The Complete Guide To Light Lighting In Digital Photography

A comprehensive guide to lighting techniques in digital photography covering topics including working with artificial light and daylight.

Now that you’ve had your DSLR for a while, are you ready to take a much closer look at what creating a great image is all about? It’s all about light! The ability to see, influence, modify, control, and create light will take your images from snapshots to great shots! In Lighting for Digital Photography: From Snapshots to Great Shots, photographer and bestselling author Syl Arena begins with a primer on light itself—how to see its direction, intensity, color, contrast, and hardness—and quickly moves on to discussions of shooting both indoors and outdoors in the many different conditions of natural or man-made light. Then the book digs in to begin creating light with photographic lights, whether that’s small flash or big strobe, the pop-up flash on your DSLR or continuous lights. Follow along with Syl and you will: Learn the basics (and beyond) of light modifiers that make light bigger and softer, such as umbrellas, softboxes, beauty dishes, and diffusion panels Understand how to control and shape the light itself with flags, grids, snoots, and the zoom function on your flash Appreciate the color temperature of light (whether that’s the sun, a light bulb, or a flash), and how to influence it with white balance settings on your camera and colored gels on your flash Learn how to take great pictures across many different genres, from product and still life images, to simple (and not so simple) portraits and group shots With Lighting for Digital Photography: From Snapshots to Great Shots, you’ll learn not only how light behaves—you’ll learn all you need to know to get started on the journey of creating and controlling light in order to make great shots. And once you’ve got the shot, show it off! Join the book’s Flickr group, share your photos, and discuss how you get great shots at flickr.com/groups/lightingfromsnapshotstogreatshots.

Using clear graphic diagrams, this comprehensive photography guide introduces and fully explains the important subject of light as a resource for creating stunning photos and portraits.

From flashlights and top-of-the-line studio electronic flashes to light stands and battery/inverter packs, this all-encompassing survey evaluates the vast array of lighting and equipment options available to professional photographers. Beginning with a basic history of the role of lighting equipment and the interplay between advances in capture and lighting technologies, the emphasis then shifts to advances made within the past five years that have enabled photographers to consider more low-powered and cost effective options than ever before. In addition to identifying the wide range of gear currently on the market—as well as those photographers may devise on their own—this reference examines the pros and cons of the various technologies and provides suggestions for their most practical use. Photographs of the equipment surveyed as well as real-life images created with the different pieces of equipment are interspersed throughout the text. Other helpful hints include tips for maximizing versatility, investment in each piece of equipment, and a “Top-Ten Must-Have List.”

An illustrated introduction to digital photography, examining hardware such as cameras, computers, scanners, and printers and the relationship between them; looking at image-editing software, tools, and techniques; featuring step-by-step instructions for taking professional-quality photographs; and discussing special-effects options.

Improve your lighting technique to produce better quality photographs Digital Photography Lighting For Dummies features the tools, concepts, and steps you need to give your subjects a high-quality look and feel. Everyone from advanced beginners to aspiring professional photographers will improve their understanding of lighting basics as well as the parts and functions of their camera. Explains the different kinds of lighting that different situations require and guides you through changing the settings on your camera Shows you how to set up equipment to capture the photograph you want with the proper amount of light and shadow Offers information on the latest lighting equipment and accessories Includes techniques and skills used by film photographers like David Bailey, Ansel Adams, and Annie Leibovitz Reach for Digital Photography Lighting For Dummies and take your knowledge of lighting and photography to the next level!

Photographers can FOCUS on just what they need with this no-nonsense guide to lighting and exposure. It provides key how-to information in short, to-the-point nuggets, so you can start taking better pictures instantly. Master photographer George Schaub outlines 25 basic photographic concepts and principles-such as how to set up a high-contrast scene, create silhouettes, or backlight-and then explains how to apply them to real-world shooting scenarios. Lavish and fun photos illustrate each concept, making it easy for readers to see the effects of every technique.

Starting with a technical discussion and then tackling a wide range of themes and lighting situations, this book presents specific guidelines for shooting low-light landscapes, portraits, buildings, carnivals, and more. 200 color, 80 b&w illustrations.