book on lighting setups

[chriswickham]

hi is there a book on lighting setups.
please

 

[RichardA]

I'm currently reading my way through Light: Science & Magic. It was a reccomendation from some other memebers of the forum. Its a really good book on the principles of lighting.

 

[Flash In The Pan]

to TP

There are lots of different books and loads of videos on youtube. Was there any particular type of lighting/shot you were needing help with?

 

[chriswickham]

thanks for your help

 

[Jelster]

I've got this book, which may be the sort of thing that you're looking for. It provides the photo and a diagram of the set up.

Steve

 

[tituspowell]

I second the recommendation for 'Light: Science and Magic'. It's excellent.

If you're interested in studio lighting, this Photography Studio Lighting blog might also be of interest to you.

 

[mhuk]

The Strobist website and Zack Arias website are both worth a read.

 

[Fullzoom]

I've got this book, which may be the sort of thing that you're looking for. It provides the photo and a diagram of the set up.

Steve

I agree with Steve, I have that book, it's very good, highly recommend

 

[Garry Edwards]

I'll make myself unpopular here, which worries me a lot...:shake:

Light: Science & Magic is the 'bible' of understanding how light works and how to apply it to all types of photography. When the 2nd edition went out of print, 2nd hand copies were changing hands at £60 each (if you could find anyone willing to sell them) but now that the 3rd edition is out and can be picked up for £20 it seems to have lost it's popularity. Strange human behaviour:shrug:

Light: Science & Magic is more about 'why' than 'how'. I've looked at a few 'how' books on lighting setups and never seen one that goes past the absolute beginner level. The ones I've seen (which doesn't include the one Steve Linked to BTW) are basically about how to paint by numbers, i.e. how to turn out a bog standard portrait, the same as everyone else's, with no technical or artistic content. And that isn't what lighting is about.

 

[Jelster]

The book I linked to is called "Photographing People: Portraits, Fashion, Glamour". Every page has an image on one side, and a diagram of the lighting set up on the other, with a number of discussion notes also.

So, whilst it doesn't give you direct instructions on how to do it, you can observe how each image was set up and try it yourself. It goes from a single light source to one shot using 14 lights !

I wouldn't say it's a "bible", but it is a handy reference guide.

Steve

 

[rpcrowe]

This collection of free instructional tutorials contains several videos regarding lighting as well as many videos on other subjects.

http://www.prophotolife.com/video-library/

 

[visitorq]

thanks on the prophotolife linky...a lot of help for an amateur on lighting and one whos on a tight budget....

thanks again!

 

[Flash In The Pan]

The ones I've seen (which doesn't include the one Steve Linked to BTW) are basically about how to paint by numbers, i.e. how to turn out a bog standard portrait, the same as everyone else's, with no technical or artistic content. And that isn't what lighting is about.

Everyone has to start somewhere though, Garry

 

[Garry Edwards]

Everyone has to start somewhere though, Garry

But that's my point (which I probably didn't make clear). The best way to start is to learn how light acually works. Following a 'painting by numbers' formulae stops people learning because it stops them from experimenting and from finding out for themselves what really works

 

[Flash In The Pan]

But that's my point (which I probably didn't make clear). The best way to start is to learn how light acually works. Following a 'painting by numbers' formulae stops people learning because it stops them from experimenting and from finding out for themselves what really works

Ahhh......I see what you mean and agree with you.