This guide to on- and off-camera flash picks up where Understanding Exposure leaves off, helping free photographers from the limitations of "auto" to get the images they want when natural light isn't enough. For the many amateur photographers afraid to venture past natural lighting, here is the book that will finally help them explore the exciting possibilities of artificial light. In his trademark easy-to-understand style, Bryan Peterson explains not only how flash works, but how to go beyond "TTL" automatic flash exposure to master manual flash, allowing readers to control the quality, shape and direction of light for a perfect exposure, every time.
Understanding Flash Photography
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About the Author
Bryan Peterson is a phenomenon in how-to photography, with more than half a million books sold, including Amphoto's #1 bestselling title of all time, Understanding Exposure. He also ranks as one of the bestselling authors in the entire category, from any publisher. A professional photographer and internationally known instructor, he is also the author of Learning to See Creatively (9780817441814), Understanding Digital Photography (9780817437961), Beyond Portraiture (9780817453916) and Understanding Close-Up Photography (9780817427191). He is also the founder of the online photography school The Perfect Picture School of Photography (ppsop.com).
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More About the Author
Bryan Peterson is a professional photographer, internationally known instructor, and founder of www.PPSOP.com, The Perfect PIcture School of Photography. He is also the best-selling author of Understanding Exposure, Learning to See Creatively,Understanding Shutter Speed, Understanding Close-Up Photography, Understanding Digital Photography, Beyond Portraiture, and, most recently, Bryan Peterson's Understanding Photography Field Guide. His easy-to-understand writing and teaching style breaks down the complex and often confusing aspects of photography, translating them into what his students routinely describe as "aha" moments. In addition, he has been a commercial photographer for over 30 years, shooting annual reports for many Fortune 500 companies, and his trademark use of color and strong, graphic composition have garnered him many photographic awards, including the New York Art Director's Gold Award and honors from Communication Arts and Print magazine. He currently splits his time between Chicago and France.
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
165 of 176 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
I own all of Bryan Petersons books and I recommend them to photographers who are just starting out, but I don't think this book will be one of them.
When I first saw that this book was coming out I was surprised because I think of all his previous books there was only one picture that had a flash in it, and that was a studio strobe. So I figured that with the growing popularity of the Strobists I figured that Mr Peterson was going to go into all the new tools that are available to make stunning photos. nope.
I'm guessing that a good number of people are going to buy this book hoping for help with a simple situation. You are at a wedding in a dark room and need to know how to make a flattering portrait of the bride and groom, but you also want the background to be exposed properly. Not to be found in the book.
here are some other items that are missing that should have been in the book
-shooting at high ISO's
-Bouncing the flash off walls not just the ceiling (which is very unflattering with the shadows it makes under the eyes)
-modifiers. very little use of anything to soften the light
-gels. while he does have a section that talks about gels, he mostly says that you don't need them. when you have rooms that are lit by CFL's, incandescent, LED's, Halogens....its' more important nowadays to know which gel to use to balance the color of the flash
-TTL. he doesn't use it
all of these omissions would be fine if the pictures were stunning, but that is also not the case. I found most of the pictures harsh and unflattering. but that is what you get when you aim a bare flash at something, even if you do hold it off camera.
I truly hate to write this review because I have always been a fan of Bryan Peterson's books. But when it comes down to it, I don't think this book will help people understand how to use flash to its fullest potential.
When I first saw that this book was coming out I was surprised because I think of all his previous books there was only one picture that had a flash in it, and that was a studio strobe. So I figured that with the growing popularity of the Strobists I figured that Mr Peterson was going to go into all the new tools that are available to make stunning photos. nope.
I'm guessing that a good number of people are going to buy this book hoping for help with a simple situation. You are at a wedding in a dark room and need to know how to make a flattering portrait of the bride and groom, but you also want the background to be exposed properly. Not to be found in the book.
here are some other items that are missing that should have been in the book
-shooting at high ISO's
-Bouncing the flash off walls not just the ceiling (which is very unflattering with the shadows it makes under the eyes)
-modifiers. very little use of anything to soften the light
-gels. while he does have a section that talks about gels, he mostly says that you don't need them. when you have rooms that are lit by CFL's, incandescent, LED's, Halogens....its' more important nowadays to know which gel to use to balance the color of the flash
-TTL. he doesn't use it
all of these omissions would be fine if the pictures were stunning, but that is also not the case. I found most of the pictures harsh and unflattering. but that is what you get when you aim a bare flash at something, even if you do hold it off camera.
I truly hate to write this review because I have always been a fan of Bryan Peterson's books. But when it comes down to it, I don't think this book will help people understand how to use flash to its fullest potential.
39 of 41 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
I have read many of Bryan Peterson's books, mostly because I like his style. Of course, they are all helpful as well, with Understanding Exposure probably being his best book. Well, this book is right up there in terms of helpfulness!
I'm an amateur photographer: I really love photography; but I have a day job, so photography is only a hobby. I've read dozens of books, and I like to think I understand quite a bit about photography. But somehow, flash was always a bit mystifying. I understood some of the basics: flash is basically instantaneous, so flash exposure is entirely controlled by aperture and not shutter speed; however, beyond a certain speed, the sensor is never fully exposed, so you need a special mode (High-Speed Sync) to be able to use flash. But I never really understood what was going on with my flash: it gives me distances, and zooms, and power levels ... how was I supposed to use that information? Sure, I could use the automatic TTL mode and not worry about it. But if you're a true amateur, you want to know whats going on in order to experiment creatively. And I never quite got it. This book explains it well and painlessly! In fact, it's so easy, I'm amazed none of the other books I've read have explained it.
After explaining the basics, he goes on to explore some advanced topics. Not as many as some might like, and probably not in enough detail to make you an expert. But I don't care, and you shouldn't either. This is a book about UNDERSTANDING flash photography, not about mastering techniques. I went in confused and I came out feeling that I now understand flash. I can now read more advanced books, or just experiment and learn through experience. Either way, I'm much better off than I was before. And all thanks to Peterson.
I highly recommend this book!
I'm an amateur photographer: I really love photography; but I have a day job, so photography is only a hobby. I've read dozens of books, and I like to think I understand quite a bit about photography. But somehow, flash was always a bit mystifying. I understood some of the basics: flash is basically instantaneous, so flash exposure is entirely controlled by aperture and not shutter speed; however, beyond a certain speed, the sensor is never fully exposed, so you need a special mode (High-Speed Sync) to be able to use flash. But I never really understood what was going on with my flash: it gives me distances, and zooms, and power levels ... how was I supposed to use that information? Sure, I could use the automatic TTL mode and not worry about it. But if you're a true amateur, you want to know whats going on in order to experiment creatively. And I never quite got it. This book explains it well and painlessly! In fact, it's so easy, I'm amazed none of the other books I've read have explained it.
After explaining the basics, he goes on to explore some advanced topics. Not as many as some might like, and probably not in enough detail to make you an expert. But I don't care, and you shouldn't either. This is a book about UNDERSTANDING flash photography, not about mastering techniques. I went in confused and I came out feeling that I now understand flash. I can now read more advanced books, or just experiment and learn through experience. Either way, I'm much better off than I was before. And all thanks to Peterson.
I highly recommend this book!
63 of 70 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I'd bet that the engineers at Canon and Nikon would be shaking their heads in wonder if they read this book. Even though thru-the-lens (TTL) flash has been around longer than digital cameras, Bryan Peterson is still advocating the exclusive use of manual flash.
Peterson's advice is to set the flash to manual, determine the distance from the flash to the subject, set that distance in the flash readout and then set the aperture to that indicated in the flash readout. The settings that he recommends for other conditions are permutations of this formula. For example, if you have ambient light that you wish to preserve, Peterson recommends setting the aperture for that purpose, checking the readout for the recommended distance from flash to the subject and setting up your flash at that distance. Peterson's recommendations are sound, but he essentially changes the electronics in the flash to an automated version of the chart that electronic-flash photographers used to carry around forty years ago. He recommends against using TTL flash.
Yet TTL flash does the same thing automatically. For TTL, in a period of time measured in ten thousandths of a second, before firing the main flash a small burst of light is fired at the subject, from which the flash calculates the proper settings and flash power for an image. This is the same process that Peterson recommends, except that it's fully automated. That's why today's TTL flashes are expensive and internally sophisticated and yet so easy to use. In some cases TTL is far more accurate then flash used as Peterson recommends. For example in using bounce flash, a process wherein the flash in an interior setting is aimed at the ceiling to bounce the light back at the subject, defuse the light beam and provide softer lighting, Peterson recommends increasing the aperture by two stops to make up for the longer distance the light has to travel and then, if that's not satisfactory adjusting the aperture up or down. I have taken thousands of pictures using bounce flash and TTL, and estimate 95% of the time the exposure was spot on, and in the remaining cases was so close to perfect that a small adjustment of levels in Photoshop was all that was necessary for correction. At a hectic event, like a kid's birthday party, one doesn't want to bother with the calculations required by the Peterson method. (Peterson apparently objects to the small preflash.)
There are other problems with Peterson's book. Besides positioning a flash in the Peterson method to a fixed distance to the subject that may be away from the camera, one may also want to move a flash off-camera for more attractive lighting. This can be done in a number of ways, including a cord from the camera to the flash, built-in infra-red or other non-wired communications between the camera and the flash, and separate radio-control devices. None of these is discussed in any great detail. Similarly, mention is made of diffusing the flash for a more attractive light, but there is no organized discussion of diffusers.
There is nothing wrong with using manual flash, and in a few special situations it may be the only way to get the illumination one wants. But to suggest that TTL flash should never be used is highly misleading. Most books teaching the use of flash will show all the methods. Peterson is the first modern photographer to recommend a return to the old methods. If you want to explore manual flash this book will prove helpful, but please don't abandon all the more modern techniques that the engineers have created to make life easier for the flash photographer.
Peterson's advice is to set the flash to manual, determine the distance from the flash to the subject, set that distance in the flash readout and then set the aperture to that indicated in the flash readout. The settings that he recommends for other conditions are permutations of this formula. For example, if you have ambient light that you wish to preserve, Peterson recommends setting the aperture for that purpose, checking the readout for the recommended distance from flash to the subject and setting up your flash at that distance. Peterson's recommendations are sound, but he essentially changes the electronics in the flash to an automated version of the chart that electronic-flash photographers used to carry around forty years ago. He recommends against using TTL flash.
Yet TTL flash does the same thing automatically. For TTL, in a period of time measured in ten thousandths of a second, before firing the main flash a small burst of light is fired at the subject, from which the flash calculates the proper settings and flash power for an image. This is the same process that Peterson recommends, except that it's fully automated. That's why today's TTL flashes are expensive and internally sophisticated and yet so easy to use. In some cases TTL is far more accurate then flash used as Peterson recommends. For example in using bounce flash, a process wherein the flash in an interior setting is aimed at the ceiling to bounce the light back at the subject, defuse the light beam and provide softer lighting, Peterson recommends increasing the aperture by two stops to make up for the longer distance the light has to travel and then, if that's not satisfactory adjusting the aperture up or down. I have taken thousands of pictures using bounce flash and TTL, and estimate 95% of the time the exposure was spot on, and in the remaining cases was so close to perfect that a small adjustment of levels in Photoshop was all that was necessary for correction. At a hectic event, like a kid's birthday party, one doesn't want to bother with the calculations required by the Peterson method. (Peterson apparently objects to the small preflash.)
There are other problems with Peterson's book. Besides positioning a flash in the Peterson method to a fixed distance to the subject that may be away from the camera, one may also want to move a flash off-camera for more attractive lighting. This can be done in a number of ways, including a cord from the camera to the flash, built-in infra-red or other non-wired communications between the camera and the flash, and separate radio-control devices. None of these is discussed in any great detail. Similarly, mention is made of diffusing the flash for a more attractive light, but there is no organized discussion of diffusers.
There is nothing wrong with using manual flash, and in a few special situations it may be the only way to get the illumination one wants. But to suggest that TTL flash should never be used is highly misleading. Most books teaching the use of flash will show all the methods. Peterson is the first modern photographer to recommend a return to the old methods. If you want to explore manual flash this book will prove helpful, but please don't abandon all the more modern techniques that the engineers have created to make life easier for the flash photographer.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Mandatory Reading for a Photo Enthusiast!
A really good read with lots of great tips. I have already tried his light box idea and was amazed at the results. Highly recommend the book.
Published 14 days ago by William J. Evans, Jr.
5.0 out of 5 stars
Get that flash off the hotshoe!
If you want to know some great ways to light your images creatively, get this book. So easy to do each concept as a project and learn about your strobe.
Published 24 days ago by bsmlight
5.0 out of 5 stars
Husband's scribe
Ordered this for my photographer-husband who had recently attended a seminar in which Bryan Peterson was a presenter on the subject of understanding and using your flash. Read more
Published 1 month ago by sue
5.0 out of 5 stars
I needed this
I enjoy many of the books from this author. this one is good as usual. I had to buy newer flash for my T3i to use all the features. I also dug out my 283 and 285 flashes.
Published 1 month ago by KH
5.0 out of 5 stars
Very easy to understand. Very informative!
This book is great for beginners like me to fully understand the photography using built in flashes, portable flashes and remote flashes. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Herminio C. Miguel
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great book for when you just don't get it--now you will!
I seem to be able to handle my Nikon D800 in manual mode just fine, but when it came to the Speedlight SB-910, I just had some kind of mental block. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Deanna J. Zeck
5.0 out of 5 stars
Getting more confidence on Flash photography while reading this book
I just bought my Speed Light 910 without knowing anything about flash photography. Once I looked into the Manual of Speed light, I was tremendously shocked. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Emran Hussain
3.0 out of 5 stars
need to deal with more general flash setting
talks too muchabout his specific flash which is crrtainly not the one everybody else is using. appart from the apperture guideline the rest is same old same old.
Published 2 months ago by Maite Acosta
5.0 out of 5 stars
Understanding Flash Photography
What a great book, I knew using flash was difficult, I knew I had to read a book on how to do it, this book explains it all, it's one of the very few thechnical books I have read... Read more
Published 3 months ago by Christopher Smith
5.0 out of 5 stars
great information in an easy-to-read format
i love how bryan peterson's books are set up. so easy to read and understand the information being presented. this book is like his others - well worth they money.
Published 3 months ago by Christine
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