Lighting the Nude: Top Photography Professionals Share Their Secrets (Paperback)

by Roger Hicks (Author), Frances Schultz (Author) "A perennial problem, particularly with inexperienced models, is getting them to feel relaxed about nudity..." (more)
Key Phrases: flash props, personal work model, two standard heads, Ben Lagunas, Frank Wartenberg, Kodak Ektachrome (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
400 nudes--and the lighting setups that make them look so good

* A best-seller, available for the first time in paperback!
* Side- and plan-view diagrams of the lighting setup for each shot
* Includes a directory of photographers, valuable for art directors and designers

Available for the first time in paperback, the top-selling Lighting the Nude reveals the lighting secrets of the top photographers working today. It showcases more than 400 images of the nude, in a wide variety of styles. Each photograph is accompanied by detailed lighting diagrams and an explanation of what makes the shot work. Both beginners in this branch of photography and seasoned pros will find plenty of inspiring lighting ideas and practical guidance. Lighting the Nude is an essential reference for every studio photographer’s bookshelf.

About the Author
Roger Hicks and Frances Shultz are writers and photographers who have collaborated on several books. Alex Larg has worked in commercials, movies, and television, as well as photography. Jane Wood writes and edits educational books

Product Details

• Paperback: 256 pages
• Publisher: Rotovision (September 15, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 294037810X
• ISBN-13: 978-2940378104
• Product Dimensions: 10.3 x 7.4 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars See all reviews (20 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #295,719 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

81 of 82 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of the Best in this topic, December 20, 2003

By	K. T. Chua "ktchua" (Los Angeles, CA United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Lighting the Nude: Top Photography Professionals Share Their Secrets (Hardcover)

I like this book very much for several reasons:

1. Great photos - interesting techniques on topics ranging from classical nude to outdoor nude, accessories/props to hair/makeup.

2. Good taste - this is NOT a book filled with sleazy / low-class photos of naked women. I find all of them tending towards modern, fine art types.

3. Superb format - Minimal text with essential descriptions, simple diagrams showing the studio setup, camera settings

4. Good value - Hardcover with 400 over pages (each with clear examples), printed in in full color on glossy paper.

I use this book as a source of ideas and to experiment with different lighting setups.

Comparisions:
There are numerious books on this topic, and I've read many others. This book is similar to "Lighting for Nude Photography" (also by Rotovision) - "Lighting The Nude" is twice as thick and provides more ideas/techniques. If you like Prolighting series books - which has great illustrations and simple instructions, you will love this. But if you like long-winded, text-intensive book, telling you stories about each picture, then this is not for you. Another book I like is "Successful Glamour Photography" by John Kelly but this book is a little old now.

26 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I wish I'd known..., June 11, 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: Lighting the Nude: Top Photography Professionals Share Their Secrets (Hardcover)

This is a very useful book for anyone trying to refine their lighting skills. Each section features a large number of finished shots, and on the opposite page is an easy-to-understand lighting diagram, and a few paragraphs about how the shot was done.

I wish I'd known before buying this book, however, that it includes the complete contents of three Pro Lighting series titles (i.e., Nudes, Erotica and Provocative Shots). The Pro Lighting Series books are great, but you don't need to buy those three if you buy _Lighting the Nude_.

33 of 35 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An Encyclopedia of Creating World Class Nudes, September 22, 2004

By	Jack Gilbert "Editor of Michelle7.com" (USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Lighting the Nude: Top Photography Professionals Share Their Secrets (Hardcover)

This is one of the best books in the genre teaching the art form of nude photography. "Lighting The Nude" is created in the same spirit and meticulous fashion as all the other great instructional books from Alex Larg, only this time the vision is bigger and better. At 448 pages this is practically an encyclopedia! The format is very easy to follow: a beautiful nude photograph is featured on every other page, and the facing page contains all the information needed to duplicate the image, which is provided by the actual photographer. It covers the camera used, the film, exposure, lens, and everything else, as well as the lighting fixtures and their placements that went into creating the picture. Wow! If ever there was a fast-track to artistic success, this is it. It's amazing that so many world-class photographers were willing to share their secrets this way. That alone would make this book a worthy investment, but the nudes that are featured are absolutely breathtaking and would be a fabulous production all by themselves without all the incredible knowledge provided. So, to all photographers, get this book! Study its contents! And go forth and create your own masterpieces!

Contributing photographers include Jorgen Ahlstrom, Robert Anderson, Igor Aronov, Fernando Bergamaschi, Rod Ashford, Pascal Baetens, Peter Barry, Ben Lagunas, Alex Kuri, Rene de Carufel, Quido Paterno Castello, Patrick Coughlin, Corrado Dalco, Gary Darrar, Ricardo de Vicq de Cumpitch, Benney de Grove, Mike Dmochowski, Michael Engman, Michele Franken, Wolfgang Freithof, Juan del Gado, Peter Goodrum, Laura Hodgson, Kay Hurst, Marc Jaffe, Ron P. Jaffe, Marc Joye, Kingdome 19, John Knill, HArry Lomax, Jeff MAnzetti, Julia Martinez, Ron McMillian, Michael Millerm Art Minds, jordi Morgadas, Antony Nettle, Salvio Parisi, MAurizio polverelli, Renata Ratajczyk, Michael Riedel, Chris Rout, Gianni Russo, Terry Ryan, Gerard de Saint-Maxent, Suza Scalora, Craig Scoffone, Bob Shell, Andrew John Sherriff, Dima Smelyantsev, Clint Adam Smyth, Stephen Speller, Ray Spence, Michael Stanley, Struan, Bhoern Thomassen, Antonio Traza, Gunther Uttendorfer, Robert van de Voort, Nopphadol Viwatkamolwat, Frank P. Wartenberg, Stu Williamson, and Nick Wright.