Customer Reviews

Creative Lighting Techniques for Studio Photographers

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Creative Lighting Techniques for Studio Photographers

Dave Montizambert

Amherst Media, Inc.

110 pages Paperback

"What would you do if you were asked to photograph an ice sculpture, or a hand-blown glass perfume bottle, or a glowing mug of beer, or a silverware setting or a brushed steel appliance, or a black car with chrome details?" asks photographer/author Dave Montizambert. If given any of the assignments listed, would you know how to go about lighting the subjects correctly and effectively? Lighting--especially of reflective surfaces--can be tricky. The proper lighting of a surface or subject can a take dull, boring subject and turn it into a prize winning illustration. Proper lighting on your models can turn a so-so portrait into a dramatic statement. Lighting is important, understanding how to use it correctly can make or break your career. I used to think experience, experimentation and a good eye could lead the way to properly lighting a scene or subject. That doesn't always work, however. If you don't know how you got the perfect lighting on your subject, you won't know how to duplicate it if you want that lighting for another subject. You have to know the rules. Creative Lighting Techniques for Studio Photographers explains lighting in clear language and then demonstrates the various techniques with large, clean illustrations. The photographer's vocabulary of lighting terminology is explained and illustrated with equal proficiency. After reading this volume, you will know what specular lighting, edge transfers, diffused values, obstruction distance and separation lighting are. You will understand distant relationships of light to subject and main light to distance (to subject) to ambient ratios. Better than that you will know why and how light works, falls off, changes energy and reflects and how these elements effect your images. Any questions you may have after reading the text and studying the illustrations will probably be answered in the "`Tips' boxes." "Tech Tips" feature additional technical information to help you apply the techniques discussed in the chapter's text. "Quick Reminder" boxes repeat important terms and concepts introduced in each chapter. "Did You Know?" boxes feature even more helpful information concerning the use of techniques just learned. "Data for Frames" boxes tell all about the technical specifications of the images, and includes exposure information, camera, lens and film data. To illustrate the thoroughness of the chapters in this book, I will use the portion "Light Painting 101," from Section Three. The term, "light Painting" is explained; the reader is then referred to a previous page where light painting is being used by a photographer for a commercial shot. Three schematics of the set up are shown, along eight with illustrative photographs. Exact information as to the filters, light sources, props and other equipment are below the photographs and schematics. Exposure times and f-stops are described. A page is dedicated to describing how the props that were to be photographed using this technique were prepared. What more could you ask for? Dave Montizambert's book, Creative Lighting Techniques, builds on the lighting foundation pioneered by Dean Collins. For nineteen years Dave and his brother/partner, Mark, have created images for McDonald's Foods, Motorola, TriStar Pictures, Warner Brothers and No Fear Sports Gear, among others. Montizambert lectures internationally on lighting, metering/zoning and digital image manipulation. He is also an instructor for lighting and advertising at Western Academy Photo College in Victoria, B.C. He has written many articles that have appeared in such prestigious publications as Professional Photographer and PhotoMedia Magazine. So, what would I do if I were asked to photograph an ice sculpture, or a hand-blown glass perfume bottle, or a glowing mug of beer, or a silverware setting or a brushed steel appliance, or a black car with chrome details? I'd say, yes, I can do that. Reading this book has given me the confidence that I can successfully tackle any lighting problem that I might encounter with future assignments.

I'm primarily a street photographer, and my studio lighting set up has for years involved umbrellas and reflectors. However, this book demonstrates- without actually stating it- how little control this offers the photographer. (Umbrellas are still useful, but they are not always the best solution.)

The technique of varying not only the source to subject distance but also the origin to source distance is worth the time and money I invested. (The source is your light modifier. The origin is the light itself.)

This is not for beginner photographers or even those new to studio lighting. The author assumes a good knowledge of photography and a basic knowledge of studio lighting. In fact, I feel the need to read it again.

I give four stars and not five because I felt that there could have been a few more chapters.

Note: the title is NOT "How to Choose and Purchase Photographic Lighting". The book is about how to USE Photographic Lighting.

This is a useful book if you are already familiar with the
lighting equipment that exists, in which case the content
is quite good (4 stars). But it's not the best book for you
if you don't yet know what lighting equipment exists (2 stars).

The book illustrates the discussion by repeating the same shot with different lighting techniques. You can skim the text and just look at the photos and their lighting diagrams.

I found it very informative to see the effects of something as simple as adding or moving a reflective card . This allowed me to take better photos by buying some mat board rather than spend a bunch of money on new lights.

Great book on lightning. A true in-depth manual to studio lightning. While not that usefull to absolute beginners, the book is a "must have" for any studio photographer.

Understandable language, true knowledge of specifics - thumbs up for Dave Montizambert!

This book differs from many other books about photography, lighting and setups.

Dave Montizambert provides you with the theory about how to create the desired image. He starts by making sure you think about 'picture making' instead of 'picture taking'. Having this in mind he tells about the options a studio photographer has to create an image from scratch in the studio. As support he uses several cases with a distinct goal and outcome. These cases are well illustrated and the solutions are well described.

After reading this book you have a better understanding of how to use light, different forms of light, different uses of studio tools and other stuff that can be used in the studio. It goes beyond the standard books that just show a nice shot and how it is done, actually most shots that Dave Montizambert uses in this book aren't even that good. That is good since it does not distract you from what really counts, learning to think about how to create the desired image.

This book gives you lots of ideas to make studio photography more interesting and versatile without buying expensive equipment. It's easy to read, has lots of tips and lots of lighting diagrams and example photographs. Author tells you what effects you can do without photoshop, and then tells you where photoshop would be useful.

Very good book. I found this book when I was doing some internet searches on Dean Collins video on 3D contrast (Which is a great video). Dave Montizambert worked with Dean Collins. This and the 3D contrast tape go hand in hand. I take notes when I read photography books, and this yielded a lot of good information for me.

Being fascinated by the cover and the excerpt, I purchased this book. When I got it I was a bit dissapointed with its volume - just 120 pages, it seemed more like a medium-sized magazine. The pics were great, and I thought "uh, this is probably a book that shows nice photos and case studies without any kind of solid base information." But it turned to be the opposite:
the book establishes clear terminology for many concepts
it explains what pronciples apply to light dark and light objacts
it is divided into 2 parts: dealing with diffuse and specular control
the book is not about case studies mainly but about the principles of controlling light, shadows, specular with almost all availabe controls, including motion blur and dof in reflections
it has many unique tips about different aspects that truly may be named "creative lighting techniques"
So far deserved 5 stars from me.

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 Light: Science and Magic: An Introduction to Photographic Lighting and Softbox lighting Techniques. This one was in the middle of the pack: not as good as Light:Science and Magic, but much more useful than Softbox. This book had some low-budget, low-tech, but fairly high concept techniques for tackling a variety of subjects. Unfortunately, I was looking for a more abstract approach than this.