Light: Science and Magic: An Introduction to Photographic Lighting
by Fil Hunter, Steven Biver, Paul Fuqua
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Book Summary Information
Author: Fil Hunter, Paul Fuqua, Steven BiverEdition: Paperback
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published)
Published: 2007-03-21
ISBN: 0240808193
Number of pages: 320
Publisher: Focal Press
Book Reviews of Light: Science and Magic: An Introduction to Photographic Lighting
Book Review: Excellent
Summary: 5 Stars
I was looking for some literature regarding lighting that would cover basics for product photography. Unfortunately, most books endulge in a certain high level lingo that would confuse most of the readers. One could easily see which author has more experience based on the level of simplicity he or she uses in order to explain some concepts. A friend of mine lent me this book and I have now the chance to write a short review about it.
First of all: the book is excellent. The paper and printing quality (full color for all photographs and diagrams) are outstanding. One can easily see essential details in images, like different textures and apperance of surfaces under various lighting setups. So this is a big plus.
The book is divided in 10 chapters as follow:
1. How to learn lighting; this chapter gives you basic information regarding general lighting principles, the way the author chose the examples and - most important - why did he chose those examples, the rationale behind all exercises and some hints for the way you should approach each exercise (procedures, goals - what you should get) and also some general information about shooting equipment that one needs in order to perform the exercises in the book.
2. Light: the raw material for photography. This chapter explains in detail, but not to boredom and in a very plain and explicit manner the properties of light that each photographer should know and understand in order to take proper images. What I most liked is the fact that the author starts from a basic principle (almost as an axiom) that the most important factor for photography is not the gear but the light and the way a photographer understands and uses light.
3. The management of reflection and the family of angles. Basic information about the way light is reflected by various materials and surfaces, discussions on the placement of the sources of light relative to the observer (camera) in order to get different results, polarization and some exercises that helps you apply the theory.
4. Surface appearances. This chapter elaborate a bit more some concepts from the previous chapters, with focus on surface appearance, textures, boundaries and some many other information about way different objects appear in different lighting setups. Many exercises included, things that you should try by yourself.
5. Revealing shape and contour. A very good read about methods of adding 3D appearance to 2D images using shadows, tonalities, surface detail etc. This is a chapter with a lot of info about "providing real life appearance" of your 2D images.
6. Metal. How to photograph metal surfaces. Detailed examples and information about reflection on metal surfaces, ways to reveal detail and avoid loss of detail in different lighting setups, information and exercises on photographing metal boxes, special challenges imposed by round metal objects (like globes) and the special issues such photos pose.
7. The case of the disappearing glass. This is one of the most interesting chapters and deals with photographing glass and glass objects. Various methods are explained and actions needed for succesful photographs are detailed in very clear steps, with plenty of rationale and concepts in behind. A special section deals with glass objects with liquid inside, that act as lenses and pose special problems to inexperienced photographer.
8. An arsenal of lights. This chapter will be the favourite for portrait shooters, people that want to learn and understand ways of lighting for portraits. The images are "disassembled" in their components by each light source in order to familiarize yourself with the effects of light characteristics, placement, intensity etc.
9. The extremes. This deals mainly with high-key, low-key and special (under or overexposed) images, situations that require such artwork and the interaction of environment (backgrounds etc) and the objects to be photographed.
10. Traveling light. This deals entirely with strobes (flash photography) and with special issues using flash. If you are new to concepts like guide number, bounce, feathering etc., this chapter will place more... light to it. Also, provided are a lot of practical examples that you should also try.
Overall this is one of the best educational books about photography - in general - and lighting - in particular - I have ever read. The language used is plain, concise and extremely to the point, the concepts are extremely well explained, reasons for different results are given and principles are well laid, just to be followed.
I would STRONGLY recommend (actually I have already ordered one for myself) this book to anyone is interested in understanding more the light, lighting, studio setups and general knowledge about light and photography, actually the most important ingredient for each image you might take.
Summary of Light: Science and Magic: An Introduction to Photographic Lighting
An amazing (and some would say magical) resource on photographic lighting that has been talked about in the community and recommended for years. This highly respected guide has been thoroughly updated and revised for content and design - it is now produced in full color! It introduces a logical theory of photographic lighting so if you are starting out in photography you will learn how to predict results before setting up lights. This is not primarily a how-to book with only set examples for you to copy. Rather, Light: Science and Magic provides you with a comprehensive theory of the nature and principles of light to allow you to use lighting to express your own creativity.Numerous photographs and illustrations provide clear examples of the theories, while sidebars highlight special lighting questions. Expanded chapters on available light in portraiture, as well as new information on digital equipment and terminology make this a must have update!
*New four color art package with contemporary lighting examples
*Based on the behaviour of light
*Theory book for serious photographers
Amazon Exclusive: A Letter from Fil Hunter, Paul Fuqua, and Steven Biver, authors of Light--Science & Magic, on Lighting
 Fil Hunter |  Paul Fuqua |  Steven Biver |
We photographers now live in a gadget-based world. If you don?t believe me, just look at the Web or any photography magazine. What do you see but item after item extolling the virtue of this or that gizmo?
The lighting side of picture making is no exception. In fact it has become so intense that a huge proportion of questions I?m asked are of the ?How can I work without a . . . ?? or ?Will I ever be able to make good portraits without a . . . ??
Fortunately two sentences written for the first edition of Light--Science & Magic some 25 years ago by our co-author, Fil Hunter are just as relevant today as they were then, a quarter of a century ago:
- ?No photographer has enough lighting equipment to do every assignment as well as possible." and ?Most photographers have enough equipment to do almost every assignment well.?
To put those two pithy lines another way, it?s what you do with what you?ve got that counts.
Sure, there most certainly are those times when the newest and niftiest piece of gear would make life a lot easier. But if you can?t afford it, don?t go out and shoot yourself. Instead, start trying to figure out a different way of getting the job done.
You?ll be amazed at how many times you can.
--Fil Hunter, Paul Fuqua, and Steven Biver
Amazon Exclusive: An Example from Paul Fuqua, One of the Authors of Light--Science & Magic, on Lighting
 |
For the most part, my co-author, Steven, and I specialize in very different kinds of photography. Steven usually works using lights. I almost always work with only the ambient light I find where I?m shooting.
But as different as these two ways of working are, the approaches we use to lighting our subjects are almost identical. That?s because no matter where you find it or what its sources may be, light always behaves in certain predictable ways.
Take this portrait of my friend Howard. To make it I moved him into the ?open? shade of a nearby barn. This flooded him with the kind of softly diffused light I had pre-visualized for the picture.
I then positioned Howard close to the edge of the barn?s shadow. This allowed a small number of the sun?s brighter rays to fall on the camera right side of his face.
The result of this slightly uneven lighting was twofold. First, Howard?s facial features were nicely modeled and second, the diffused light prevented any unattractive hard-edged shadows on it.
What?s important about the above is that I was able to use the ambient light I found on a location to make this portrait using exactly the same basic approach that Steven could use to produce identical looking lighting using studio strobes. Simply put, light is light, and it always follows the same laws of nature wherever it is and whatever produces it.
And that?s exactly what Light--Science & Magic is all about.
-- Paul Fuqua
Featured Photographs from the Authors of Light--Science & Magic
 This glass of water was photographed with two lights--one on the background and the other in the foreground. (For more on photographing glass see Chapter 7). |  This dramatic studio portrait was created using three lights--a Fresnel for the hair light, a grid spot and, a strip light for the face. (For more on portrait lighting see Chapter 8). |  Exterior lamp on building wall shot with available light. The hard-edged shadow is a result of the bright specular light, the sun. |
 Still life was lit with one large soft box. This type of light modifier enables you to create as soft and often pleasing ?window light? look. |  Location portrait photographed with dappled ambient light. |
Featured Excerpts from Light--Science & Magic
Read a few sample pages on how the cover was made. [PDF]
Read a few sample pages on how to photograph glass. [PDF]
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