Visions of Light
“The Art of Cinematography”
1992•1h 32m•7.0•Released
DocumentaryHistory
Cameramen and women discuss the craft and art of cinematography and of the "DP" (the director of photography), illustrating their points with clips from 100 films, from Birth of a Nation to Do the Right Thing. Themes: the DP tells people where to look; changes in movies (the arrival of sound, color, and wide screens) required creative responses from DPs; and, these artisans constantly invent new equipment and try new things, with wonderful results. The narration takes us through the identifiable studio styles of the 30s, the emergence of noir, the New York look, and the impact of Europeans. Citizen Kane, The Conformist, and Gordon Willis get special attention.
Director
Stuart Samuels
Writer
Todd McCarthy
Languages
English
Studio
AFI
Cast
Ernest R. Dickerson
Self
Michael Chapman
Self
Allen Daviau
Self
Caleb Deschanel
Self
Lisa Rinzler
Self
Conrad Hall
Self
William A. Fraker
Self
John Bailey
Self
Néstor Almendros
Self
Charles Rosher Jr.
Self
Vilmos Zsigmond
Self
Stephen H. Burum
Self
Harry L. Wolf
Self
Charles Lang
Self
Sven Nykvist
Self
Production
Company
AFI
Company
NHK
Recommended
6.9
Making Waves: The Art of Cinematic Sound
2019
7.4
The Director and the Jedi
2018
7
The Cutting Edge: The Magic of Movie Editing
2004
6.7
Cameraperson
2016
7.9
The Skywalker Legacy
2020
6.8
Obi-Wan Kenobi: A Jedi's Return
2022
7.2
Side by Side
2012
7.1
The Making of Star Wars
1977
6.6
Unknown Dimension: The Story of Paranormal Activity
2021
7.8
Jodorowsky's Dune
2013
7
Corman's World
2011
7.6
Los Angeles Plays Itself
2004
7
Game of Thrones: The Last Watch
2019
6.6
Altman
2014
7.1
Friedkin Uncut
2018
7.5
Jaws @ 50: The Definitive Inside Story
2025
7.1
They'll Love Me When I'm Dead
2018
7
Mifune: The Last Samurai
2016
6.2
Seduced and Abandoned
2013
7.4
The Walking Dead: The Return
2024
Similar Movies
Archetype - Petar Meseldžija: The Life and Work of an Artist
2024
7
All You Zombies: Bringing 'Predestination' to Life
2015
The Curse of Kane
2026
Le phénomène Godlywood : quand l'Église fait son cinéma !
2024
Hollywood Helps the Cause
2006
7.1
Filmworker
2018
7.4
Never Surrender: A Galaxy Quest Documentary
2019
Micro-Budget Marauders
2019
6.5
A Gray State
2017
Titien : au royaume des couleurs
2022
From pyongyang to Pluto and Black
2019
4
Figli del Set
2019
5.8
Heirs of the Beast
2016
7.5
We Were Once Kids
2021
6.6
Basquiat
1996
6.8
High Noon on the Waterfront
2022
Manila... A Filipino Film
1975
7.2
The One, the Only, the Real Tarzan
2004
7.2
Batman & Bill
2017
6.3
Going Attractions: The Definitive Story of the Movie Palace
2019