Kevin Kubotas Lighting Notebook: 101 Lighting Styles and Setups for Digital Photographers [Paperback]

Kevin Kubota (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 20, 2011 | ISBN-10: 1118035100 | ISBN-13: 978-1118035108 | Edition: 1

Get professional advice from one of the world's top wedding photographersCreative use of lighting is a hallmark of quality photography. Kevin Kubota has been listed among the world's top 10 wedding photographers by American Photo magazine and named a Legend Behind the Lens by Nikon. This guide features dozens of his unique lighting and post-production recipes and techniques, each illustrated with a spectacular image.

• Author Kevin Kubota enjoys a cult-like following among professional photographers and has earned numerous accolades for his talent
• Includes the author's unique lighting and post-production recipes and techniques that reinforce the theory that good lighting is the key to quality photography
• Presents a number of shooting scenarios with behind-the-scenes setup, a description of the photographer's objective, the equipment used, and the resulting image for each
• Features a companion app that will enable the photographer to search and find lighting suggestions by subject, style, budget, equipment, and other guidelines, all while in the field

Kevin Kubota's Lighting Notebook for Digital Photographers is almost like having the famous photographer sharing his secrets with you one on one.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

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From the Author: The Lighting Notebook Unplugged
You’ve found the secret pages; raw and uncut notes–previously un-published and un-discovered. Yes, that’s a lot of un’s. The Lighting Notebook only had room for 101 scenes, so something had to be saved for later–and now is later.

The Lighting Notebook: 101 Lighting Styles and Setups for Digital Photographers is full of fresh, en-lightening content–from the history of lighting styles to essential post-processing techniques. In addition to this tasty educational extravaganza, we’ve included 101 different images, with corresponding background information, setup photos, diagrams, and equipment details.

Below, you’ll see examples of the raw material used to create the Lighting Notebook–all the good stuff, but without the eye-candy book design. It’s just a small taste of what’s to come in the complete book. I hope you enjoy it!

Kevin Kubota
Author

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From the Author: Photos Case Studies

I Want Candy! (Click for case study)

Rock Band (Click for case study)

Not Your Mother’s Wedding Portrait (Click for case study)

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Review

'Kevin Kubota's manual is essential reading for anyone looking to better their use of light. An excellent buy' . Advanced Photographer, December 2011

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 320 pages
• Publisher: Wiley; 1 edition (September 20, 2011)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1118035100
• ISBN-13: 978-1118035108
• Product Dimensions: 7.4 x 0.8 x 9.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (58 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #57,189 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #44 in Books > Arts & Photography > Photography > Equipment, Techniques & Reference > Lighting

More About the Author

Kevin Kubota, of Kubota PhotoDesign Inc., has been photographing since 1980, and doing it professionally since 1990. He is a wedding and portrait photographer with images that speak to the heart - filled with emotion, joy, intimacy, and impact. His studio photographs high-end clients in his home base in Central Oregon and nationwide.

Kevin Kubota has previously been named one of the "Top 10 Wedding Photographers in the World" by American Photo Magazine. His wedding, portrait and commercial photography Web site is www.KubotaPhotoDesign.com.

His wedding and portrait work has been featured in magazines such as Rangefinder, Studio Photography & Design, Popular Photography, and Shutterbug, as well as in photography books such as, The Best of Portrait Photography and The Best of Wedding Photojournalism by Bill Hurter, and others. His images have been featured in Nikon advertisements, calendars, trade show displays, and he was selected as the Nikon "Legend Behind the Lens" #2 on the Nikon website.

Kubota Image Tools grew from the digital experience of Kevin who began pioneering the field of completely digital wedding photography in the 1990s. As one of the first photographers to master digital imaging, Kevin became inspired to share his experience and natural teaching ability with other photographers. He has successfully trained thousands of photographers to make the digital transition and continuously empowers existing digital photographers with new, effective workflow ideas and outstanding Photoshop® techniques.

Wiley Publishing will begin sending copies of his newest book: Kevin Kubota's Lighting Notebook: 101 Lighting Styles and Setups for Digital Photographers™, to bookstores across the country during the Fall of 2011. This complete book will provide details for how Kevin used and controlled light to capture a wide range of stunning photographs, with each picture brought to life under a different type of lighting environment. Using his experience from over 20 years as a photographer, each photo will include:
* an overhead diagram showing the locations of the photographer, subject, and each piece of lighting equipment used
* a complete list of lighting equipment used, including brand and model info
* a step-by-step summary of what Kevin encountered that led to his chosen lighting setup

Along with the release of the Lighting Notebook is the companion iPhone® and iPad® App. The interactive App will provide a convenient, portable resource for your lighting questions. Featuring hands-on tutorials with lighting diagrams, sample images, and "How It's Done" videos, the Lighting Notebook App is nothing short of a pro lighting workshop on-the-go. For more information on the Lighting Notebook app, please visit: www.KubotaImageTools.com/Lighting-Notebook

Rarely does the photo industry see an educator with an equal balance of recognized artistry, technical expertise, gifted teaching ability, and the energy to inspire and motivate other photographers to push themselves to completely new levels of vision and success.

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Contact:
Andrea Walker, PR, Kubota Photo Design, Inc.
[phone] ext. 723
[e-mail]

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

94 of 107 people found the following review helpful

2.0 out of 5 stars Buyer Beware! November 26, 2011

By wdwpsu

Format:Paperback

I'm surprised with all of these 5 star reviews that there isn't one negative review. While this book is great at showing off lighting techniques (And why I gave it 2 instead of 1 star)... This book is also a giant ad for Kubota actions. Buying Kevin Kubota's dashboard, lightroom presets, and photoshop actions (also available at his website) end up costing you hundreds of additional hours to achieve the look of the images in this book.

So, if you already are waist deep in Kubota's tools, fantastic, buy this book. You'll soar.

If you are new to photography, or just looking for an affordable path to make your photos better, I'd avoid this.. As, you are being led down a very expensive path from the author.

14 of 16 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Lighting Demystified September 16, 2011

By Glen Mercer

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

Kevin's new book takes all of the mystery out of photographic lighting. Numerous lighting scenarios are presented with detailed diagrams, illustrations and explanation as to how the final result was achieved and the equipment necessary to achieve the end result. If you are looking for a one stop place for help with your photographic lighting questions, you just found it. Highly recommend!

17 of 21 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Kevin Kubotas Lighting Notebook September 14, 2011

By Debra Ekas

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

Kevin Kubota has taken his years in the trenchs has a portrait and wedding photographer and put those experiences between the covers of a well thought out book. His time spent teaching workshops is represented as well. The book is thoughtfully laid out, and easy to follow. Key terms are clearly defined and expanded upon so the guide will be useful for newbies and for experienced photog's looking to expand their palette. I have read lighting guides written by just about everyone that has issued one, and so far Kevin Kubota's is the most accessible, in that he approaches the set ups from the perspective of a working portraitist.(Not a photo-rock star shooting a complicated tableau) It also helps that Kevin Kubota's approachable, personality is represented in the writing. It is written with humor trough out. (helpful in what can be a dry subject)
In addition to the notebook of lighting set ups, there is a chapter on Essential Lighting skills, that generously takes photographers just starting out through the concept of photographic lighting, and gives real world explanations.
The chapter on equipment is detailed and offers low cost alternatives to help defray what can be an expensive range of gear for those just starting to build their studio.
The post production chapter is clearly written with helpful screen shots so you can actually find the "curves adjustment" button in lightroom or whatever enigmatic fiddly thing that needs to be tweaked.
I recommend this guide highly.