ERIC KIM

5 Films Photographers Must Watch

To make better photos and composition, study great cinema!

Why cinema?

Photographers should study cinema because it will spark our imagination! We learn more about visual story telling, composition, framing, etc.

My personal favorites and recommendations:

1. Space Odyssey (2001) by Stanley Kubrick

Seriously my #1 favorite film of all time. Study the sound design, the epic cinematography, the deep philosophy and it was filmed in the 1960s, nearly 50+ years ago!!! Kubrick was able to make this insanely epic film 50 years ago; don’t you think we can do something even greater today in 2018?

2. Fight club

I’ve watched the film for FIGHT CLUB and then read the book. Both are excellent.

I love this film for the philosophy of self empowerment, and anti consumerism. Also the cinematography is fantastic, and I totally have a crush on Brad Pitt and Edward Norton (both badasses in my mind):

3. FURY (2014)

Of course FURY has Brad Pitt. I’m personally a fan boy of the producer Bill Block (loved Elysium and his other films), and I love this film from a visual and ethical perspective.

I think the film was shot on film. It has a beautiful aesthetic. Great cinematography and performances from Pitt, Shia, and the whole crew. And there’s also something about the heroism of war movies I love:

4. Akira (animated film)

Akira is my favorite animated film if all time. Super epic color palette, and how it transports you into a new visual universe!

Leading lines in Akira.
Abstracted color palette from Akira.
Side shot from Akira movie.
Neo Tokyo reflected
Frame in a frame.
Akira still, left, Color Theory on rifht.

5. The Matrix

Red pill blue pill matrix

Matrix is my favorite philosophy film. If you’re short on time just watch the first. I still enjoyed the second two, but the first matrix will blow your mind.

Study the way it was able to transport you into this “cyber punk” future. Note the green computer code Kanji, the green and red color combination in the whole film, and the philosophy (do you take the red pill or the blue pill?)

For more recommendations see my list below:

Cinema

Cinematography and life lessons:

Articles on Cinema

Great Cinema