Placing Shadows, Third Edition: Lighting Techniques for Video Production [Paperback]

Chuck Gloman (Author), Tom LeTourneau (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 21, 2005 | ISBN-10: 0240806611 | ISBN-13: 978-0240806617 | Edition: 3

A mix of theory and practical applications, Placing Shadows covers the physical properties of light and the selection of proper instruments for the best possible effect. For the student, advanced amateur, and pros trying to enhance the look of their productions, this book examines the fundamentals and is also a solid reference for tips on better performance.

* Heavily illustrated in full color!

* Covers the fundamental properties of light as well as many tips and tricks

* Includes up-to-date equipment and techniques such as lighting for High Def, HMI lighting, etc.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"You get all the basics in this book, including a very comprehensive overview of what is out there in lighting, but they go way beyond the basics, including how to survey a location simply to avoid problems cropping up later in the shoot...The other great thing I find very helpful in this book are all the practical tips of the trade that are regularly slipped into the text...There's a fund of really practical information here, in just 300 pages packed with first class photographs, clear diagrams and tables...Focal Press gives excellent value with this volume; it is a powerhouse of information on lighting for film, illuminating the nooks and crannies as well as painting the scene with flattering light." - www.shootingpeople.org


"A superb reference on lighting, Placing Shadows discusses virtually everything you need to know about lighting for video...A thorough lighting glossary, including examples, illustrations and a tips section completes this book. Anyone who uses video lights should take a look at Placing Shadows." - Charles Fulton, Videomaker

"Gloman and Letourneau have written an excellent introduction-to-lighting textbook for the novice videomaker...This book is very up to date, and includes newer lamps and fixtures. It gives the reader a solid background on the types of lighting units available, how they work, and how they are used. Anyone who did well in high school Science will find the technical aspects of this book easy to understand." - Bill Miller, Video Systems

"Placing Shadows is a basic book with enough depth and good tips on location lighting to warrant adding it to a professional's library. It covers the principles of lighting and the equipment in practical and theoretical terms." - Robert Goodman, Videography

"Placing Shadows: Lighting Techniques for Video Production will help you master the art of lighting and shadow placing. Gloman and LeTourneau do an outstanding job of explaining the physics of light and how to manipulate it to achieve the desired effect of the photographer. Don't struggle with poor lighting on your next video shoot. [This] could be just the guide you are looking for." - Steve Bosinoff, Videomaker

"This comprehensive and copiously illustrated book will help you to master the art of lighting scenes and placing shadows in your video productions." - Focus magazine

Book Description

The definitive lighting for digital video book now in full color!

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 304 pages
• Publisher: Focal Press; 3 edition (February 21, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0240806611
• ISBN-13: 978-0240806617
• Product Dimensions: 10 x 7 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.5 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #501,558 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

23 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Good info if you want to know how a light bulb is made., August 25, 2003

By 

Joel (CA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Placing Shadows, Second Edition: Lighting Techniques for Video Production (Paperback)

I have a background in photography so using tungsten lighting is not new to me. I thought this book would have more technique then I was led to believe.

It does have some great info on how a light bulb is created and the various parts but is not very fulfilling. this book is not what I thought it would be like and
the reviews from others are misleading.

It goes over various lighting setups, any photography book covers this and skims over ratios. It explains color meters in short detail but it would be great to have more "meat" to hang on to then the author's bad grammar and old sayings. He suggests that you learn by doing. enough about his experiences, show me something I don't know how to do!

If you want to learn lighting for video, this is not the book to buy. If you want to learn about light bulbs and color tempatures of tungsten lights then this book delivers.

I give it a 2 stars because it does have some merit but not in the area of lighting technique. For a really thin book, its not worth the price even if you get a discount.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars No Technique - thin on using shadows for anything, April 3, 2007

By 

Louis Mauriello (New York, NY) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Placing Shadows, Third Edition: Lighting Techniques for Video Production (Paperback)

Reviewer Joel (CA United States) is 100% correct: This book's description and all of the other reviews are completely misleading. The book is thin on content at this price range and doesn't even truly cover the subject of "Placing Shadows", and, other then building off of a foundation of the standard 3 point lighting system, it doesn't provide any techniques to do anything with shadows at all.

What it does provide is a good easily understood explanation of color and the measurable aspect of temperature along with definitions of the various existing light bulbs, their properties and color temperatures. But if you are at the stage where you're looking to buy a book to help you with using shadows then you should already know everything this book has to offer on this subject. And if not this isn't the book to get it from.

This book is not what I thought it would be as I was expecting some advanced knowledge on creatively using lights to create shadows that would enhance my productions. What I got was a rehash of the basics of illuminating a subject, with illumination as the key word.

If you want to learn lighting for video go get one of the lesser costing setup books that have page after page of diagrams of different sets and the various positions of where the lights should go.

This is not the book to help you learn about using shadow techniques to enhance your production as it is more a book about light bulbs and their color temperatures.

Oh, yeah, the second edition's cover is completely different and looks like a cheeply produced self published paperback book.

Now I have only one question: Where do I get a refund?

19 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars "Must" reading for aspiring video producers & videographers., June 4, 2000

By 

Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Placing Shadows, Second Edition: Lighting Techniques for Video Production (Paperback)

Now in a completely updated and expanded second edition, Placing Shadows: Lighting Techniques For Video Production continues to be the best one-volume "how to" guide and reference on the practical fundamentals of studio and on-site location video production lighting techniques. Producer, director, videographer, Chuck Gloman collaborates with independent lighting designer Tom Letourneau to provide a superlative guide that covers every aspect of video lighting from meters and scopes to lamps and reflectors. Placing Shadows is "must" reading for all aspiring video producers and videographers.