Customer Reviews

Lighting Photo Workshop

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After reading the impressive Photo Workshop Series "Composition" book by Blue Fier, I expected this book to build upon that base of knowledge and move the reader to the next level. Instead, I learned that lighting is a basic ingredient for good composition, and if you understand good composition, reading about lighting is redundant. This book fails to build upon basic composition techniques, nor is it a proper first read for a beginning photographer to start off with.

Lighting has many specialized subfields, and a one-size-fits-all lighting book underwhelms all audiences. Novice photographers would be better served by reading a book on composition. Advanced users will want more details on studio lighting, gray cards, night/low light photography, or using handheld light meters. Neither audience is well served by this book. The night & low light chapter was especially disappointing for me, with very little practical advice.

The author could have improved the book by adding before & after teaching pictures in the book (e.g. various good and bad exposures of the same picture, direct versus bounced flash, snow pictures with/without a gray card) showing how applying the techniques improves the photograph. Instead, the author presents his photography exhibit throughout the book. While his photos are very impressive, they lack teaching acumen.

A far better book is "Understanding Exposure" by Bryan Peterson. I also suggest the "Composition Photo Workshop" by Blue Fier as the one book in the PWS series that is a must-read. Both books combined have better teaching photographs (before & after). They also both have easy to remember advice on metering in night and low light conditions, and will give readers a much more rounded perspective on how to take a great picture.

Whether you're an average hobbyist or a professional photographer, knowing how to take advantage of lighting conditions is the key to creating great photographs. This book gives a thorough understanding of everything you'll need to know about lighting, providing practical tips and techniques. The book is filled with numerous photos alongside detailed explanations and lighting scenarios. The photographs in the book are also well varied. Chris Bucher describes in great detail how lighting works, and how to use what light you have (or need to compensate for) in order to achieve the best results possible.

Throughout the book's 10 chapters, major topics covered are well organized and written in a way that even a novice can appreciate. At the end of each chapter, Bucher sends you on assignment to gain practical experience from the material just covered. You can also upload your work to a dedicated website where others can comment and vice-versa.

I liked the fact that the book's techniques and explanations aren't limited to DSLR cameras only. Several examples of point and shoot work are included. I own both and because of this book have gotten motivated to move out of my point and shoot's auto settings for better lighting control.

There's a full range of lighting techniques covered and I'm happy to add this book to my growing collection of photography lighting reads. Every style and range of photographer will benefit from its usefulness.