Night And Low-Light Photography: A Complete Guide [Paperback]

Bob Gibbons (Author), Peter Wilson (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 31, 1993

"Clearly explained solutions to problem lighting situations from rock concerts to sunsets. Desirable for all public libraries. Highly recommended."--LJ. 192 pages (45 in color), 43 b/w photos, 7 1/2 x 9 3/4.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

For experienced photographers, this thorough guide can serve as an authoritative work on the fine art of night and low-light photography. Unfortunately, the book is difficult to use. A wealth of practical data is buried in dense, sometimes awkward prose. Information on techniques and equipment is scattered throughout the book, and the index is not detailed enough to make the volume a practical reference. Although basic techniques are covered, beginners will find the book too technical and detailed. The 100 color and black-and-white extraordinary photographs, however, compensate for many of the book's deficiencies. Each photograph has a caption explaining the special techniques that brought about the particular effect. Many are accompanied by line diagrams illustrating printing techniques. One spectacular low-light interior picture evinces the effect of light streaming through window slats patterned with an image of a cathedral. The chapter on special effects is especially helpful for those interested in the less conventional approaches to photography. Here, Gibbons and Wilson reveal the secrets of their well-known photographic styles in their use of filters, infra-red films and unfocused images, and in the striking effect caused by refocusing a zoom lens during the exposure.
Copyright 1987 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

About the Author

Bob Gibbons is a successful freelance photographer and writer, who has written and illustrated 25 books, as well as contributing regularly to the photographic press and other magazines. In addition to running a slide library specialising in natural history and travel, he also teaches photography students on courses and tours. Peter Wilson is professional photographer in the medical field. In his spare time he travels the world to photograph natural history subjects, notably landscapes, birds and insects. His work appears regularly in books and magazines, and continues to win photographic competitions at every level.

Product Details

• Paperback: 192 pages
• Publisher: Sterling; Rev Sub edition (December 31, 1993)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0304343315
• ISBN-13: 978-0304343317
• Product Dimensions: 9.6 x 7.4 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,196,266 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

73 of 74 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Night and Low Light Photography by Bob Gibson & Peter Wilson, December 18, 1999

By 

Victor DeHaven w/ Ritz Camera (Fort Myers Beach, Florida) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Night And Low-Light Photography: A Complete Guide (Paperback)

This is a most excellent book on the subject. The fact that no one else has written a review of it is amazing. They must all be out there at night with a flashlight, reading it.......

First written in 1987, it has been reprinted in '93, 94, 95, and 97. The information contained in this well written book is very much in time with today's tools and technology.

These gentlemen seem to have covered every possible low light, long exposure, and flash inhanced shooting situation that you can imagine. And a lot more!

I could try to list all of the low light situations that they cover in this book, but to do so runs the risk of my forgetting to include the item that you are looking for. Believe me, the authors did not forget that which you are seeking. Gibbons & Wilson have covered everyone's interests.

My main interest in low light level photography came from shooting landscapes at night, only using the moon as a light souce. The results are awesome. Sometimes ephemeral, always soft and perhaps other-worldly, the results lend a pleasing effect to what might otherwise have been just another ho-hum scene.

Besides covering my interest, this book goes on to give me the info that I need for using my camera after dark in more ways than I could ever dream of. It's like they are giving away professional secrets or somethin'.

Of course it is very well illustrated. After all it is about photography. Where neccessary, the lads have included charts and diagrams to help make the subject easier to grasp.

Buy it.

Use it.

Don't forget your tripod!

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars For Beginners Only!, August 22, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Night And Low-Light Photography: A Complete Guide (Paperback)

Really, I can't say this book was good or bad, just that it was made for people who have almost no photography experience. Although things like composition are very important, when it comes to night photography, exposure becomes paramount. But this book gives only the most general of advice in that area! It would have been nice if the author would have at least put exposure information next to each picture (exposure, lens, film speed, and other info would have been even better). The book would be better served concentrating less on talking about ideas for nice compositions...let us, the buyers of the book, find our own compositions...let the book tell us how to get the right exposure for the myraid of different night time conditions. The bottom line: This book is a nice "chat" about night photography: don't expect to find any seriously useful tips about the art.

14 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars great book, August 9, 2000

By 

Peter Klosky (Reston, VA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Night And Low-Light Photography: A Complete Guide (Paperback)

Reading this book expanded the range of my photography significantly. The author includes many excellently exposed night shots, text describing how they were done, and an exposure chart. As is typical for books of this type, the one page that is the exposure chart is the highlight of the book.

The moonlit shots of a bay on the Atlantic Coast of Ireland that I shot on my honeymoon are very fun to own. In my wedding photography, I think this book has had a good influence on learning the technique of balancing the exposure of a night scene with a foreground subject lit by flash.

Of course long exposures can not be attempted without a decent tripod. If you are planning some travel photography, I advise you to refrain from leaving your best gear at home in favor of recently purchased compact gear which may be inferior. Take your full camera bag, and stow a tripod/lighting bag, too.

While I think this is a motivating, interesting book, my only suggestion is for the author to record exposures and publish them alongside the photographs. My recollection is that the treatment of exposure is chart and running text based, and not associated with specific photos. This treatment, while unusual, was, none the less, effective.

Peter