Lighting Books - Page 6

Basic Studio Lighting: The Photographer's Complete Guide to Professional Techniques

Tony Corbell

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 16 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

Such a Missed Opportunity 2 out of 5 stars.
31 of 33 people found this review helpful.

There is no question that Tony Corbell takes wonderful photographs. Go to his website at [...] to see for yourself. But, as we've often seen, raw photographic talent more often than not does not translate into teachable talent or competent writing skills.

In `Basic Studio Lighting' Corbell tackles a needed subject, writes in an agreeable fashion and delivers with beautiful examples. Yet one finishes this book, while thankful for the nuggets of valuable information, ultimately disappointed.

Disappointed at the missed opportunity. Corbell might very well have delivered a photographic knockout punch. He could have written the definitive textbook on studio lighting. Instead his book falls into the "out of 144 pages, I picked up three new ideas" category that too often describes photographic instruction books.

How do you possibly write a book on basic studio lighting without a single lighting diagram connected to an individual photograph? Tony Corbell did.

He even knows the importance of conveying that information. Consider, on page 128, Corbell writes "Placement of the separation light is of key importance..." yet no diagrams. As in none.

Didn't early on somebody, anybody (maybe an editor who should have known better) say, `Uh Tony? You might want to diagram those lighting setups, just in case someone might actually want to use your information"? This omission alone takes this book from the keeper category and lands it into the `read once and discard' category.

This book reads like Tony's lectures might sound if they were written down with a slideshow of images behind him, not like a book written from scratch.

Such a missed opportunity.

Editorial Review:

A guide to mastering the complexities of one of the most important aspects of making a photograph: proper lighting. The author explores how to use equipment properly and suggests ways of utilising colour and light to create special effects. He also discusses exposures, accent lighting, backgrounds, set-ups and many other studio techniques. Such techniques are often illustrated with colour photographs in a step-by-step manner.

Still Life and Special Effects Photography: A Guide to Professional Lighting Techniques, Second Edition

Roger Hicks, Frances Schultz

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 18 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

Showing its age 2 out of 5 stars.
9 of 9 people found this review helpful.

This book reads like it was written before digital photography and Photoshop were viable options for the professional photographer. Many of the elaborately staged shots are laughable and seem quaint compared to today's techniques. Don't let the cover images fool you either, most of the shots inside have a very 1980s feel to them. Even so, a handful of the shots have useful lighting information, so this will stay on my studio's bookshelf.

Editorial Review:

Every picture featured in "Still Life and Special Effects Photography" is accompanied by a description of how the lighting was achieved, while clear illustrations showing each lighting set-up help readers achieve the same effect. The first section is dedicated to shooting conventional still-life subjects (such as food, product shots and natural flora), and the second to the more challenging field of special-effect photography (montage, multiexposure, mirrors and props, constructing simple room sets, etc). Now available new in paperback, this should be an indispensable book for anyone who would like to discover the secrets behind other photographer's successful images.

KODAK The Art of Digital Photography: Mood, Ambience & Dramatic Effects (Kodak the Art of Digital Photography)

Joseph R. Meehan

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 1 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

A Useful Guide 4 out of 5 stars.
5 of 5 people found this review helpful.

Most serious photographers, after they learn the details of exposure and focus, begin to think about how to make something artful out of their pictures. They start to think about how they can manipulate the mood and ambience (the publisher's preferred spelling) of their images. From its title this book seems like an ideal tool to learn this phase of photography.

The author starts out by discussing lighting, exposure, lens focal length, white balance, ISO, and filters. He moves on to long aspect ratios, weather conditions and infrared photography. The author's thesis is that great photographs require exceptional subjects and/or methods.

I was pleased to see that in his discussion of lens focal length the author emphasized the use of lenses to control perspective (the relative sizes of foreground and background to subjects.) While this discussion avoided the often-heard misstatements about depth of field, Meehan labored long and hard to explain his point. I kept remembering the two pages of photos in "The Art of Outdoor Photography: Techniques for the Advanced Amateur and Professional" by Boyd Norton, with scarcely a written word that explained this same point so simply. 10 pictures were worth ten thousand words!

The book is profusely illustrated with beautiful pictures that clearly demonstrate mood and ambience. Unfortunately, although the pictures were clearly tied to and indexed in the text, I wished we could have known more about their technical data and more importantly, the source of the vision to create them. Still the reader will benefit from studying these pictures closely and trying to understand how the author created the moods they convey.

The book reads quickly and has plenty of white space. I wish it had been made a little more crowded by the author discussing composition.

One of the problems is that it may be impossible to teach a person how to develop his or her vision so that the tools Meehan discusses can be applied to create a great picture. On the other hand I keep remembering books from the past that seemed to reach in this direction like Brenda Tharp's "Creative Nature and Outdoor Photography" and Freeman Patterson's "Photography and the Art of Seeing: A Visual Perception Workshop for Film and Digital Photography."

Maybe I just don't have the soul of an artist but I can't always see how these tools will work to create that mood. Occasionally Meehan reached for that point, as in his discussion of white balance where he suggests that color casts can create mood and ambience, but I would have liked for him to explain what ambience was created by adding more red, and when I should use in-camera white balance, or when I should use Camera Raw adjustments or when I should use color balance or hue/saturation. I know that I'm asking a lot, and I'm not certain of the best way to convey this kind of information. I was impressed by Peter Watson's "Capturing the Light: An Inspirational and Instructional Guide to Landscape Photography". There the author took some of the same subjects covered here, like the effect of focal length, and showed us a picture and talked about why he selected a particular focal length and annotated a thumbnail of the picture with his own special considerations.

Learning how to create mood and ambience is a lifelong trip for every photographer. You should not expect to ever arrive, and this book is only one of the travel guides you should read to help you get started, but it will give you some ideas about the journey.

Editorial Review:

Lighting, exposure, and computer effects: every one of these photographic elements helps create a photograph’s ambience, transforming it from a simple document into an eloquent, interpretive piece of art. From Kodak comes a complete course in refining the image and enhancing the scene you’re capturing. It focuses on personal expression, on moving beyond reality through point of view, software options, and all the camera’s tools. Master photographer Joseph Meehan provides invaluable professional advice on how to add drama with light quality, change the subject presentation through lens focal length, work with filters, shift perspectives, and harness the power of black-and-white imagery. Artist portfolios filled with award-winning examples illustrate every concept, and show photographers how to turn ordinary pictures into truly compelling pieces.

Professional Secrets of Natural Light Portrait Photography

Douglas Allen Box

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 32 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

Ok, Was Hoping for More 2 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

This book is OK. I was really hoping for a book that focused more on utilization of sun/natural light without the use of reflectors and/or inclusion of flash.

I feel that the photos are a bit dated, as is the layout of the book. It's just not as fresh and current as I'd have liked.

For basic information it's fine, but truly it is just sitting on a shelf taking up space - I'd contemplated returning it, to be honest.

Editorial Review:

Natural light portraiture is fast becoming a popular style of photography. Photographers and clients appreciate the understated, low-maintenance shoots and the spontaneous, casual quality of the photos. Featuring images shot on location, in clients’ homes, and in the studio, the author teaches how to use the unique qualities of direct sun, window light, porch light, shade, and the light at sunrise and sunset to create flattering, natural-looking portraits. Photographers will learn how to select the right setting, equipment, backdrop, and props, as well as how to control the balance of light between subject and background. Each sample portrait is accompanied by detailed technical information to help photographers achieve the same results in their own work.

Simple Lighting Techniques for Portrait Photographers (Amherst Media, Inc.)

Bill Hurter

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 3 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

Editorial Review:

With tips for creating natural, hassle-free lighting, this reference shows photographers how to abandon complex lighting scenarios in favor of more straightforward, uncomplicated ones. Photographers will learn the advantages of simpler lighting—such as saving money by avoiding excessive equipment purchases and maintenance and making location shoots less cumbersome and more convenient. Emphasizing that photographers should imitate the sun’s natural light—not only to create a realistic setting but also to allow for genuine facial expressions from more relaxed portrait subjects—this guidebook illustrates how to create one- and two-light setups, making simple refinements with lightweight, inexpensive, and portable reflectors. Covering the basics of lighting and applying them to portraits as well as discussing the equipment available today, this resource ensures more enjoyable photography sessions for both photographers and their subjects.

Automated Lighting: The Art and Science of Moving Light in Theatre, Live Performance, Broadcast, and Entertainment

Richard Cadena

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 3 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

Editorial Review:

"Automated Lighting-Technology, Applications, and Design" is a comprehensive text covering everything you will need to know as a working or aspiring lighting professional about automated lighting fixtures, systems, how they are used and design issues you will face. It is written in clear, easy-to-understand language but includes enough detailed information that the most experienced technician and engineer will appreciate and benefit from reading. Subjects covered include the history of automated lighting, DC and AC electricity, basic electronics, power supplies, digital electronics, electro-mechanical systems, optical systems (including dichroic filters, reflectors, lenses, and more), lamp technology, lighting effects (including color mixing, glass gobos, and more), data distribution systems, DMX, RDM, and ACN. State-of-the-art automated lighting fixtures in various applications including theatre, television, concert/touring, and permanent installations are discussed and special design issues are addressed.

The text is amply illustrated with drawings and pictures. The newest technology in automated lighting--"digital" lighting or pixel-based automated lighting projection--is also covered in detail. This book is the antithesis of a reference manual or user manual. It is entertaining and educational with lots of graphic illustrations and easy-to-understand concepts. It's the most fun you can have without sitting behind a console.

* Numerous examples and illustrations
* Easy to read with little "tech-talk"
* Contains information on the newest lighting technology
* Minimal amount of math reduces the drudgery!

The Automated Lighting Programmer's Handbook

Brad Schiller

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 7 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Competent, but a bit thin... 4 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

Buying this book to expand my knowledge into this area, I found it a bit thin. It feels stretched to me - like a padded long article. The info about cue types was good, but I'm sure it's covered in user manuals, and the insistence on avoiding mention of specific products diluted the rest of it too much for my liking. I think picking a console and fixtures, even if it's one per chapter, would allow a little more detail. As it is, readable, but unsatisfying.

Certainly room for another edition, hopefully with more detail. I should note that I'm not a beginner, I've been programming other aspects of shows for decades. Possibly a beginner would get more out of it. I gave it more stars because it covers the exact topic I was looking for.

Editorial Review:

From basic principles of automated lighting, to pre-production preparations, the text details concepts, procedures, and guidelines to ensure a successful production. Then the author continues with in-depth explanations for beginning, intermediate, and advanced programmers. Additional sections explore troubleshooting principles, working relationships, and future technologies. For the final chapter of the book, the author interviewed many respected lighting industry veterans including John Broderick, Christian Choi, Laura Frank, Jim Lenahan, and Arnold Serame.

* Linear aspect of building a show from beginning to end
* Includes author's Sydney 2000 Olympic Journal
* Advice from respected industry pros including Christian Choi, Laura Frank, and John Broderick

Creative Photoshop Lighting Techniques, Revised and Updated (A Lark Photography Book)

Barry Huggins

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 22 Average rating: 3.5 of 5

Save your money and learn to light... 2 out of 5 stars.
7 of 8 people found this review helpful.

Looking at the images in this book is akin to watching a bad magician at work: the secret "moves" are anything but. Some of the effects like fire and smoke are obviously fake. Others, like casting shadows from blinds and plants are less so, but still "feel" wrong in the way the shadows often have the wrong density and falloff, or fail to follow the curves and shapes of foreground objects.

If you're serious about your photography, I'd advise getting a good book on lighting by someone like Barrister, and learn to light for real. Many of the "effects" presented in the book can be done in seconds with some rudimentary equipment and a little practice.... or you can spend hours in PS "perfecting" an image that, like the magician's tricks, fools no one but himself.

Editorial Review:

From bringing sunshine into cloudy day pictures to creating underwater effects, photographers can add realistic drama to their images with Photoshop. The techniques are all here, brilliantly illustrated and explained in this bestselling guide--now updated for the next version of Adobe Photoshop with new instructions and screen grabs. Find out about light sources; different types of light, such as candlelight and neon; manipulating light; and color temperature. Replicate classic studio lighting setups, and give portraits a touch of Hollywood glamour. Abundant information on shadows, projections, reflections, special effects, shortcuts for Mac and Windows, filters, and third-party plug-ins, make this is a must-have.

"You'll be both inspired and informed with a new arsenal of techniques."--eDigitalPhoto

"Higgins has written the comprehensive guide to creative lighting in the age of digital photography."--Digital Camera

The Confused Photographer's Guide to On-Camera Spotmetering (The Confused Photographer's Guide to . . . Series) (The Confused Photographer's Guide to . . . Series)

Bahman Farzad

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 42 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Editorial Review:

World’s first book written to illustrate the on-camera spot metering technique for 35mm, Digital, and Medium Format photographers:

All types of metering systems used in different cameras (with the exception of the on-camera spotmeter operated by a skilled photographer) use a "cookie-cutter" approach to photographic exposure. What this means is the camera meter measures the various tones of your subject, and then averages all of the tones in order to come up with an overall exposure. Sometimes the overall exposure works and sometimes it doesn't. With this approach, the ball is in the camera's court and in many instances the photographer has no hand in the final look of the image. With on-camera spotmetering, the photographer uses a "tailored" approach to find the correct exposure for a very specific subject. With this approach, the skilled photographer interprets the spotmeter readings from the subject and establishes the correct exposure that captures the desired image (what the eye sees) on film. The consistency and flexibility of the narrow-angled spotmeter makes it the most powerful and versatile exposure tool in existance today. The only catch in using a spotmeter is that the photographer must have the skill to use this powerful tool correctly and effectively. The Confused Photographer's Guide to On-Camera Spotmetering does just that! It is simple, easy-to-follow, and uses a common-sense teaching approach to the material. With more than seventy full-page illustrations, it is designed to get the beginner and the intermediate photographer started in a couple of days. I assume that you have a camera with a built-in spotmetering (partial metering) feature. I also assume that you have a ninth grade education and are willing to learn. To facilitate your learning process, I have included a two page cheat sheets for each of the following cameras: Canon EOS 10D Digital Slr, Canon EOS 20D Digital Slr, Canon EOS 3, Canon EOS A2/A2E, Canon EOS Elan 2E, Canon EOS Elan 7E, Canon EOS Rebel 2000, Canon EOS Rebel Ti/300V, Canon PowerShot G3 Digital, Canon PowerShot G5 Digital, Minolta Maxxum 5, Minolta Maxxum 7, Minolta Maxxum 9, Minolta Maxxum StSi, Nikon CoolPix 990 Digital, Nikon CoolPix 995 Digital, Nikon CoolPix 4500 Digital, Nikon CoolPix 5700 Digital, Nikon Coolpix 5000 Digital, Nikon Coolpix 8700 Digital, Nikon D70 Digital Slr, Nikon F4, Nikon F5, Nikon F100, Nikon N50, Nikon N55, Nikon N60, Nikon N6006, Nikon N65, Nikon N70, Nikon N75, Nikon N80, Nikon N8008s, Nikon N90/N90s, Pentax *ist, Pentax *ist-D Digital SLR, Pentax 645N Medium Format, Pentax MZ-S, Pentax PZ-1P, Pentax ZX-5N, and Sony DSC-F717 Digital. If your camera is not listed here, you will still be able to learn the technique and apply it successfully.

The Art of Outdoor Photography: Techniques for the Advanced Amateur and Professional

Boyd Norton

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 31 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

For beginners, not advanced amateurs and professionals 3 out of 5 stars.
9 of 11 people found this review helpful.

The sub-title of the book says "Techniques for the Advanced Amateur and Professional." Hardly. This is simply one of many generalist photography books geared to beginners and "non-advanced" amateurs. Don't expect to find anything that isn't in dozens of similar books. The photos are average, and aren't helped by the lacklustre quality of the printing.

WOW!! What a book! 5 out of 5 stars.
3 of 4 people found this review helpful.

Absolutely amazing!! This is one of the BEST photography books out there. I have bought many books on photography, but this one has absolutely captivated me. Have you ever been ever been awestruck by some lovely outdoor scenery, taken pictures of that landscape , got the film developed and printed shook your head in bewilderment and said "what the heck happened?". All the things that captured your heart and soul are still there in the picture, but it does not have the same impact? If this has happened to you, this book will tell you why.

Don't walk, run. Go buy the book!

Editorial Review:

With "The Art of Outdoor Photography", Norton has created a comprehensive volume on the art and technique of outdoor shooting. Tips on lenses, shutter speed, depth of field, and lighting are presented for professionals and experienced amateurs alike. This popular book has been revised and updated with a major revision to the films and filters material; films and filters mark the greatest advance in photography over the past few decades.