Basics Photography 02: Lighting

The BASICS Photography series from AVA Publishing's Academia imprint comprises a collection of five titles including: Lighting, Composition, Capturing Colour, Post-Production Black & White and Post-Production Colour that underpin the fundamentals of photography. As such, they offer an essential introduction to the subject and form a comprehensive reference for students of photography, design and other visual arts subjects as well as amateur photographers seeking a sound technical and aesthetic coverage of the subject.

Understanding lighting is fundamental to good photography and a good photographer learns to paint with light. How any image is lit will change how the viewer sees and interprets the content. The book is split into six sections. The first section looks into the theory and background of how all light 'works' for the photographer; the different types of light and the rules it obeys. Natural light, available light and photographic light sources in the studio are all explained and key guidance given on how to measure light for the best photographic exposure. The book concludes by looking at how to control and use light. Mastery of the basics of lighting will give the reader confidence to explore and experiment. Technical concepts are explained through the use of clear diagrams and in a glossary that runs throughout each section. The book is beautifully illustrated with inspiring and compelling images, many taken especially for this publication.

The first book in the series, Lighting , is essentially about how you see. Artists paint with oils or watercolors, photographers paint with light. It is the fundamental ingredient of every photo. How a shot is lit can greatly change the feeling it gives the viewer. Whether bright and happy or dark and moody, light is a very useful tool, but it is not always possible to control (unless you can afford a studio) and so this book aims to teach readers how to make the best with what they have. It is split into five sections, which will study the natural light, controlled light, artificial light, and capturing light. The final section uncovers different methods of capturing images using light in a creative way, like camera-less images known as photo grams, or holding sparklers in front of an open shutter. The final section will inspire both students and those wising to push their creative boundaries. Providing an in-depth exploration of lighting and how to achieve results without resorting to expensive equipment, this book looks at cutting-edge examples which can inform and inspire the photographer