Lighting for Digital Photography From Snapshots to Great Shots (Using Flash and Natural Light for Portrait, Still Life, Action, and Product Photography)

by Arena, Syl

• ISBN13: 9780321832757
• ISBN10: 0321832752
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2012-10-07
• Publisher: Peachpit Press

Summary

Syl Arena, author of the bestselling Speedliter's Handbook: Learning to Craft Light with Canon Speedlites,brings his teaching skill, great writing style, and instructive, beautiful images to this popular Peachpit Press photography series. Aimed at beginners, Light and Lighting: From Snapshots to Great Shots,begins with a primer on light itselfhow to see its direction, intensity, color, contrast, and shadow lineand quickly moves on to discussions of shooting both indoors and outdoors in the many different conditions of natural or man-made light (e.g., sunny, cloudy, fluorescent, and incandescent light). Then the book digs in to begin creating light with flash. Arena covers numerous kinds of lightsfrom small flash (both Canon and Nikon) to big flash, from continuous lights to the much-maligned pop-up flash on top of the camera. He also covers the basics (and beyond) of light modifiers: umbrellas, softboxes, flags, and gels. With recipes and tips on how to shoot products shots for selling online, food, glass and metal, flowers, headshots, group shots, action and sports, birthday parties and other events, Light and Lighting: From Snapshots to Great Shotsgives readers all they need to know to get started on the journey of learning, creating, and controlling light in order to make great images.

Author Biography

Syl Arena studied commercial photography at Brooks Institute and fine art photography at the University of Arizona. Over the years, Syl has shot for newspapers, magazines, and catalogs. He has been recognized for his expertise on color-critical workflow and his ability to turn noon to night by firing off a dozen Speedlites simultaneously. He is the author of the bestselling Speedliter's Handbook: Learning to Craft Light with Canon Speedlites. Syl covers the world of photography on his blog Speedliting.com, and he serves as the Director of the Paso Robles Workshops.

Table of Contents

CHAPTER 1: THE FIVE CHARACTERISTICS OF LIGHT
Photography Begins with Looking at Light
CHAPTER 2: YOUR LIGHT-CAPTURING MACHINE
Using Camera Settings Smartly and Creatively
CHAPTER 3: USING THE LIGHT AROUND YOU
Getting Started with Natural Light
CHAPTER 4: CREATING YOUR OWN LIGHT
Getting Started with Artificial Light
CHAPTER 5: LIGHTING FOR TABLETOP AND MACRO PHOTOGRAPHY
Learn To Light By Starting With Objects
CHAPTER 6: LIGHTING FUNDAMENTALS FOR PORTRAITS
Getting Started with Portraits
CHAPTER 7: ADVANCED LIGHTING FOR PORTRAITS
Adding Depth And Drama To Your Portraits
APPENDIX: THE GEAR I USE
INDEX