Hello all,

I just bought this book to assist in my learning of photographic lighting! I wanted to start this thread as a general discussion regarding the information found in this book.. as I read I may have some questions, and would like to attach them to this post. Those of you who have read the book, feel free to post your take away!

Thanks!

- Travis

Best book around to learn how to control light and reflections.

Absolutely essential for someone setting out to learn studio photography, whether portrait or product.

<Chas>

Superb book, I originally bought the 1st edition. Thinking about the 3rd edition for its new contet

Absolutely indispensable. If I can only recommend one book on lighting then this is it.

What does he say about continuous lighting? Yea or nay?

It doesn't work that way. He's not a pundit telling you how to light things...it's a book describing the nature of light as it pertains to photography.

I think you'll find that many of us are totally non-partisan. I own a small pro-level continuous lighting kit that I use for video work. When we say "you don't want to use continuous lights for still photography" we're oversimplifying it to put the pros and cons into a nutshell for those of you with less experience. It's our way of saying, "you can do it if you really want to, but you're going to make life more difficult for yourself if you do."

And that totally changes if you shoot product, or still life, or automotive, or giant set-pieces with limitless budgets like Gregory Crewdson. There's no one answer.

The point of a book like this is that it teaches you to understand light, not understand individual pieces of equipment.

Equipment changes, the laws of light do not.

Light is like a woman, the more you understand her, the more responsive she is to your touch.

Great text book and a terrific resource.
Highly recommended. It also provides great benefit to the available light shooter too.
Read it and refer to it.

It was the first book I bought on lighting, and it is still the most useful. I enjoy the way they offer options and problem solve situations. I got lucky and bought it right when they invested in the third edition to offer beautiful full color images.

Max

So... I'm going to agree with everyone here. Great book.

The library around me has that book and I plan on going and getting it from there.

+1 .. must read

jagsiva wrote:
+1 .. must read
+2

Thumbs down from me

I read through this book at a local library and wasn't very impressed. Perhaps I was expecting something different. "The Technique of Lighting for Television and Film" would be my recommendation and I think it is one of the must have books on lighting. Although it could just be that I prefer cinematic lighting to traditional photographic lighting.

Well I just ordered my copy online today as the local Chapters/indigo doesn't carry it in stock. Besides I got it from Amazon.ca for much cheaper new.

Just picked up my copy today. Thumbed thru it and I can't wait to sit down and begin. From what I saw, it is exactly the book on lighting that I needed. It gives you diagrams on how shots were carried out and breaks it down.

My type of book "ABC", and alot of pictures

I would not call it a "how to" book, but instead more of a science of light manual. I loved it. It really makes you think about light in a different way. And while the examples are generally geared to product photography, the principles are applicable to all photography. Well worth my time to read, and need to hit it again one of these days.

I must be an abject idiot but I have this book and it is way too complicated for me. I understand what is trying to be accomplished -- explanation of how light behaves in lighting products -- but I cannot grasp the concepts and explanations. Maybe someone can recommend another book I can look at (being written for a 4 year old and in crayon is ok).

Thanks for the help.

nycfirefighter wrote:
I must be an abject idiot but I have this book and it is way too complicated for me. I understand what is trying to be accomplished -- explanation of how light behaves in lighting products -- but I cannot grasp the concepts and explanations. Maybe someone can recommend another book I can look at (being written for a 4 year old and in crayon is ok).

Thanks for the help.

Strobist has some pretty good 101's. Once you start picking it up and practicing, you'll be itching to get back to the meaty stuff.

Light is like a woman, the more you understand her, the more responsive she is to your touch.

Well, that about ends my chances of taking a good photograph....anyone want some gear.

nycfirefighter wrote: I must be an abject idiot but I have this book and it is way too complicated for me. I understand what is trying to be accomplished -- explanation of how light behaves in lighting products -- but I cannot grasp the concepts and explanations.

Are you just reading it, or are you reading a section and then trying to duplicate what was covered? It can be a bit hard to comprehend if you're just reading it.

...Maybe someone can recommend another book I can look at (being written for a 4 year old and in crayon is ok).

The Digital Photography Book (Volumes 1 & 2) by Scott Kelby
Mastering Flash Photography by Susan McCartney

Thanks guys. I am just reading it; maybe that's a problem.

I heard some good things about the Scott Kelby book.

crockett wrote:
Light is like a woman, the more you understand her, the more responsive she is to your touch.

Well, that about ends my chances of taking a good photograph....anyone want some gear.

I didn't have to get rid of mine, my wife showed me where to stick it.

nycfirefighter wrote:
Thanks guys. I am just reading it; maybe that's a problem.

I heard some good things about the Scott Kelby book.


Well, the first few pages of the book tell you to NOT just read it, but do all of the examples if possible. That statement right there is how meaningful, helpful, and straight forward the book is.

... " family of angles" ... one of those interesting and useful topics !

Rgds
Velu