Customer Reviews

Lighting for Nude Photography

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This is NOT a PhotoShop book, it's NOT for people looking for info on POST-PROCESSING. It is however a great book if you want to learn about lighting; what to do and look for BEFORE you take the shot. Contrary to the title, you can learn about more than just "Lighting for Nude Photography"; the nude is just one type of portrait.

The book is basically in three parts:
First, there's an explanation of light as it applies to photography, and an explanation of the various tools; lights, flash versus continuous, incident versus reflected light meters, umbrellas and soft boxes.

Then the pictures: First, the pictures are exceptional, elegant, tasteful, and also from SEVERAL photographers, so you get to see various styles, then decide which one caters to your taste. Some books look like they use old recycled photos; these look like they were shot just yesterday. The book seperates the subjects based on type of light (sunlight, ambient, flash) and number of light sources, so you can quickly turn to a section specific to your need(s).

Last, there's a detailed explanation of the setup for each shot complete with diagrams. Going thru the book, you can't help but notice the "hidden lesson" on aperture: that's an f/4, definitely f/11...hmmm, stops right at the subject...

Rod Ashford has done a great job putting together the pictures and information. I find this to be an excellent book, very inspirational and informative. Is it for the digital camera? This is a phototgraphy book on lighting. If your camera uses light, you'll find something here.

This is an excellent buy. In addition to the gorgeous pictures by well-known and highly talented artists, the diagrams and equiptment information really allows you to crawl inside the artists' head. Check out Carson Zullinger's work on pp. 36 and 104. He captures glorious color and weightlessness in a way I haven't seen before. Very original and amazingly talented.

Don't get this book if you are looking for a detailed, "how to" manual. You will learn more if you have mastered the basics of lighting and working with models already. Think of it more as a master class than an instruction manual. I suspect, however, that you will find at least one image or technique that helps you find your own creative "voice."

This book shows some of the best photographers and how they go about creating their images. A must read for professionals and amateurs. If you have ever thought of trying this genre, this is a must have publication.

I wanted to give it 5 stars, but the overall similarity of style and the focus on black and white and film as opposed to colour and digital (or at least a 50/50 mix) were just barely enough to cost it a perfect rating.

That said, the images are (for the most part) beautiful and occasionally quite sexy. Even though the heavy use of black and white (when you'd like to get tips on tungsten, white balance, red vs blue, etc.) gets old, the overall quality and the layout make up for it.

It starts with a somewhat dry but very to-the-point explanation of how light acts, the different types of light and so on, then cuts right to the chase with the photo on one page and a diagram of all the elements used on the opposite/facing page. It gives the location, type of film, all the good stuff...the only thing it lacks is the time the picture was taken where daylight/natural light was used. Some of that does come out in the photographers' descriptions, though.

That's another (very) strong point for this book: multiple artists. Instead of buying a photo book, hating the style and being stuck with 100 pages of it, you can just skip the ones you don't care for...like the handful of pointless macro shots showing 2 square inches of skin scattered throughout.

I haven't tried ''garage glamour'' yet, but it's pretty much the only one I think I'll ''need'' after this. The pictures that are good are VERY good and they far outnumber the crap ones. I'd especially suggest it to someone on a budget who has to be clever with composition to make up for the lack of a $10 trillion camera (the stuff done on old Nikon film cameras in here puts away half of the pics I see from $5,000 Leicas.)

This book shows the way the lighting is set up on a 3d format, and also shows the end result. I was happy with this book and plan to use the lighting for more than just nudes.

This is exactly the kind of easy to use and understand photo reference book and at the same time, beautiful photo presentation portfolio that every "how to" book should be.

I am very glad to have added this to my book library and I know it will appreciate greatly once out of print (like any Howard Schatz book has done).

The photo's are a study on what makes a great nude and without any lack of taste that many others tend to be. The schematics are very easy to read and there are enough varied examples to teach everyone from the beginner to the fully equipped professional.

So, when you are ready to make an investment in lots of hardware, don't forget this book to narrow the choices.

If you want to learn about lighting and photography, look to other books. If know lighting, but want to be able to take pictures of nudes, you just need someone to tell you where to put all of your equipment and where to position the model. Do that enough times and you're a photographer specializing in nudes. This book will help you do this, if you experiment with its straightforward examples and explanations.

In a studio, the photographer has much more control over lighting. However, bad arrangement of lighting can lead to terrible skin coloring, dark circles under the eyes, wrinkles and blemishes where there are none, and many other unflattering effects. Proper lighting can also smooth over what the camera sees and distract the viewer from aspects about which the model is concerned. All of this, though, is even greater when photographing a nude model. The more skin and less clothes to hide the body, the greater the chance for disappointing and perhaps hurtful results.

In this book, Rod Ashford's 'Lighting for Nude Photography', he presents some very practical information on taking good photos. Contrary to my complaints about other books, though, and irronically, he provides very little tutorial text on photographing nudes and still has created the best book on the subject I've found so far. In a subtle way, it does the job that an experienced, terse photographer might do if he were to help you learn how to photograph nudes: he would just say, 'Put your camera here and point it there. Now put one light there with this reflector and another over there. Now, call the model over and have her sit there and face that way. Snap the picture and see what you get.' Really, that's all you need, but repeated many times.


Content Highlights
This book isn't exactly organized in chapters. Instead, there are a few pages of introduction and some basics of lighting and then the rest of the book is a handbook for many popular nude poses and hot to set up the lighting for them. Still, let me highlight each section so you have a better understanding of the book's contents.

In the first background pages of the book, he touches on some things the reader should already know about lighting, but with his own take on them. If after reading through these pages--which I recommend--you find that you don't understand what he's saying, you may want to consider getting a more basic studio photography book before making someone take their clothes off for you. It could be embarrassing for you and irritating for the model. After this, Ashford highlights light meters and their value for a couple of pages. Next he provides some thoughts being in control of light: reflecting, defusing, filing, and mixing. He also touches on the idea of using sun light, flashes, and strobe lights. He ends this background section with a run down of terms he uses throughout the book and a legend of lighting icons used in the book to illustrate which lights are place where in relation to the model and camera.

The remainder of the book provides a practical guide of how to photograph a nude model. For each project (for lack of a better word), you're shown the final photograph taken: usually a full page shot. Then you're given another full page showing an artist's drawing of where the model and relavent items are place (e.g., a chair or a bed), where each light source is placed--including any windows, and where the camera is positioned. This includes the angle and height of each--not in actual degrees or feet, though, but in general. The layout page includes notes and tips on putting the shot together. That's it. It's as simple as that. Basically, flip through the book--perhaps with the model in advance--and look for a shot or pose that you and the model like. If you have the necessary elements (i.e., the necessary lighting equipment), set up your studio or room and try to take the shot. Make adjustments for your particular studio and equipment, as well as to suit the model.

Conclusion
If you've never photographed nude models, but have experience in studio lighting, you can use this book to help you get practice taking nude photos. Just find a patient and willing model and then take you time setting up and taking a couple shots from the book each time. Over many sessions, you'll naturally improve your skills and style. Just be patient with yourself.

I will just say briefly: while this book does clearly diagram where the lighting should be for each shot, many of the shots involve set ups the average photographer won't be using, such as a pool, or directly overhead large lighting. I would have gotten more out of it if he had done more shots with a simple set-up, showing you how to get by without owning a bunch of different lights. It's an interesting book that may get the creative juices flowing, but if you are looking for a comprehensive guide for easy set-ups with one light, this might not be what you want. There are many examples, however, of natural lighting set-ups. But you may not have the luxury of three windows on differing sides or a nice leather couch to take the photos on.

This is exactly what I was looking for. An easy to use and understand photo reference book. A beautiful "how to" book that is invaluable for not only nude photography butfor portrait photography overall.


The photo's show what makes a great nude image,tastefully compiled The lighting diagrams are very easy to read and there is a huge variety of examples to teach everyone from the beginner to the more experienced

Well worth the investment