Matters of Light & Depth [Paperback]

Ross Lowell (Author, Editor), Various (Illustrator)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0966250400 | ISBN-13: 978-0966250404 | Publication Date: April 1, 1999 | Edition: 1st

Creating memorable images for video, film, & stills through lighting. In addition to his own techniques, photos, and light philosophy, Ross Lowell interweaves the insights and images of distinguished lighting directors, photographers, filmmakers, and classic painters. Some of the subjects explored include: Color Temperature Matters Hearing the Light Lighting Planes Lighting People Meter Matters Finessing the Light Motivating the Light Two-Light Techniques The One-Light Approach Setting Up a Small Studio Superior Exterior Lighting The Art & Craft of Lighting Craft & Art Best Ways to Achieve the Worst Lighting

Editorial Reviews

Review

Ross Lowell has spent his life learning and teaching about light . . . (This book) should be owned by everyone who has any kind of camera . . . The reward for reading just a few chapters . . . will surely be better pictures . . .Mr. Lowell s writing . . . has a lyrical and spiritual dimension that is inspiring . . . John Durniak, Valuable Lessons from a Master of Light, --The New York Times

I am still citing Ross Lowell as the sensitive character who knew what light and movement were all about. This book confirms it. --Peter Jennings, anchorman, ABC News

As a teacher, I particularly value several chapters, such as Lighting by Numbers, In Broad Daylight, Dynamic Lighting of Static Subjects, Shedding Light, and Lights-On Lessons. These sections are teeming with the kind of applied wisdom that students are starving for. I enjoyed reading it; better yet, I learned a lot from it. --Charles Merzbacher, professor, New York University, Dept. of Film & TV

About the Author

Author Ross Lowell is a professional cinematographer, still photographer, and occasional director and producer. Of the hundreds of documentaries, short films, and TV commercials that he has shot, directed, and produced, many have earned special recognition: an Academy Award, several addtional Academy Award nominations, Golden Eagle Awards, Emmy Awards, and Art Director's Club Awards, among others.

Ross has taught lighting at New York University and given lighting seminars and workshops for both students and professionals in the United States and abroad. In his spare time, he is a woodworker, writer, and inventor. His patented location lighting systems, for which he has received an Academy Award Technical/Scientific Certificate and The Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers' John Grierson Gold Medal, have been kept in the shadows throughout Matters of Light & Depth.

Product Details

• Paperback: 224 pages
• Publisher: Lower Light Management; 1st edition (April 1, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0966250400
• ISBN-13: 978-0966250404
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 8.9 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (21 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #649,644 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

52 of 54 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wow! The best book about lighting that I've read., April 3, 2004

By 

Tony Hall "If the movie stinks, just don't go!" (the internet) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

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This review is from: Matters of Light & Depth (Paperback)

First of all, let me say that I think this is the best book on lighting that I've read. Of course it's from the lighting man himself Ross Lowell. This is the guy that is responsible for the Lowel Light company. In the Lowel catelog, you'll find the most useful lighting equiptment you could ever ask for. This is also the guy who invented gaffer's tape.

Anyway, Ross Lowell is a camera man/lighting director who's been around for a while and I really like his approach to the subject. He treats lighting as a craft that's independent of the medium that you choose. This book teaches lighting for film, video, and stills by showing you basic principals that apply to all mediums. The book is full of Ross Lowell (and other photographers) excellent photos illustrating various types of lighting.

This book isn't a real easy read... at least not as easy as I thought it would be. If you really want to understand lighting, here's my recommendation. Buy this book, request a Lowel catelog via the web, read Lighting for Digital Video (can be found here at amazon.com), and request a lighting catelog from B&H. Study both catelogs and read both books. You should also try to pick up the different kinds of basic lights from Ebay so you can expiriment and do some of the excercises found in this book.

This book also contains an awesome glossary that contains all the lighting terms you could ever want defined. Albeit, some of the definitions are rather useless (see Lighthand). Another great thing is that the author doesn't use this book as an excuse to plug his lighting supplies like he could have.

One last thing. If you are a still photographer that only plans on using strobes for your lighting and have little or no interest in video, film, or continuous lighting... you may not like this book or find it very useful. However, if you're like me and shoot video and take pictures you'll love it.

45 of 49 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars a List view on lighting, November 19, 2005

By 

Rick Wise (Oakland, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Matters of Light & Depth (Paperback)

I admire Ross Lowell's inventions enormously. His lights, while not as robust as others and so not so well suited to rental houses, are a great tool for the beginning owner-operator. I began with his Lowel Lights and moved up to his D-heads. I remember them all fondly, even though I no longer use them.

After many years as a director of photography, I've begun to teach lighting and have been looking at book options for my students. So far the best book I've found on this topic is Blain Brown's "Motion Picture and Video Lighting". While the layout of Lowell's book is stunning, as are many of the images, Lowell approaches each section with long lists which to my mind do nothing to inspire the thinking eye. With great respect for Lowell, I regretfully report that for me his book is for the encyclopediast, not for the emerging eye.

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An up-to-date, hands-on cinematography/photography book, August 5, 1997

By A Customer

This review is from: Matters of Light and Depth: Creating Memorable Images for Video, Film, and Stills Through Lighting (Paperback)

With lots of pictures, clear text, and a detailed hands-on exercise section, this book quickly brings you up to fine quality photo, movie, or video production. Highly recommended for those of us who would like to create professional-looking photos and movies