''The Shadowcatchers: A history of cinematography in Australia'' is a photographic history of Australian cinematography, written by

Martha Ansara Martha Ansara (born 9 September 1942) is a documentary filmmaker whose films on social issues have won international prizes and been screened in Australia, the UK, Europe and North America. Ansara was one of the first women in Australia to work a ...

and published by the Australian Cinematographers Society, which launched the project for its 50th Anniversary in 2008.

Summary

''The Shadowcatchers'' documents the history of Australia's national cinema and the industrial practices and role of the cinematographer from the 1890s to 2011. The book contains excerpts of oral histories of cinematographers recorded for the

National Film and Sound Archive The National Film and Sound Archive of Australia (NFSA), known as ScreenSound Australia from 1999 to 2004, is Australia's audiovisual archive, responsible for developing, preserving, maintaining, promoting and providing access to a national co ...

of Australia discussing the nature of filmmaking under the impact of broader political, social and technological forces throughout Australian cinematic history, as well as photographs from Australian and international stills photographers. The book was developed with input from veteran members of the Australian Cinematographers Society, creating a sense of an insiders’ view of what happens behind the camera. Themes include the changing culture and technology of Australian cinematography, the specific nature of the work, the importance of actuality and commercials production, international influences, relationships between cinematographers and directors, cast and crew, and the sorts of studios and locations where films have been made. Twenty-six biographies are also presented, covering early cinematographers such as the Burnes of Queensland, Academy Award Winners such as Dean Semler,

Russell Boyd Russell Stewart Boyd, , ACS, ASC, (born 21 April 1944) is an Australian cinematographer. He rose to prominence with his highly praised work on '' Picnic at Hanging Rock'' (1975), the first of several collaborations with director Peter Weir. ...

and

John Seale John Clement Seale ACS ASC (born 5 October 1942) is an Australian cinematographer. He won an Oscar for his work in the 1996 film ''The English Patient,'' in addition to a BAFTA and Satellite Award. He is a member of both the Australian Cin ...

, war correspondents Damien Parer and Neil Davis, and Movietone News cameraman Bill Trerise. ''The Shadowcatchers'' has been published in two editions: a softcover edition and a hardback collectors edition, limited to 250 numbered copies and signed by the five living Australian winners of the Academy Award for cinematography, Dean Semler,

, Andrew Lesnie,

and

Dion Beebe Dion Beebe A.C.S. A.S.C. ( ; born 18 May 1968) is an Australian-South African cinematographer. Originally from Brisbane, Queensland, Australia, his family moved to Cape Town, South Africa in 1972. Dion studied cinematography at the Australian ...

.Dion Beebe (2005), ''Memoirs of a Geisha'', The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences http://awardsdatabase.oscars.org/ampas_awards/DisplayMain.jsp?curTime=1337948050763

References

External links

* ''Imago: European Federation of Cinematographers'', http://www.imago.org/index.php?new=567 * ''Film & Digital Times'', Issue 46, February 2012, http://www.fdtimes.com * ''The Shadowcatchers'' website: https://web.archive.org/web/20080724005613/http://www.shadowcatchers.com.au/ * ''Senses of Cinema'' Issue 64, September 2012, http://sensesofcinema.com/ * ''Screening the Past'' July 2012, http://www.screeningthepast.com {{DEFAULTSORT:Shadowcatchers: A history of cinematography in Australia Photographic history books Books about film Cinema of Australia Historiography of Australia 2012 non-fiction books