Light: Science and Magic: An Introduction to Photographic Lighting
Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
  • Learn What You Already Know, but Don't Know!
  • Best Lighting Book I've Read
  • The distiction between humans and apes
  • Excellent title for learning lighting
  • Totally theoretical and completely practical!
Light: Science and Magic: An Introduction to Photographic Lighting
Fil Hunter , Steven Biver , and Paul Fuqua
Manufacturer: Focal Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0240808193

Book Description

An amazing (and some would say magical) resource on photographic lighting that has been talked about in the community and recommended for years. This highly respected guide has been thoroughly updated and revised for content and design - it is now produced in full color! It introduces a logical theory of photographic lighting so if you are starting out in photography you will learn how to predict results before setting up lights. This is not primarily a how-to book with only set examples for you to copy. Rather, Light: Science and Magic provides you with a comprehensive theory of the nature and principles of light to allow you to use lighting to express your own creativity.

Numerous photographs and illustrations provide clear examples of the theories, while sidebars highlight special lighting questions. Expanded chapters on available light in portraiture, as well as new information on digital equipment and terminology make this a must have update!

*New four color art package with contemporary lighting examples
*Based on the behaviour of light
*Theory book for serious photographers

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars Learn What You Already Know, but Don't Know!.......2007-10-02

I sort of learned nothing from this book, but also learned EVERYTHING.

This book takes what I see everyday, but don't think about, then turns it into thought. I've always known that light reflects from things in three different ways, but that knowledge has sat unconsciously in my lower brain. My higher brain, which does shutter speed, depth of field, and f/stops, was oblivious. The book brings your two brains together!

5 out of 5 stars Best Lighting Book I've Read.......2007-09-30

As a professional photographer and instructor, I've perused many books on photographic lighting, portrait lighting, etc. I say "perused" because most are complicated in the way they present their information, or, present examples that -while technically sound- are totally impractical for everyday use. So much so that I rarely buy them. This is understandable, as professional lighting is the single most difficult aspect of photography to grasp, let alone master. So explaining it isn't always easy, either.

This book -while it does use a bit of technical language- approaches each example in a very straightforward way, explaining when and where each technique is useful, how to perform each technique and even the troubles you're likely to encounter when you first attempt them. In short it's like someone is sitting there with you leading you through the logic of how the lighting works, and helping you to look out for the pitfalls. And while it's not that thick of a book, it is *dense* with information. There is much to absorb and learn, and frankly I've seen no other book that comes close in terms of making it a pleasure to learn.

This book will be a required text for any university classes I teach in the future.

5 out of 5 stars The distiction between humans and apes.......2007-09-29

On the first day of his Physics 45 (i.e., photography) class, Ross Scroggs put a "rock" on his lecture table and told his students that this was an ax, one of the first human tools. He also told them that art, demonstrated in cave paintings, evolved simultaneously with tools. "I do not need to teach you art," he said, "because, if you are human, you will produce art as soon as you have the tools. I intend to give you the tools. I will not mind wasting my time with the overwhelming majority of apes in this class, because the handful of humans here will certainly listen to me and that makes it worth my time."

This book was originally developed by two students from the University where Scroggs taught, and he's the prominent dedicatee of the book. It's not my place to say they have delivered his promise, but read the other reviews of this book, written almost entirely by people who never knew Ross Scroggs, and look at the similarity between their descriptions of the book and Scroggs' promises.

5 out of 5 stars Excellent title for learning lighting.......2007-09-27

This is a book that will teach you about light and how to apply it. It isn't meant for you to copy a setup to get similar results. It is an outstanding book that tells you why you put the lights in a particular position and why it works in one instance, but not another.

IMHO this is a easy to follow fun to read college course on lighting. If you are looking to improve your craft this is a must read. This is also a book in the reference library of the Certified Professional Photographers association and helps in preparing for their exam.

5 out of 5 stars Totally theoretical and completely practical!.......2007-09-23

Everything in this book is so obviously true! But I can't believe I never saw it before!

I think this book achieves true mysticism in what it does to your brain, and I guess that's what the "magic" part of the title is about. Still, everything here is presented as solid technology: here's how light works, here's how it reflects off of different objects, now, go out and do something with this knowledge!

The fact that a metal object has the same brightness, regardless of the distance of the light, while everything else gets brighter or dimmer as the light gets closer or further away is hugely empowering. Think about that for a minute, folks: I can't move the sun, but I can change the lighting ratio by moving this camera I have in my hands.

This is the one and only classic book on this subject.
The Light of Paris
Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
  • Brassai @ dawn
The Light of Paris
Pierre Assouline
Manufacturer: Assouline
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 284323882X

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars Brassai @ dawn.......2007-05-10

Absolutely beautiful photographs that in many cases go beyond the endless cliches that this most wonderful city can't help but spawn. Using a spectacularly fine grained film, in a now eccentric denial of digital format, Berts has produced a magnificent portfolio on Paris. Reminds me of Brassai's celebrated night shots, only these were taken at dawn. Superb printing quality, and prefaced with a delightfully playful essay by Pierre Assouline. Top shelf publishing. An unmissable bargain at Amazon's price.
Seizing the Light: A History of Photography
Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
  • Seizing the Photographic Light
  • The Persistence of Fine Books
  • This is the One Great Book on the History of Photography!
Seizing the Light: A History of Photography
Robert Hirsch
Manufacturer: McGraw-Hill Humanities/Social Sciences/Languages
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0697143619

Book Description

"Its chief virtues are a succinct, mostly lucid style, a wide intellectual scope, a flood of ideas and insights at every turn, sensitivity to the technology and culture of photography, and a willingness to attend to images . . . In the end, perhaps the best measure of a text is whether or not one would choose it from among all the offerings to use in class. I have chosen to use this book." - Photo Review, Spring 2000

"An excellent introductory history book." - Afterimage: The Journal of Media Arts and Cultural Criticism

In this wonderful and entertaining book, Hirsch has produced the most useful, readable, and practical successor to Newhall. Seizing the Light is written in a friendly, accessible way -- dense with information, but more hip and lively than other offerings, especially those aimed at college students." - exposure: The research journal of the Society for Photographic Education. Vol. 32.2 (Fall, 1999)

Hirsch's prose is very digestible. He writes in a clear, lively style with a minimum of jargon." - Views: the newsletter of the Visual Material Section of the Society of American Archivists

Science, culture, and art come together in this comprehensive history of photography. With superlative production values, rare and unusual prints, and a fresh perspective, Robert Hirsch has written the ideal companion to the first 200 years of photography.

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars Seizing the Photographic Light.......2006-03-24

Overall a great book on the history of photography. VERY comprehensive overview of the evolution of photography. It ties movements in art and social events into photography trends and developments. It also provides insight into how photographers and artists used the medium to express themselves and how experimentation lead to improvements over the years. My only negative comment would be that some of the earlly forms of cameras were not pictured. There were diagrams of early cameras, but after the first hundred years, there is little to no documentation on how they evolved cosmetically/ functionally. It'd be nice to see an example of the various "groundbreaking" cameras as they were discussed. Otherwise, a great book.

5 out of 5 stars The Persistence of Fine Books.......2005-12-30

For everyone with an interest in photography, either as an artist of the medium, a beginner looking for direction, or a collector who wants informed background to enhance appreciation of fine photographs both from the past and from the present obsession, SEIZING THE LIGHT: A History of Photography is essential reading.

Robert Hirsch knows his subject and in one hefty book manages to share the beginnings of photography some 200 years ago with the evolution of the camera and the discipline of photographing. Well illustrated with both photographs and drawings, Hirsch chronicles the famous and not so famous practitioners of the art in succinct but richly colorful biographical abstracts to accompany examples of each artist. The phases through which this art form has passed makes for fascinating reading even beyond the scope of the title: the use of the camera in documenting the history of our globe at celebration, at war, at discovery, and at the side of the people of the day is a journey well lead by a writer well skilled.

Though this book is now six years old it remains one of the more important textbooks for the art school classroom. But more important it is so richly written that it remains a fascinating survey of life since the camera. From the beginnings of the pinhole box to the present day digital images on the cell phone etc, the invention of the camera has inextricably changed our perception of the world. Learn the how and why of it! Highly recommended. Grady Harp, December 05

5 out of 5 stars This is the One Great Book on the History of Photography!.......2005-05-09

Seizing the Light: A History of Photography. is a wonderfully broad, contemporary, eclectic and entertaining book. Robert Hirsch has produced the most useful, readable, and practical successor to Beaumont Newhall's classic, The History of Photography, first published in 1937. Seizing the Light is written in a friendly, accessible way -- dense with information, but more hip and lively than other offerings, especially those aimed at college students. Hirsch includes the "canon" of standard western photographic history (represented by Stieglitz, Weston, Adams, White, et. al.) first set forth by Newhall and other researchers, but updates the information with special emphasis on the last five decades of photographic practice, including digital imaging.

Many teachers and interested readers will greatly appreciate Hirsch's conscious effort throughout the book, to include numerous women and photographers from other cultures. (Chapter Two opens with an image of an American Indian, and includes a portrait of an African-American, affording students the realization that marginalized groups actually did appear as subjects before the camera in addition to working behind them.)

Students will also appreciate Hirsch's habit of opening new chapters with a description of cultural and political events occurring during the period under discussion: Chapter Twelve starts with a harrowing description of life for immigrants in New York City in the late Nineteenth Century during the time of Jacob Riis, and Chapter Seventeen has a helpful summary of the ending of the Vietnam War, connecting it smoothly to such diverse influences as Richard Nixon and the BeeGees! There are also wonderful endnotes following each chapter that are absolutely addictive, giving curious readers further information and surprising tidbits of information.

Hirsch's knowledge gained as a Director of CEPA Gallery in Buffalo (a contemporary non-profit Artist's space) provides him with exceptional insight into contemporary photography. This is especially evident in his last Chapter, Eighteen, "Thinking About Photography," which abounds with infrequently seen and challenging images by Arnulf Rainer, Nam June Paik, John Baldessari, Anselm Keifer, Gilbert and George, William Wegman and the Bechers. There is a clear and helpful section on Postmodernism, including the usual suspects: Cindy Sherman, Richard Prince, Barbara Kruger, Sherrie Levine, and Victor Burgin. There are sections on "Gender Issues" with Judith Golden, as well as one on "Fabrications" with Sandy Skoglund, Olivia Parker, Joel Peter Witkin and others. "Altering Time and Space" includes David Hockney, the Starn Twins, and the delicious hand-colored work of Holly Roberts. Other sections include "Investigating the Body" (Andres Serrrano, Robert Mapplethorpe, Nan Goldin, Sally Mann) and "Multiculturalism" (Clarissa Sligh, Carrie Mae Weems, Lorna Simpson, and the Guerilla Girls). Hirsch closes this bulging chapter with a discussion of digital imaging, including images by Pedro Meyer, Nancy Burson and several rising young artists in new media. He concludes with an extensive bibliography of related books and resources, a helpful list of monographs by the major artists presented throughout the text, and a section on sources for artists' books.

Robert Hirsch has produced a most impressive and useful book that readers will find engaging and relevant. The currency and eclectic nature of Hirsch's thought is fascinating and his book serves as a much-needed supplement to existing texts in the history of photography.

(Submitted by Brian Taylor, Professor of Art and Design at San Jose State University, where he has taught the History of Photography for 25 years. Prior to that, he studied with Beaumont Newhall for three years during graduate school at the University of New Mexico.)
The Complete Guide to Night and Low-Light Photography
Average customer rating: 4 out of 5 stars
  • NIght and low-light photography
  • Good film shooting book.
  • Great Book by a Great Photographer and Author
  • Outstanding Lessons in "Difficult" Photography
  • Excellent but dated
The Complete Guide to Night and Low-Light Photography
Lee Frost
Manufacturer: Amphoto Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0817450416

Product Description

Find out how you can produce breathtaking images indoor and out with low light! This comprehensive guide covers everything from choosing the best equipment and film to ensuring correct exposures in tricky situations. The book also tackles a wide range of different themes and lighting situations including firework displays, candlelight and weather phenomena.

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars NIght and low-light photography.......2007-06-09

Received book very promptly, reading my way thru this at the moment, great serivce thx

5 out of 5 stars Good film shooting book........2007-03-22

I liked the book but I was expecting more from the author in covering Digital SLR (DSLR) cameras as well as film. The book has spectacular shots of low/no light photography but all using film. I have a DSLR and I have been learning a lot about photography specifically digital picture taking and wanted to focus on that aspect. Much of the information on the beginning of the book covers equipment and only a small part covers information that could be used for digital cameras.
The book features great shots and I will try to reproduce some of the shots. I also think that is well written and was a joy to read.

5 out of 5 stars Great Book by a Great Photographer and Author.......2007-02-15

Lee Frost is my favorite photographic author. Unlike some other photographers who decide to write a book, Mr. Frost also has writing talent. He never seems to be talking down to his readers, as some seem to do. Instead, his books give you that "I'm no one special, but I'll tell you what I've learned so you don't make the same mistakes" type of feeling. I particularly like the fact that he includes pictures where he made a mistake, something we know every pro does but usually won't admit to. This book gives you everything you need to know to shoot great pictures in low light, using film or digital. He doesn't go into digital much, but the techniques are the same for both, with the exception of having to bracket exposures. Who needs to do that when you can see the results right away? But if you're shooting film, you need this book. The pictures are fantastic and clearly illustrate the author's point, even the mistakes. If you haven't bought a camera yet, read this book first!!! You may decide, given the beauty of film pictures and the availability of excellent film cameras for very little money, that digital photography isn't for you. A great book, either way you decide to go.

5 out of 5 stars Outstanding Lessons in "Difficult" Photography.......2007-01-29

This is a truly excellent how-to on capturing those difficult shots in low light environments, both outdoors and indoors. I am a professional scenic and wildlife photographer and I learned MUCH -- and gained considerable confidence, too -- from reading and studying this book. I read it very slowly, over many months, and tried the techniques and principles Lee Frost describes in my own work as I progressed through the chapters. The results were outstanding, leaving me with far more confidence and skill in managing difficult shots. If anything, the book covers too much, with a long lead-in on types of cameras and lenses, etc., and the final sections on specific subject types tend to be repetitive of the central text, itself. (But, then, we learn by repetition and Mr. Frost is a good teacher.) Still, the CORE information in the book is extremely helpful and valuable. It's on my top shelf for photographic technique and will remain there!

3 out of 5 stars Excellent but dated.......2007-01-19

I found the material very helpful and the concepts straight forward with plenty of example photo. The only downside is that the book is dated and tends to talk about digital photography as some futuristic, yet un-refined, technology.
The Complete Guide to Light & Lighting in Digital Photography (A Lark Photography Book)
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • Good content, but shoot the editor
  • A good book, IMO
  • Excellent content, a lot of production errors
  • Lots of good information on Photographic lighting
  • Thorough
The Complete Guide to Light & Lighting in Digital Photography (A Lark Photography Book)
Michael Freeman
Manufacturer: Lark Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1579908853

Book Description

Michael Freeman, the author of more than 20 books on various aspects of photography, now helps digital photographers see (and understand) the light! Because good lighting is key to a picture’s success, it’s a topic of interest to anyone who picks up a digital camera…and Freeman’s comprehensive manual gives readers an essential toolbox of techniques and creative ideas. Find out how to create and manipulate lighting scenarios for professional-looking photos. Examine the many varieties of natural light, from blazing sunlight to gentle twilight, as well as incandescent and fluorescent lights. Make the most of your camera’s flash and lighting equipment, including diffusers, shades, and reflectors.

From shooting techniques to imaging tricks, this provides photographers with a solid groundwork for producing top-quality pictures.

Customer Reviews:

4 out of 5 stars Good content, but shoot the editor.......2007-09-06

My copy has the same ISBN number as listed above, but has a different cover and is listed "First Edition" 2007. I'm assuming that the book ordered here is virtually identical.

I found the content quite excellent. It explains light color well, bit depth and dynamic range well. It gets a tad bit repetitious comparing different lighting sources, although does point out important differences. The book does well to bridge the gap between Photoshop tuitorial and visual results; it will not tell you how to use Photoshop, but has many Photoshop screen captures discussing the effect of adjustments. There is a good section on High Dynamic Range (HDR) imaging.

The book does have an undue amount of typos. If you can look past them then you can enjoy this book. In some cases the typos are extreme: there are four consecutive pages that show different lighting positions on a still life object; 80 images in all. However, the caption key for each picture describing the setup is exactly the same for each image! Somebody forgot to change the captions, so those pages are completely useless. I did email the author about this and received a nice reply and copy from the editor; they promised an update on their website. Time has come and gone, and the update page is still empty - I imagine they are either off slapping together a new book to sell to you, or maybe someone actually did shoot the editor...

4 out of 5 stars A good book, IMO.......2007-08-30

I bought this book based on web research. I have no regret; it's very good. It presents and describes techniques and equipment, as well as basic physics of light. I've learned from it just by reading, and I intend to use it as a reference, among others (one of which I've already got and read). I can't imagine anyone being other than well pleased if they bought this book.

4 out of 5 stars Excellent content, a lot of production errors.......2007-07-24

This is a beautiful book filled with lots of good information, in an easily digestible "one topic covered on each two-page spread". This makes the book easy to pick it up, read a couple of small sections, then put it down and go on to do something else. The writing style is more intricate than most mass-market books, which is actually refreshing compared to the more simplistic language that's used in books these days. The glossary is very good, covering a lot of jargon used in the book, and in the industry in general.

The one thing that mars this book are numerous production errors. There are missing illustrations, such as a caption saying "compare these two photos", and there's only one, or one that was comparing one scene with different lighting areas highlighted, but one of the photos was a duplicate of an unrelated photo appearing elsewhere on the page, and some pages there were words run together, like a badcutandpasteerror with InDesign. I would also be happier if some of the "compare these two photos" things had indications of the specific things to notice (see how the highlights of the llama's ears contrast with the bowler's tutu), so I know whether I'm missing something obvious, or it's a production error running the same photo twice.

4 out of 5 stars Lots of good information on Photographic lighting.......2007-07-12

This is a very good book on Lighting for photography. In some places it gets a little technical, but some people may want all that information. I just want to know the best ways to light situations, from what angles, etc.thanks.

5 out of 5 stars Thorough.......2007-02-07

Very thorough book for anyone who wants to learn more about working with light in their photography. This book is geared for both the beginner and advanced photographer. The content I found in the book blows away all other books I have looked at regarding lighting.
Natural Light: Visions of British Columbia
Average customer rating: Not rated
    Natural Light: Visions of British Columbia

    Manufacturer: Harbour Publishing
    ProductGroup: Book
    Binding: Hardcover

    GeneralGeneral | Photography | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books
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    ASIN: 1550172735

    Book Description

    From frosted mountain peaks to the low-lying farmlands of the Fraser Valley, from the Sahara-like sand dunes of Farwell Canyon to the dripping, moss-bedecked rainforests of the Queen Charlotte Islands, British Columbia is a province of startling contrasts. Its beauty has inspired many photo collections, but none quite like David Nunuk's.

    Natural Light is a spectacular, jaw-dropping collection of Nunuk's best photographs of British Columbia in all its moods, accompanied by his often wry observations about the settings and his unorthodox methods of capturing them. In the tradition of Wade Davis, Nunuk writes about his experience hiking into an area, planning a shot and digging in patiently until the light and weather co-operate to make the perfect picture. He becomes intimate with the subtle variants in a landscape over an hour, a day, a month or a minute before he captures the images with his camera. His pictures are composed with a naturalist's eye for scientific detail and an outdoorsman's affection and respect for nature.

    From the warm Mediterranean tones of an Okanagan vineyard to the crystalline twinkle of an ice cave, the striking radiance of Natural Light makes this luxuriously produced, oversize coffee-table book the perfect gift for lovers of outdoor photography, naturalists, armchair travellers or anyone who wants to see BC in a dramatic new--and entirely natural--light.
    Pool Light
    Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    • Every page of this book is fascinating
    • Sheer magic
    • Sets the benchmark
    • Beautiful Book!
    • Unearthly
    Pool Light

    Manufacturer: Watson-Guptill Publications
    ProductGroup: Book
    Binding: Hardcover

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    ASIN: 188800147X

    Customer Reviews:

    5 out of 5 stars Every page of this book is fascinating.......2004-11-01

    Whereas "Water Dance" took off from an experiment, "Pool Light" appears to be the result of a complete mastery of this unique form of photography which combines beautiful bodies with dazzling fluid effects. Every image in this book is a sight to behold, combining the beauty and grace of the human body with the imagination and emotion brought forth by an underwater stage.

    Photographer Howard Schatz has advanced beyond "Water Dance" to perfect his art of underwater photography through a more effective use of the pool's characteristics to portray motion, suspend animation, and produce some of the most fantastic images of the human body. Every one of the 120+ photos is worth a long look. The bodies of the dancers, models and swimmers are not all there is to admire, but take a look at how Mr. Schatz uses the surface of the pool as a mirror or as a screen to either reflect or shield portions of the physique. Every aspect of each image seems to be perfectly in place, even air bubbles and ripples of the pool's surface, which add an interesting quality of depth and lighting.

    As a nice complement to the images, there are several pages of commentary which describe the artists' (photographer, collaborators and models) inspiration and efforts, as well as some of what goes into making a book like this. For example, it's noted how Mr. Schatz prepares his "liquid studio" to be more tolerable to the subjects, such as using ozonated (not chlorinated) water, and matching the pool's pH balance to that of human tears so that models can keep their eyes open longer. Interesting reading indeed.

    "Pool Light" is one of my favorite photography books of all time, and I would recommend it to anyone.

    5 out of 5 stars Sheer magic.......2003-03-10

    A magic delight to any person with or even without sensibility.
    A must see for photographers and artists. It is a source of inspiration for my paintings and sculptures.
    The beauty of the human body as if we were still in Eden.
    After this book I was hooked on all Schatz books.
    Do not miss it.

    5 out of 5 stars Sets the benchmark.......2001-10-17

    I have now bought three copies of this book, one for my house in London, one for my house in the country, and one which I cut up - so I could frame and hang my favourites. It IS that good: this is a truly-wonderful collection. Howard Schatz is a great photographer and in Pool Light he sets the benchmark.

    5 out of 5 stars Beautiful Book!.......2001-05-25

    Absolutely beautifully photographed book. Schatz captures the God given beauty of the models under water with perfect taste. This is his best book by far. Yes far better than his most recent book Nude Body Nude.The dancers and models in this book appear to be much more natural and have a graceful beauty that almost makes you forget their nude; as opposed to the cliche "sexy" look that is typical of other models.

    5 out of 5 stars Unearthly.......2000-05-07

    With production values like a Hollywood movie, this book still manages to be intimate, and at the same time, otherworldly and unattainable. More technically accomplished and more luxurious compared to "Water Dance" (although the latter is also a must-have), I can pour over this book time and again, and find another detail or expression to seduce me.
    Water Light Time
    Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    • Absolutely amazing!
    • Incredible photography!
    • beauty out of the water
    • Absolutely breathtaking!
    • Excellent pictures, nice commentary
    Water Light Time
    David Doubilet
    Manufacturer: Phaidon Press
    ProductGroup: Book
    Binding: Paperback

    GeneralGeneral | Photography | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books
    GeneralGeneral | Photographers, A-Z | Photography | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books
    Nature & WildlifeNature & Wildlife | Photography | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books
    Photo EssaysPhoto Essays | Photography | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books
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    ASIN: 0714846058

    Amazon.com

    When David Doubilet was a child, he photographed swimmers in the waters off of New Jersey. Water Light Time is a collection of images that capture the underwater magnificence that seized the photographer's imagination in childhood and spurred a lifelong fascination. Underwater plant life floating like snakes, bright blue water filled with schools of silver fish, a diver immersed in a throng of bubbling yellow jellyfish, a close-up of pink and white sea anemones looking all the world like a floating bouquet of flowers--each image in this book is exquisitely photographed with preternaturally clear colors, full of detail and depth. Some images toy with perspective, creating surreal tableaux as a crustacean leg pokes out of the yellow-green water to appear almost as large as a nearby tree.

    With a career that started as a National Geographic photographer in 1972, Doubilet has a lifetime of experience from which to make such a marvelous meditation on this otherworld that is vaguely familiar to most readers only through pictures and visits to aquariums. Doubilet captures what must surely be his own awe at the uniqueness of being a human in this nonhuman environment, and the reader can marvel at both the lushness of life in the water and at the beauty of the photographs themselves, which dominate almost all of the book's 240 pages. --Jennifer Cohen

    Book Description

    David Doubilet is widely acclaimed as the world's leading underwater photographer. His award-winning book Water Light Time showcases over twenty-five years' of his work under the oceans and seas of all parts of the globe. Sharks and shipwrecks, rare and unusual species, exotic vegetation, startling and vivid colours, Doubilet's pictures inspire awe at both the wonder of the undersea world and the extraordinary skill of the photographer. A selection of beautiful images from this magical, and sometimes dangerous, submarine world is now available in a set of 45 postcards, with three each of 15 stunning images.

    Customer Reviews:

    5 out of 5 stars Absolutely amazing!.......2007-03-22

    Not only the pictures are artistically and beautifully photographed, but one cannot not wonder how Mr. Doubilet could be right there at the moment, with the right lights and the right angles to capture such incredible photos. If you appreciate nature's beauty and photography, this book is a must.

    5 out of 5 stars Incredible photography!.......2007-02-03

    I couldn't imagine a more beautiful photography book! If you are fascinated with the underwater world, this is for you! The quality of the photographs are unmatched. Looking through the book is a magical experience.

    5 out of 5 stars beauty out of the water.......2007-01-17

    great gift for ocean lovers. amazing photography. an enjoyable book for those that love the water, but don't want to get wet.

    5 out of 5 stars Absolutely breathtaking!.......2007-01-11

    David Doubilet's photographs are simply beautiful...this book really blew me away. I could literally stare at the images for hours as they are that captivating. It's almost as if you're diving with Mr. Doubilet and seeing these creatures up close. The way he uses two separate views (i.e. shooting the ray underwater while also shooting the sky above the water) is amazing. While exhibiting his photography prowess, Mr. Doubilet also shows the viewer the strong connection of all the earth's elements. He also seems to have a strong relationship with the ocean life- the stunning photo of the seal peeping over the bed of kelp truly captures the seal's beauty without compromising its playful nature.

    This book is a treasure!

    5 out of 5 stars Excellent pictures, nice commentary.......2006-07-31

    Great underwater photographs. I wish there was a book with Doubilet's pictures taken in the Okavango Delta...
    Professional Secrets of Natural Light Portrait Photography
    Average customer rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    • Great guide
    • THE book to own!
    • very useful
    • dated
    • Useful information I'll refer to over and over
    Professional Secrets of Natural Light Portrait Photography
    Douglas Allen Box
    Manufacturer: Amherst Media
    ProductGroup: Book
    Binding: Paperback

    GeneralGeneral | Photography | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books
    PortraitsPortraits | Photography | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books
    ReferenceReference | Photography | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books
    GeneralGeneral | How-to | Photography | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books
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    Similar Items:
    1. The Best of Family Portrait Photography: Professional Techniques and Images The Best of Family Portrait Photography: Professional Techniques and Images
    2. Master Lighting Guide for Portrait Photographers Master Lighting Guide for Portrait Photographers
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    4. Professional Secrets for Photographing Children Professional Secrets for Photographing Children
    5. Lighting Techniques for Low Key Portrait Photography Lighting Techniques for Low Key Portrait Photography

    ASIN: 158428045X

    Book Description

    Natural light portraiture is fast becoming a popular style of photography. Photographers and clients appreciate the understated, low-maintenance shoots and the spontaneous, casual quality of the photos. Featuring images shot on location, in clients' homes, and in the studio, the author teaches how to use the unique qualities of direct sun, window light, porch light, shade, and the light at sunrise and sunset to create flattering, natural-looking portraits. Photographers will learn how to select the right setting, equipment, backdrop, and props, as well as how to control the balance of light between subject and background. Each sample portrait is accompanied by detailed technical information to help photographers achieve the same results in their own work.

    Customer Reviews:

    5 out of 5 stars Great guide.......2007-09-28

    I love the simplicity of the tips in this book and yet the results are beautiful. Great photo examples and lots of important tips. Very useful.

    5 out of 5 stars THE book to own!.......2007-06-08

    This is THE definitive book to own if you want are starting out in photography. Here you lear the basic lighting to look for as well as image diagrams and technicle stuff that you need! Doug Allen Box has killed the subject. I think that God himself would probably be the only one who can write a better natural light book.

    4 out of 5 stars very useful.......2007-06-08

    We are starting a portrait studio and I wanted a little help refining the look I have gotten just by luck previously on outdoor shots. This book really had some great ideas, and realistic answers to common problems. I have been turning to it frequently.

    3 out of 5 stars dated.......2007-05-30

    I found some of the technique in this book helpful, but it's redundant. The pictures in the book are not of high quality print and are dated. Overall, I was not satisfied with this book.

    5 out of 5 stars Useful information I'll refer to over and over.......2007-05-15

    I really enjoyed the humor and tips in this book. Some things I've simply never thought of before but now I'm "armed and dangerous" with all the new things I've learned. I didn't want to put this down once I started reading it. I would definitely like to read more of his stuff.
    Gary Schneider: Nudes
    Average customer rating: Not rated
      Gary Schneider: Nudes
      Gary Schneider
      Manufacturer: Aperture
      ProductGroup: Book
      Binding: Hardcover

      GeneralGeneral | Photography | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books
      GeneralGeneral | Photographers, A-Z | Photography | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books
      Photo EssaysPhoto Essays | Photography | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books
      PortraitsPortraits | Photography | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books
      ASIN: 1931788626
      Release Date: 2005-04-14

      Book Description

      In this previously unpublished body of work, Gary Schneider presents a haunting series of nudes and faces that emerge and seem to float above a receding black ground. Each image is rendered through a long exposure and by exploring the surfaces of the skin with a small handheld light. Due to the prolonged time required and the inevitable movements and consequent distortions that occur in the process, the results both reveal and obscure the intimate physical details and personality of the individual who poses. The sensibility and the obsessions of the artist are reflected by his decisions to expose certain areas more than others. The skin-tones are lush and luminous as they emerge from the darkness, yet these portraits also disturb as a result of the exaggerations and irregularities–the blurred traces of unconscious gesture matched with a stiffness that implies the innate physicality and mortality within each body.

      Books:

      1. Magnetic Information Storage Technology (Electromagnetism)
      2. Marley & Me: Life and Love with the World's Worst Dog
      3. Me, Myself, and Bob: A True Story About God, Dreams, and Talking Vegetables
      4. Mexifornia: A State of Becoming
      5. Micro-Macrame Jewelry, Tips and Techniques for Knotting with Beads
      6. Mystic Chords of Memory: Civil War Battlefields and Historic Sites Recaptured
      7. Nature Photographer's Complete Guide to Professional Field Techniques (Practical Photohgraphy Books)
      8. Nikon Creative Lighting System Digital Field Guide
      9. One Man's Wilderness: An Alaskan Odyssey
      10. One Thousand White Women: The Journals of May Dodd

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