Light: Science and Magic: An Introduction to Photographic Lighting

Light: Science and Magic: An Introduction to Photographic Lighting | Fil Hunter, Steven Biver, ... | Help for glass and metal photography

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Light: Science and...

	Light: Science and Magic: An Introduction to Photographic Lighting Fil Hunter, Steven Biver, ... Focal Press, 2007 - 320 pages average customer review:based on 89 reviews view larger image
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highly recommended

Top notch

It would be hard to add much to what has already been said by so many. This is an excellent book on lighting for photography. I'd highlight again that this isn't a cookbook but instead focuses on the fundamentals. If you're looking for step by step instructions on how to reproduce the latest lighting gimmick you've seen in magazine ads then go elsewhere. If you're looking for a book on the fundamentals that will allow you to create your own lighting with ease and reverse engineer anyone else's lighting then this is the book you want. There are lots of books on photography and lighting out there and few that have much useful to say. This is probably one of the highest quality and most consistently useful books in the field of photography I've ever seen.

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Help for glass and metal photography

Recently, I was asked to photograph clear, glass dishware. My search for resources led me to "Light: Science and Magic: An Introduction to Photographic Lighting" by Fil Hunter, Steven Biver, and Paul Fuqua. My questions about glass photography were answered, and the examples and hints given were extremely useful. This text will not answer all your questions, and other sources are needed for detailed operational instructions for flash lighting. Hunter, Biver, and Fuqua will give you an excellent overview of concepts and "how to" for key lighting problems including shiny metal, glass and protraits. An excellent use is as a text for continuing education photography students, and as an addition to the library of advanced, non-pro photographers.

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must have book

no serious amatuer or pro photographer should be without this book on light and how to use it properly for better pictures.....film or digital it makes no difference

Absolute must have

If you're just starting with photography and have mastered your camera, exposure basics and composition basics - it's time to read this book. If you're a professional or advanced amateur - it's time to read this book. Absolutely eye opening. Worth every penny. Enlightenment in every chapter.

Liked the approach

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 Dantzig Softbox Lighting Techniques. Of the three, I got much more out of Light: Science and Magic than either of the other two. The authors' approach to gradually building the topic from light to reflection, surface, and then contours appealed to me. Since I am interested in photographing a wide variety of materials (paper, fabric, leather, industrial equipment), the fact that the book covers different kinds of materials is good. In particular, I appreciate the way it addresses the illumination of classes of materials (metal, glass, flat, textured) and the use of illumination and lens distortion to show contours in 3D objects.

I wish there had been more technical information covering, for example, the use of different kinds of lights, diffusers, reflectors, and other modifiers. It would also have been nice to get better information on the use of meters and flash units.

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