The Photographer S Lighting Toolbox

An indispensable lighting reference you’ll refer to again and again Photography is all about light, yet light remains one of the most confusing and intimidating topics for amateur photographers. The Photographer’s Lighting Toolbox is a complete introduction to lighting principles, gear, and techniques, including: • the basics of exposure: metering, bracketing, exposure value, depth of field, and more • gear and techniques associated with the four main types of light: natural light, modified light, continuous light, and flash illumination • setups for a variety of lighting scenarios, from simple to complex, with foolproof diagrams showing what to put where With easy-to-grasp explanations of complex lighting concepts, clear lighting diagrams, and a thorough review of all the gear you’ll need, this is an indispensable reference for photographers of all levels interested in using light for more professional results.

Simply having a certain camera or lens isn’t going to make you a better photographer. So, what will? Understanding your camera. Thinking differently. Studying photographs and knowing what they provoke in you, and why. Giving the craft time to grow. Looking to painters, designers, and others who work in two dimensions and learning from them. Relentlessly looking for light, lines, and moments. Making photographs–thousands and thousands of photographs. There’s no magic bullet to achieving success, but in these pages you will learn the value of studying, practice, and remembering that your most important assets as an artist are imagination, passion, patience, receptivity, curiosity, and a dogged refusal to follow the rules. THE VISUAL TOOLBOX is photographer David duChemin’s curriculum for learning not just how to use a camera–but how to make stronger photographs. He has developed 60 lessons, each one a stepping stone to becoming more proficient with the tools of this art, and the means to create deeper visual experiences with your images. David introduces you to the technical side of the craft but quickly moves on to composition, the creative process, and the principles that have always been responsible for making great photographs; he shows you these principles and invites you to play with them, turn them on their heads, and try a different approach to create beautiful, compelling images with your camera. Features action-oriented micro-chapters designed to improve your photography immediately Includes explanations of 60 concepts with an assignment for nearly every chapter Covers such topics as balance, using negative space, exploring color contrast, waiting for the moment, learning to incorporate mood and motion, and much more

If you already know your way around Photoshop and Painter and want to use these amazing programs to take your skills further, this book is for you! Much more than a simple "how-to" guide, Susan Ruddick Bloom takes you on a full-fledged journey of the imagination and shows you how to create incredible works of fine art. Supplemented by the work of 20+ world renowned artists in addition to Sue's own masterpieces, you'll learn how to create watercolors, black and white pencil sketches, texture collages, stunning realistic and fantastical collages, and so much more, all from your original photographs. If you are eager to dive into the world of digital art but need a refresher on the basics, flip to Sue's essential techniques chapter to brush up on your Photoshop and Painter skills, and you'll be on your way in no time. Whether you're a novice or an established digital artist, you'll find more creative ideas in this book than you could ever imagine. Fully updated for new versions of Painter and Photoshop and including brand new work from contemporary artists, Digital Collage and Painting provides all the inspiration you need to bring your artistic vision to light.

Scott Kelby, Editor and Publisher of Photoshop User magazine–and the best-selling photography book author in the world today–once again takes this book to a whole new level as he uncovers more of the latest, most important, and most useful Adobe Photoshop techniques for digital photographers. This update to his award-winning, record-breaking book does something for digital photographers that’s never been done before–it cuts through the bull and shows you exactly “how to do it.” It’s not a bunch of theory; it doesn’t challenge you to come up with your own settings or figure it out on your own. Instead, Scott shows you step by step the exact techniques used by today’s cutting-edge digital photographers, and best of all, he shows you flat-out exactly which settings to use, when to use them, and why. That’s why the previous editions of this book are widely used as the official study guide in photography courses at colleges and universities around the world. LEARN HOW THE PROS DO IT Each year, Scott trains thousands of professional photographers on how to use Photoshop, and almost without exception they have the same questions, the same problems, and the same challenges–and that’s exactly what he covers in this book. You’ll learn: The sharpening techniques the pros really use. The pros’ tricks for fixing the most common digital photo problems fast! How to process HDR (High Dynamic Range) images to get realistic looking images, as well as the heavily tone-mapped hyperreal look. How to master Photoshop’s Content-Aware features. How to use Photoshop’s video editing features to make movies from your DSLR videos. How to process RAW images like a pro (plus how to take advantage of all the new Camera Raw features in CC). The latest Photoshop special effects for photographers (there’s a whole chapter just on these!). A host of shortcuts, workarounds, and slick “insider” tricks to send your productivity through the roof! Plus, Scott includes a special chapter with his own workflow, from start to finish, and each chapter ends with a Photoshop Killer Tips section, packed with time-saving, job-saving tips that make all the difference. He also provides four bonus chapters, along with all the images used in the book for download on the book’s companion webpage. If you’re a digital photographer, and if you’re ready to learn all the “tricks of the trade”– the same ones that today’s leading pros use to correct, edit, retouch, and sharpen their work–then you’re holding the book that will do just that.

Lighting is one of the most important aspects of any photograph. The best images create dimension and drama, which goes beyond formulas and lighting recipes. In Lighting for Photographers: An Introductory Guide to Professional Photography, commercial photographers and instructors Joe Lavine and Brad Bartholomew offer a unique philosophy of lighting, starting with an understanding of the characteristics of lighting to build great shots. Including interviews from professional photographers and illustrated with over 200 images, this book introduces basic photographic concepts and equipment needs, and takes the reader from the lighting process through to starting a successful career in photography both in the studio and on location. Readers will learn a comprehensive approach to lighting including what light does, composition, experimentation, practical tools and techniques, equipment, metering and histograms, and how to launch and grow their career. With downloadable instructor resources featuring discussion questions and quizzes, this fully updated edition is ideal for introductory level photography and lighting courses as well as the amateur photographer looking to apply the appropriate lighting to realize their conceptual and aesthetic goals.

As every photographer quickly learns, there’s more to studio lighting than simply learning the equipment. InBasic Studio Lighting, an expert photographer and renowned photography teacher provides nuts-and-bolts guidance for mastering the complexities of one of the most important aspects of making a photograph: proper lighting. Readers will discover surefire tactics for using equipment properly and innovative ways of utilizing color and light to create fabulous effects, as well as getting hands-on practice with exposures, accent lighting, backgrounds, set-ups, and dozens of other studio techniques. Plus, dozens of outstanding color photographs illustrate each technique step by step. Perfect for aspiring photographers and students as well as veterans,Basic Studio Lightingprovides all the theory and practical techniques needed to create professional photos that make an impact. • Hundreds of proven tips and techniques from an expert in the field • A hot topic for every photographer • Over 150 outstanding photos with step-by-step instructions make mastering these techniques easy

What are the do’s and don’ts of being a good assistant lighting designer? What are focus tapes, and how do I use them? What is the best method for creating a magic sheet? What should be found in every assistant’s kit? How do I make that first important leap into this professional career? Answer these questions and many more with The Assistant Lighting Designer’s Toolkit. This definitive guide unlocks the insider-secrets used to succeed as a professional assistant lighting designer (ALD) – whether choosing assisting as a career or while transitioning to another. This book outlines, step-by-step, the challenges the ALD faces during every phase of production. Never before has a resource existed that views the design process through the eyes of the assistant. Intermingled among the nuts and bolts of the paperwork and essential procedures, top industry professionals reveal tips for personal survival in this challenging career – both domestically and abroad as well as in other careers in lighting. Within these pages are the industry secrets rarely taught in school! The author's website can be found at http://www.aldtoolkit.com/.

Scott Kelby, Editor and Publisher of Photoshop User magazine–and the best-selling photography book author in the world today–once again takes this book to a whole new level as he uncovers more of the latest, most important, and most useful Adobe Photoshop techniques for digital photographers. This update to his award-winning, record-breaking book does something for digital photographers that’s never been done before–it cuts through the bull and shows you exactly “how to do it.” It’s not a bunch of theory; it doesn’t challenge you to come up with your own settings or figure it out on your own. Instead, Scott shows you step by step the exact techniques used by today’s cutting-edge digital photographers, and best of all, he shows you flat-out exactly which settings to use, when to use them, and why. That’s why the previous editions of this book are widely used as the official study guide in photography courses at colleges and universities around the world. LEARN HOW THE PROS DO IT Each year, Scott trains thousands of professional photographers on how to use Photoshop, and almost without exception they have the same questions, the same problems, and the same challenges–and that’s exactly what he covers in this book. You’ll learn: The sharpening techniques the pros really use. The pros’ tricks for fixing the most common digital photo problems fast! The step-by-step setup for getting what comes out of your printer to match exactly what you see onscreen. How to process HDR (High Dynamic Range) images using Merge to HDR Pro. How to master Photoshop’s Content-Aware features. How to use Photoshop’s video editing features to make movies from your DSLR videos. How to process RAW images like a pro (plus how to take advantage of all the new Camera Raw features in CS6 and Creative Cloud!). The latest Photoshop special effects for photographers (there’s a whole chapter just on these!). A host of shortcuts, workarounds, and slick “insider” tricks to send your productivity through the roof! Plus, Scott includes a special bonus chapter with his own workflow, from start to finish, and each chapter ends with a Photoshop Killer Tips section, packed with time-saving, job-saving tips that make all the difference. If you’re a digital photographer, and if you’re ready to learn all the “tricks of the trade”–the same ones that today’s leading pros use to correct, edit, sharpen, retouch, and present their work–then you’re holding the book that will do just that.