Lighting Books

Norman Phillips is one of professional photographry's legendary portrait artists. This book is richly illustrated with not only his exceptional images but those of other industry legends like Monte Zucker and Michael Ayers.

The lighting diagrams make it easy to replicate the wonderful pictures in the book. This is a helpful guide for both the beginner and seasoned pro.

There are a lot of examples of lighting methods and styles to help you find the right light for the photographic look you wish to achieve.

Photographers who want to hone in on the lighting and poses that flatter women will love Lighting and Posing Techniques for Photographing Woman, covering a wide range of images from the traditional bridal image and business portraits to fashion shots, maternity images, and more. Posing techniques are presented to make women look their best, along with tips on using both studio and natural lighting, and different poses for business versus personal portraits. Approaches of a number of different pros outline different methods of achieving success.

Diane C. Donovan
California Bookwatch

I expected more information, specifically on modeling, composition, and selecting locations for outdoor portraiture based on the goal one is trying to achieve.

Also, would have been handy if it included (with pictures) different techniques to overcome physical shortcomings. Unfortunately, not everyone looks beautiful in a two-piece bikini. With a little small talk I try to attain subject's insecurities, I then photograph them in ways were I enhance their best features and reduce focus on the areas of insecurity. It would have been nice to review the techniques of others, compare, experiment, and incorporate some.

Limited by having 128 pages and 15 photographers profiled. Next time dedicate 150 pages with the input of 5 top photographers.

This book, for the price it is selling for, is not that great. This book lacks any new ideals or philosophies on lighting design. Instead, it regurgitates past methods and techniques from older books. The function of stage instrumentation, simple electricity, McCandles method, and other elementary concepts dominate the text in this book, which suprised me since this I thought this book was supposed to be about design rather about mechanics. Style, Collaboration, Psychological uses color, these are topics that are barley menitoned or not mentioned at all. I would not reccomend this book for beginners, (Pilbrow has a much better book) and it is of no use for any other designers. A much better book on the subject of lighting design is Richard Palmer's "The Lighting Art".

Lighting and the Design Idea by Linda Essig is an essential lighting textbook for serious lighting educators, professionals and students. All aspects of lighting design from conception to execution are covered. Buy and enjoy!

This is hands down the best book on lighting design I've seen.
It is clear, coherent, and concise. A wonderful book to use for
both beginning designers, as well as for intermediate and even
advanced designers, for review and clarification.
This is not a book about technical subjects - it is about design, which is what sets it apart.

Unlike the typical college textbook "new edition" that tweaks pagination and swaps a few figures, but little else, the second edition of Linda Essig's Lighting and the Design Idea, is totally revamped. This edition is a clear improvement on an already concise and comprehensive introductory textbook. All other intro texts lean too far toward mechanics and hardware at the expense of art and design, or are artsy books that leave the reader hunting for practical application. Furthermore, there are a number of lighting books, packed with lovely pictures, which somehow manage to omit both art and craft in their glossy pages. Essig manages to touch on both important sides of this very technical art in a surprisingly small package.

True, Richard Pilbrow's 500-page tome is the definitive book and is on every lighting designer's shelf, but it is very cumbersome for an introduction to stage lighting course. Undergrads will be much less overwhelmed with Essig's book, which is better illustrated (especially the 2nd ed), far more succinct, and the best balance of art, theory, and practice of any available text. Pilbrow's text, though graced with charming, hand-drawn cartoons, is poorly illustrated (and surprisingly outdated) for a book concerning such a visual field. Essig 2nd Ed., does a much better job of getting the figure on the same page as its text reference than the 1st edition. As would be expected, the 2nd edition, delves far more deeply into CAD, automated lighting, and the explosion of new technologies since the 1st edition's 1997 publication.

Yes, the price is steep, especially considering Pilbrow's book has managed to hold its $35 price for several years. On the other hand, it's a bit apples/oranges, since that is the same price for the same book--the 1997 edition rapidly becoming outdated. Don't be surprised to see Stage Lighting Design's next edition have a similar price bump, as what has happened to Lighting and the Design Idea. And really we're talking 15 bucks. I would rather have my students fork over an extra $15 for a book they will actually read and learn from than buy a slightly cheaper paperweight.

As a Set Designer, I teach Lighting Design as a second language, so to speak. So I have read nearly every lighting text available, both to keep myself current, and in the search for the best text for my students. For an undergraduate or an into course, Lighting and the Design Idea is, hands-down the clear choice.

As is the previous reviewer, I too am biased as a CASA Case Supervisor in Annapolis, Maryland. This is a hugely important book and comes to us at a critical time. While America prides itself on being world-wide leaders in economics, politics, and military arena, we continue to be one of the worst countries in which to live if you are a child. The significant lapses in serving America's children continue to devestate this population. CASA volunteers have a direct hand in putting an end to the abuse and neglect of children, while ensuring their best interests are always on the forefront. Please read this book and share it with another adult in your life. Everyday concerned citizens really CAN make a difference. Thank you!

As is the previous reviewer, I too am biased as a CASA Case Supervisor in Annapolis, Maryland. This is a hugely important book and comes to us at a critical time. While America prides itself on being world-wide leaders in economics, politics, and military arena, we continue to be one of the worst countries in which to live if you are a child. The significant lapses in serving America's children continue to devestate this population. CASA volunteers have a direct hand in putting an end to the abuse and neglect of children, while ensuring their best interests are always on the forefront. Please read this book and share it with another adult in your life. Everyday concerned citizens really CAN make a difference. Thank you!

I was disappointed in this book because, for the most part, it did not reflect my experience as a CASA volunteer.

The cases highlighted in this book seem to all have dramatic circumstances and successful outcomes. Maybe those cases make a better read, but I'm not sure they are typical.

More often CASA volunteers labor along, uncertain that their efforts are making any difference. We work with children who are so profoundly needy that one's efforts can seem like spit in the ocean. I was looking for a story about the faith it takes to keep going, to believe in what you're doing, even when the results that aren't apparent. I was looking for a story about the joy of the small successes that stoke the fire of that faith enough to keep laboring on.

These stories are primarily factual accounts of the casework without much emotion. The untold story is the powerful personal transformation that happens in the lives of CASA volunteers. This work changes your outlook and your life in ways that reach far beyond the circumstances of the case.

My disappointment aside, I did enjoy this book simply because there's so little written about the CASA program. The stories are inspiring and do accurately portray the goals of this program.

I'm featured in the collection of fifteen interviews with volunteers who work with abused and neglected children, so I'm biased in its favor. But I think it should be required reading for politicians and state legislators, those who cut budgets for foster care and mental health services for children. Parents, teachers, and anyone concerned about social services in their communities, and especially those who might be interested in volunteering will find this book interesting. It's easy to read, comes with drawings and poems by some of the featured children, and gives an excellent sense of the kinds of experiences one has as a court-appointed special advocate/guardian ad litem volunteer. Buy it and support the program. Better still, volunteer with your local group and help a child.

Great information with current well known professional photographers shared knowledge. Would highly recommend this book.

Bill Hurter has created another in a long series of wonderful photography books. The book is richly illustrated with images from some of today's premier wedding photographers. Both artificial illumination and the creative use of natural light are explained in great detail. I especially enjoyed the real expressions on the subjects in the photographs. The images did not looked forced. This is an excellent inspirational guide for any wedding photographer.

Everything from the essentials to creative lighting is covered in this book. The works of many leading photographers are illustrated as well as technical aspects and tips. A must-have for those seeking superlative wedding images.

This book is not per say of lighting. Its about shooting weddings. There are only 5 setups with pretty minor discussion. Rest is just either huge fluff on what light is, or on what to shoot at the wedding. Unfortunately, i already have AWESOME book by Glen Johnson, and some experience behind me belt to listen what to shoot (which is not explained very good either, btw, but rather quickish).

Images in book, on other hand are pretty good. Its pity that some of them repeated from other lighting and wedding instructional books. And about 30% of them i wouldnt even consider to hand out to the client, but send straight to the dust bin.

Shooting of groups is pretty much non covered either. And book would get on and on about sort of expensive gear you may want to purchase to light things up.

So i will try to re-read it in a week or two, but so far i have that "you got screwed again" feeling, as a kid, who opens X-mas present, but would get like a tie, instead of cool toy train.

Motion Picture and Video Lighting is one of the best book's on lighting I have read.Great illustrations,and information.Great book for anyone who wants to learn,or study lighting.

Blaine Brown's book provides a decent explanation of set lighting, it's instruments and protocol. The text, though, seems to speak more to the cameraperson or AC who is curious about lighting. There is a lack of attention given to the juicers and hammers who are actually creating and shaping the light. There is a considerable amount of text granted to electrics and the distribution of power, but much more thorough and much more practically explained definitions are readily available in Harry Box's "Set Lighting Technician's Handbook."

The thing about this book is that it is written from a completely professional point of view. It deals with lighting as it is really practiced on professional movie sets - not like most books on cinematography which seem to be written by people who haven't actually done it all that much in the real world. I've bought about every book there is on movie lighting and most of them are a waste of money.

This book covers everything from a basic introduction to color, exposure and electricity up to the more complex technical issues you have to deal with as a gaffer or cinematographer: very thorough and comprehensive. The Set Technicians book is good if all you are trying to be is an electrician, but this is the one you want if you really want to move up as a gaffer, lighting director or Director of Photography. Except for one chapter (film exposure), everything in the book applies equally well to video, digital video or High Def. There is also a very good chapter on video which covers what you REALLY have to know to work in video lighting.

If you work (or want to work) in the motion picture industry, knowing lighting is the key to advancement and success. This is the book to get if you really want to learn motion picture and video lighting.

After a long lifetime as a practicing director of photography, I now also teach graduate film and video lighting at the San Francisco Academy of Art University. In a quest for the best book for my students, one that provides background and needed information to the hands-on work we do, I searched through most of the available texts and found Blain Brown's to be by far the best book out there for aspiring directors of photography. Until this semester, I used his previous edition. I am delighted by this new edition, which brings many out-of-date issues up to date.

For a purely technical book, a gaffer's "bible," see Harry Box's Set Lighting Technician's Handbook, Third Edition: Film Lighting Equipment, Practice, and Electrical Distribution

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

Both the above books have the same information and more. I mean EXACTLY the same images and text, so if you already own either of those two, don't buy this one. I speak from experience!

The rotovision books are great and almost always 5 star. In this case, I purchased this book used and didn't know I was getting something I already had in my library. In this case, again, the newest of the books is less expensive than buying the used version.

When you thumb through this book, your are immediately impressed with the lighting subjects included. Many are not the usual cliches found in books of this type. The diagrams and text are clear and easy to understand. Good book, glad I bought it.

This series has the clearest diagrams to help you understand how to set up your lighting for all types of problems and challenges. Anyone serious about learning studio lighting techniques should have these books as references and idea generators.

I work as a computer artist an animator, and constantly search for good books on lighting. In my opinion, this is one of the best lighting books available to the artist, along with the classic from John Alton "Painting with Light". Still Life (PLS) gives simple explanations of light setup, digramatic views of the situation, as well as comments from the photographers about what they were trying to achieve, and why they did certain procedures.

The light setups here are easily adaptable to suit whatever still life (including products) you are photographing/rendering, and I have found it easy to adapt certain lights used into the realm of 3D computer graphics (soft boxes etc are easy to recreate....)

This book should really be part of all film/photographers/artists/animators reference material... I only wish they did a hardback version, as i fear this is going to get used very often.

Oh, the book is extremely well printed, in full colour, on good quality paper, giving an exceptional calirity of image, something unique for the price... All too often books on lighting and colour are in black and white... hahahahhahahaha.

To be fair, if you're browsing through the erotic photos section of the website and you come across a book called "provocative shots", you're hoping for something pretty special. I even chose it in preference to "Absolut verboten: total filth 1950-2000". Still, it makes for an interesting discussion point when liberal friends come round, and also provides a quick and easy way to get rid of unwelcome prudish neighbours. Recommended more as a communications strategy than a thrill.

I am a professional photographer... whose work is included in this book. I found the work of other artists very inspirational and thought provoking. The caliber of the work presented here is exceptional, and I find my creative horizons have expanded because of this book. I'm honored to be among the exceptional photographers included here.

I'm a nudes photographer and find the book is very useful. The Provocative Shots is a shot one step beyond the Erotic Shots. You can find the lighting diagrams is very easy to read and very helpful for you to set a lighting. If you interested in Nudes Photography you should have another titles from Pro-Lighting series like NUDES, PROVOCATIVE SHOTS and EROTICA.

Another great Pro Lighting book. Alex Larg always put together a great assortment of shots with excellent diagrams and tips on film and processing ideas.

I like Stephen Dantzigs books, they are not long but they do contain lots of helpful information on getting lighting right. His books give you something to work on to get pro results. Worth the money.

Unlike Steve's previous two books "Lighting Techniques for Fashion and Glamour Photography" and Master Lighting Techniques for Outdoor and Location Portrait Photography", "Softbox Lighting Techniques for Professional Photographers" is light on all the theoretical techie talk ie: Inverse Square Law etc . . . and heavy on the creative use of Softbox Lighting. Almost every page of the 122 page book is illustrated with Stephen's beautiful photography along with diagrams to help illustrate his points. For those of you who are technically impaired like myself this will be a breath of fresh air! If you like the nuts and bolts of lighting, then make sure you pick either of Stephen's previous two books, which go into much greater detail on these topics.

Once you get through a short chapter on the Characteristics of Light, you are headlong into the practical use of Softbox lighting along with chapters on softbox modiefiers and combining hard and soft light sources to give you images some snap. The book does not stop there, it finishes with chapters on using softboxes to light commercial interiors and products as well as a chapter on using the softbox for outdoor lighting. Stephen has left no stone unturned with this latest in his Trilogy of Lighting books.

The only real complaint I have for this book are the Lighting Diagrams, for my personal taste I prefer diagrams illustrated from the Camera's perspective and not the models, which avoids me having to constantly flip the image in my head. A minor nitpick at best.

Even acclaimed commercial photographer Will Crockett was noted as saying "Professionals and non-pros alike will find something of use in Steve's new book and we think the info on "Combining Light Sources" in Chapter 4, is some of the best we've seen on this topic." I totally Agree!

Bottom line, if you are a seasoned portrait shooter looking to spice up your typical softbox images or a beginner looking into adding the softbox to your arsenal of lighting tools, we highly recommend this book!

Cris Mitchell
Publisher
ProPhotoResource[dot]com

Stephen A. Dantzig's SOFTBOX LIGHTING TECHNIQUES FOR PROFESSIONAL PHOTOGRAPHERS tells how to use the softbox tool to produce superior photography lighting results, from understanding how softboxes work to their different sizes, shapes, and range of possibilities. Techniques range from producing glamour shots and interior images to using color temperatures effectively and modifying lighting with scrims and masks.

My background is in engineering photography (high-speed events), but I want to learn more about studio photography for marketing and demonstration. I purchased this at the same time I purchased the Creative Lighting Techniques for Studio Photographers and Light: Science and Magic: An Introduction to Photographic Lighting. Of the three, I got much less out of Softbox Lighting Techniques than either of the other two. Maybe it's just me, but this just looked like a random collection of different studio lighting setups. There didn't seem to be any rhyme or reason, no explanation, no general drift, just a grab-bag of different light arrangements.

On the plus side, the photographer did something I always thought should be done, but have never actually seen in the wild: he used a Gretag-Macbeth chart in some of the photos as a reference for doing color balance.

I bought this book recently and just finished reading it. Being new to movie making I found this book helpful to understanding the jargon of movie making; cuts; framing; and much more.

This is a good basic book for those new to movie making. Well worth the price.

Hi ,
I bought this book a week ago .Iam a software engineer and i was never associated with film industry either in theory nor in practice .I actually wanted to read about scripts and i had mistakenly bought this book .

To my surprise ,this book is wonderfully written .To a non-art guy like me ,it was pure bliss reading this .He starts with the most common sense issues to topics like framing ,cut ways ,editing .He touches upon each and every aspect in the making the film .No false promises ,no hypes -Just plain common sense and knowledge .

The intresting aspect is that while he discusses all the technical aspects ,he does not assume the user to be film-savy guy or anything like that .Also ,there are few examples where the user can actually think of alternatives and be a active reader .

The bottomline - As a non-art student ,after reading this book ,i got a different way of appreciating films !Well ,isn't it more beautiful to appreciate arts than juding it ?

What are u waiting for ?Just go and grab this book !

Gotta say, with many, many books telling you how easy it is to make a hit film it's nice to have come across and read this honest, and highly readable, approach.
I liked the size, unlike several other film making guides it wasn't some 'Book of Lore' that requires lifting equipment to read. You could probably fit this in your back pocket and read it over a couple of afternoons(or nights...)
It's simple, it doesn't fly away with obscure technical speech, and I liked the way when some film making process was on the verge of getting complicated, there's a breather and explanation that allows the reader to follow EVERYTHING.
It actually talks about creativity and how to go about writing scripts and thinking of stories as well as how to get the most out of camera and methods and procedures of making a film. I don't think I've ever seen a book or on-line guide that merged these themes so well. Three for the price of one!!
I guess the British guy who wrote this, knows what it takes to get a film started and made. OK, there's a few Britishisms, but the information is pretty universal and above all simple and helpul.
Definitely good background reading to my film studies course.
I feel as though I have discovered a real gem here.
T.D.

Did anyone forget that making films should be fun? The guy who wrote this book sure didn't. This has got to be the first book where everything is infused witha real sense of enjoyment and fun, but at the same time combined with simple and structured learning. I've read some real stinker film making guides for my media production college course, but this book bucks the trend big time.
Highly reccomended reading for the media or film production student!!
Read, enjoy, have fun, learn.

This little book has been a great help to those I know who have purchased it. It is the right size to fit in a camera bag and take along on photo assignments to offer help in the field. Very useful information...

Don Blair and Skip Cohen wrote an outstanding workbook that beautifully illustrates the posing of individuals and couples in a concise step-by-step manner. This book is easy to read and understand making it the perfect guide to use with your clients in the studio or on location. The sections on dealing with individual flaws in your subjects and how to minimize them is worth the purchase price alone.This book is great for beginners and seasoned veterans alike.

This is a fairly useful book for someone who's already proficient in camera basics. The printing and design are outstanding. I found that some of the photos are not top-notch as I'd expect from Don Blair and the explanations are too short for a newby. I was disappointed by this.