path to becoming a better animator. The book begins by giving the reader a foundation in photography, which is applied to the 3D camera. It then goes on to helping the reader to develop and visualize their story. Later chapters include topics suchas directing, lighting, staging, and editing. I feel that Dan's book, from beginning to end, covers all of the essential concepts of cinematography and directing. This book is a must-have for all 3D animators!

Digital Cinematography & Directing is one of the best written books I've seen for explaining technical issues about cameras, angles, aspect ratios, compressions, and more. The beginning chapters were very informative on topics I thought I already knew about. Throughout the book, I continuall found some tricks I hadn't thought of that have really helped my 3D animations.I've used LightWave, Maya, and Softimage, and none of their manuals have gone into this much detail about how to use the 3D camera, much less, how to direct it and its subjects. Excellent excellent reference!

I have to say, this book is killer! It really has helped me figure out what the difference in aspect ratios is, and how to really maximize my camera in my 3D software. I've used the digital textures book and the digital lighting book so this book was the next natural thing. Do yourself a favor and get Dan Ablan's Digital Cinematography and Directing. It will help your images and animations look better than you though they could.