Studio/General Location Lighting Reference Books

gibtheo

gibtheo

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Steven
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Anyone know of any good and up to date reference books to keep in the camera bag with common lighting set ups? I'm very familiar with studio lighting but I thought it would be handy to have something to reference for inspiration when needed! I'm talking 2/3 head set ups with poly boards reflectors etc, potentially more but not crazy!

Thanks!

Steven
 
Not sure there are any "Lighting set up" reference books, if I read your post correctly. There are plenty of books that have walk throughs of the lighting used to create a particular image. The lighting setups can't really be used as a recipe guide due to the variables and random factors you will encounter at each of your own shoots, and these factors are magnified when shooting on location.
That said, The hot shoe diaries by Joe McNally is a very good read.
Also worth the money are the two Strobist photo trade sectret pocket books available on Amazon
 
Just to add to Michaels very valid point re 'random factors', the biggest problem with lighting diagrams is that they're 2d, they give no indication of elevation. Which is one of the reasons most newbies set their lights too low, rather than reading/practicing/reading some more, people think that they can just look at a 'cheat sheet' and repeat the result.

The problem is that whilst it appears to be complicated due to the massive number of variables, there are only a few simple principles to get your head round, and they set you straight on the path to solving your own problems.
 
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Interesting point you've made there Phil about light elevation. Now, I'm all for experimenting and practice but it got me thinking. Is there a general rule of thumb as to how much higher up than your subject a light should be set or does it just depend on what sort of shadows you want to create? I'm aware of positioning relative to the subject on the horizontal plane but you don't read much about the most suitable elevation and downward angle for a given lighting pattern.
 
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Stuart M said:
Interesting point you've made there Phil about light elevation. Now, I'm all for experimenting and practice but it got me thinking. Is there a general room of thumb as to how much higher up than your subject a light should be set or does it just depend on what sort of shadows you want to create? I'm aware of positioning relative to the subject on the horizontal plane but you don't read much about the most suitable elevation and downward angle for a given lighting pattern.
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For me, I think it's quite simple, generally we're used to seeing people lit from above (the Sun / sky), so unless you have a specific aim for a 'different' look, then you should try to replicate that as best you can. In a domestic room my softboxes will hit the ceiling (so they'd be higher if I could), outdoors if I'm balancing against a sunset, I'll be happier to go lower than that (because the sun is lower in the sky at that time of day - it doesn't look odd). There's no single 'right' answer, but it's surprisingly easy to spot the 'wrong' answer (as in so much of photography). This is one of those issues you can learn from critiquing others work, it's easier to spot 'mistakes' in someone else's work because you're detached, though clearly you should learn to spot the issues in your own work too.
 
Stuart M said:
Interesting point you've made there Phil about light elevation. Now, I'm all for experimenting and practice but it got me thinking. Is there a general rule of thumb as to how much higher up than your subject a light should be set or does it just depend on what sort of shadows you want to create? I'm aware of positioning relative to the subject on the horizontal plane but you don't read much about the most suitable elevation and downward angle for a given lighting pattern.
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Often quoted setting is light at 45 degree out, 45 degree up and angled at 45 degree - is it right? as has been said there are lots of variables but it is a useful place to start

Mike
 
@mike weeks
Slightly OT, are you planning to post a link to the video here?

If you don't I will ;)
 
mike weeks said:
Often quoted setting is light at 45 degree out, 45 degree up and angled at 45 degree - is it right? as has been said there are lots of variables but it is a useful place to start

Mike
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Yes, often quoted but not, IMO particuarly helpful. It's basically the rigid setup that Rembrandt used - it worked for him because he was painting in a particular style, this doesn't make it good for another painter, let alone a photographer.

I can't match or beat Phil's explanation - that in the natural world, nearly all light (both natural and artificial) comes from above, so nearly all photographic lighting should too, or at least as a starting point.
 
Thanks for the replies everyone. Should add some more detail, I am an experienced photographer I've worked as a freelancer and was employed full time by a studio for a while. With respect I'm not a newbie! Mainly whilst working as an assistant I noted that there are many very similar lighting techniques used by many different photographers within certain areas eg food, small product, fashion and portraits amongst others.

I'm talking about stuff like back lighting food and using boards to reflect back in to the front, rim lighting models etc, '45 degree lighting' for flat, shadowless product lighting, that sort of stuff. Probably shouldn't have included the location in the title, more studio lighting. Not looking for a cheat sheet as such but, more of a reference to some simple set ups that could then be tweaked for the situation. Maybe there's a gap in the market for a decent reference book! Every time I was working on a new lighting set up it would take a few snap shots on my phone, with permission of the photographer just to use as reference in my own future shoots. Also I agree about the lighting diagrams but it's possible to just note a rough height of lights.

I have just bought a book about product photography lighting and one that combines food styling and lighting so will let you know if they are any good!
 
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