Light: Science and Magic: An Introduction to Photographic Lighting

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Fil Hunter and Paul Fuqua have written a truly essential reference for product photographers and an outstanding educational text for all photographers. Light, Science and Magic teaches its readers the principals of lighting. It describes in detail how to light surfaces, metal, glass, liquids, extremes (black-on-black and white-on-white), and people for different effects. These subjects were chosen because they are reputed to be the most difficult subjects to light. But because the book emphasizes the principals of lighting, those lessons can be applied to all lighting situations. The examples in Light,Science and Magic are in-studio, but the principals apply out-of-doors and anywhere that there is light. You don't need to have a background in studio photography or a knowledge of lighting equipment to understand and benefit from this book. You need to have only a good understanding of exposure and camera operation. Information on basic lighting equipment is found in the appendices for those who are unfamiliar with studio equipment. Because the principals of lighting apply equally to film photography and digital image capture, most of this book's content will not go out of date. No photographer should be without the knowledge in this book. If you can absorb all of the book's content, there is nothing that you will encounter in all your photographic adventures that you won't know how to light to get the effect you want. It is well worth its price!

Whether you're a beginner with a point-and-shoot or a professional with a huge investment in equipment, you need to know how light works. This book can teach you everything you need to know. It has both theory and practical guidance. The authors don't tell you which lights to use in a given situation -- they teach you how to determine what lighting to use to achieve the effect _you_ want. And they help you select lighting equipment.

To be fair, it's not always an easy read (there's a lot of theory and some math/physics to wade through), but it's worth the effort. I saw the difference in the next roll I shot. I only wish I had found this book a few years ago...

I love the approach in this easy to read book. The authors' philosophy is to be as creative in as many ways as possible, even down to improvising equipment and overcoming lack thereof. If, say, candles will suffice, then why use strobes? I feared a huge shopping list for my foray into the world of studio lighting. This very helpful alternative to months of expensive experimentation has shown me a more structured approach, the focus being on Return on Investment while maximising results.

I am a professional photographer, and I was looking for a book on lighting technique - which this book supplied excellently.

Their step by step approach is easy to follow and understand, and all explainations have images attached so you can see what they are talking about.

They slowly build your general knowledge on how light works rather than supplying specific lighting diagrams, allowing (and suggesting that you do) you to adapt the knowledge to your own use. They then go into more detail with difficult lighting subjects such as metal, glass, and more, and how to deal with them.

My only complaint is that the book is starting to feel a little old, especially when they talk about colour. It is almost exclusively film based with virtually no reference to digital technology. If they were to do an updated version with more emphasis on lighting for digital, I would provide 5 stars.

I found this book to be for commercial photographers. Over 3/4 of the book describes how to photograph glass, metal, ect. If you are working with people there are better lighting books than this. Nothing ground breaking in this one.

Anyone intimidated or confused by the subject of artificial/studio lighting must read this book. Very well prepared and very objective. The author describes how lighting WORKS, not how HE does it. Text is filled with numerous example photos and lighting diagrams. No experience with lighting is necessary to appreciate this book, but a solid photography background and a little understanding of physics helps. Top Notch.

I bought this book on Strobist (aka David Hobby) recommendation (featured in his thousand-users-per-day site).
Ok, it's about lighting reflective, translucent and other difficult subjects. But everything is supposed to be done in a STUDIO setting. What does this have to do with the "strobist ideology" (using small remote flashes for photography)?
You do need an expensive array of studio gear to make the best out of the examples and diagrams presented (even a view camera is proposed in photographing reflective objects!). And I'm serious. How can you judge the reflection of a black label over a reflective cd case without modeling lights? With "chimping"? How can you light appropriately a varnished wooden box to show texture as demostrated in the book without flags, gobos and large softboxes? With straw grids?
But, let's be real here! Much of this book's publicity is owned to David Hobby and the "strobist" crowd. But if you consider yourself a "strobist" you can learn much more by reading the articles in the strobist site. Or buy a different book. Maybe the one DH is writing right now ;)

This is the best book ever written on the subject.It explains the physics of light and types of reflection, which is what the camera records.

Lighting strategies and appropriate lighting technics are given for different subjects like flat surfaces, metal, glass, portrait, volumes (cube, cylinder, etc.) white on white subjects, black on black subjects.

You better read this book before starting to invest into a studio or taking a studio shoot with artificial light for the first time. It clearly pays back.

This is not a "how to" or "cookbook" however. If you are offended with physics and mathematics, this book is not for you.

But if you are patient and eager enough to understand the book you will never need a how to or cook book anyway.

I must agree to the reviews below that diffuse reflections requires a larger section for the next time. Also the book must be in color for the 3. edition.

If you are serious about lighting this must be the main reference book in your library.

After reading this book you will realize that you begin to master lighting!

If you are tired of the average "artsy & wondering" lighting book then this one may be for you. The writers do a better job of covering the placement of lights and how that effects the creation of direct or diffuse lighting than any other book I've seen and I've easily read 6 lighting books from cover to cover over the years. Hunter and Fuqua (love that name) cover product photography and the problems of achieving good edge contrast and handling glare. They don't wimp out when you want to know how to handle black-on-black or white-on-white contrast problems. They tell how to light glass and metal also. Their explanations of light physics are given at a layman's understanding level though this does not hurt the book much. Just remember, light angle in = light angle out, and you can probably follow their examples.

The portrait chapter falsely called "An Arsenal of Lights" is better than most portrait books that I've read. Other writings on portraits I've seen just put their head in the sand and maybe give a couple of their pet peeves of bad lighting then tell you that their are no rules. This book is much better as it covers the basic lights for portraits, short and broad lighting technique, and more. They give you the tools to work with, telling you which lights go where and why so you at least have a starting point when trying to make a person look beautiful in 2d. This is not really an aesthetics book but a tools and techniques of the trade kind of book that is greatly needed. Very Highly recommended.

Really good book for a beginner to understand the basics of photographic lighting. Takes up each type of material and goes logically through lighting the material up. By the end you get a grasp of the concepts which you can use to light up any subject. Must Read for aspiring photographers.

Not just a bag of tricks, it teaches a way of thinking about light that promotes a better understanding and enhanced problem solving. At Strobist we are way into photographic lighting - too much so, our spouses might add - and this is the best book on the subject that I have seen yet.

This new (3rd) edition has full color all the way through, with updated photos that are simpler, to distill the lessons right down to the concepts being taught. It is about time this book got the production budget that it merited.

I cannot imagine there is a photographer out there that would not benefit from this book.

This book goes back to first principals and clarifies things that many of us have picked up by experience without really thinking about them. It starts by talking about the difference between diffuse and direct reflection which makes books like "Lighting for Digital Video & Television, Second Edition" and "Matters of Light and Depth" more valuable for the beginner. It also talks about subjects like lighting extreme contrast, glass and specular metal objects which will benefit anyone doing table top shooting as well as outdoors. The section on portraits shows what works and why in a really useful way. They don't promulgate rules but give you the tools to think through what you want yourself. This book is like the sound books by Jay Rose an essential for every level.

I have a number of books on lighting, but this added information I had not seen elsewhere.

They concentrate on the size of light sources, the types of reflections produced by various subjects, and how to manage those reflections in a way that will add significant elements to your technique.

The discussions about lighting glass alone are worth the price of the book.

After you have read it, you will be seeing and using new knowledge both on the street and in the studio.

Their sections on electronic flash need to be updated to include modern TTL systems and upper end flash meters, but there is a lot of good information about using flashes.

It is important to [photograph] their examples for yourself to learn the techniques. The time will be well-invested.

This book describes itself as a grammar of lighting. I would add that it is a descriptive rather than a prescriptive grammar, that is, it tells you how lighting works as a matter of fact, rather than trying to tell you what you should do as a photographer. I'm still rereading chapters and getting something from them, perhaps especially because I'm taking the authors' suggestion and trying to do the exercises myself.

While it is not terribly technical -- it's well written and easy to read -- the book is a bit abstract, in the sense that it's trying to describe the general properties of lighting as used for photography. For some readers and photographers, the abstract or theoretical approach may not be congenial. The book has very little (almost nothing) to say about equipment, for example. In the section on portrait lighting, the emphasis is simply on what happens when lighting is placed in different positions -- not on which form of lighting is best.

But I personally found the book's approach exhilarating. I've read so many photography books it's hard for me to single out one as THE most informative and THE most helpful to me as a photographer, but if I had to do so, this book might be my pick.

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.

This is THE BOOK for photographic lighting. There are loads on the market. I found out the hard way, buying 15 digital how-to photography books in the last 12 months. It seems many photography books have been re published with the word digital added.

I've been trying to photograph watches for a few years now. The reflections drive me nuts.
This book has taught me how to deal with and control those reflections.

Putting a watch in a light tent just makes it look aluminium no hightlights just flat and boring. If you want to take things to the next level, this is the book.

Not only watches. I photograph a lot of furniture. The reflections are a real pain. This book helped.

Its been like the missing part of a puzzle. I have the best Nikon gear, 3 off camera SB 800's 3 Macro lens. The works. This book showed me how to use it.

Its all to do with the "Family of Angles" as explained in this book.

One reviewer said he only gave it 4 stars because there wasn't enough about digital. My question to him would be. Whats different about lighting for digital than light for film that isn't mentioned?

My only complain is that the title doesn't come up in enough searches. "The ultimate book on photographic lighting" would have come up a lot sooner. I found this book because it was recommended on strobist blog.

I initially started reading this book as a Strobist reference, because you know anything David Hobby recommends is usually worth checking out. Then I found it to be such a complete reference to lighting, which complimented my existing knowledge, not treating me like a dummy, but also not assuming that I knew anything at all.

The authors painstakingly take us through the understanding of light from a technical perspective to how we can manipulate and control light. With simplistic diagrams teaching theory they seek to enforce the knowledge they are delivering. Their goal is not to get us to produce photographs that look like theirs, although readers will no doubt be able to duplicate every effect they teach, but to understand light by laying a foundation and building upon it in each subsequent chapter that we can create techniques of our own rooted in the fundamental understanding of light, science and magic.

This is not one of those, books that you'll just sit down one afternoon and read once. It's like a reference textbook, which you'll spend a few weeks, months and years working out and mastering the techniques. Of course you can just read it without picking up your camera, but without application you miss what the authors are trying to do.

This is NOT a book with a bunch of recipes for lighting specific subjects.

Instead, this is a book on what photographers really need to know to effectively light just about anything in the studio.

This book talks about types of reflections and the nature of reflected light. You will learn how to light people, very reflective metal, transparent glass, and and various combinations.

I am a professional photographer and this book gave me a better foundation on WHY to light things a particular way. I feel much more confident in my lighting skills and I think my work has improved. (If only someone would write a similar book on how to get clients to pay faster!)

The book flows from simple to complex in a very logical and easy to follow way. There are plenty of relevent diagrams and example photos too.

If you do any studio work with artificial lighting this is the very next book you should by.

I just got the book today. I Highly recommend this book, especially for those interested in photographing jewelry and reflective objects.

Thanks Fil Hunter and Doug Shults

This is a great book for anyone who wants to learn about lighting for photography for basically any situation. While it doesn't exactly show you to "place a light here and at this angle to the subject", it does give you the information needed so that you can determine where the light will work based on what you are dealing with. Most of the information in the book is based on inanamate objects, but it does cover portrait lighting (in fair detail).

If you plan to go beyond mere snapshots with a cheap camera, then you need to understand and know what's in this book. Even if all you have is a point-and-shoot camera, you will take better photographs knowing what's in this book.

I recommend coming up with your own experimental examples to repeat each step along the way. It'll help you gain a deeper understanding and appreciation of what is being taught.

It'll help you understand light and its properties so that you can use those properties to your advantage.

I've had this book for at least 5 years and have recommended it as the starting point for anyone wanting to understand how to take better photographs, whether for art, science or business.

Everything you need to know about how light will act or react. Bedrock knowledge for photography, video, film, or production.

I have a number of books on lighting, but this added information I had not seen elsewhere.

They concentrate on the size of light sources, the types of reflections produced by various subjects, and how to manage those reflections in a way that will add significant elements to your technique.

The discussions about lighting glass alone are worth the price of the book.

After you have read it, you will be seeing and using new knowledge both on the street and in the studio.

Their sections on electronic flash need to be updated to include modern TTL systems and upper end flash meters, but there is a lot of good information about using flashes.

It is important to shoot their examples for yourself to learn the techniques. The time will be well-invested.

My background is in engineering photography (high-speed events), but I want to learn more about studio photography for marketing and demonstration. I purchased this at the same time I purchased the Creative Lighting Techniques for Studio Photographers and Dantzig Softbox Lighting Techniques. Of the three, I got much more out of Light: Science and Magic than either of the other two. The authors' approach to gradually building the topic from light to reflection, surface, and then contours appealed to me. Since I am interested in photographing a wide variety of materials (paper, fabric, leather, industrial equipment), the fact that the book covers different kinds of materials is good. In particular, I appreciate the way it addresses the illumination of classes of materials (metal, glass, flat, textured) and the use of illumination and lens distortion to show contours in 3D objects.

I wish there had been more technical information covering, for example, the use of different kinds of lights, diffusers, reflectors, and other modifiers. It would also have been nice to get better information on the use of meters and flash units.

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.

This is a great book! It is very detailed in the examination of why light does the things the things it does. The book delves into the physics of light, but don't let that scare you. The authors are very down to earth and they give real life examples and setup diagrams to explain the techniques. I highly recommend this as a resource for serious photographers (especially if you are interested in studio work).

The third edition is out and costs LESS than the second edition.

This book is possibly one of the most important learning experiences a photographer can have. Where so many lighting books describe standardized setups without educating the reader, this book takes the opposite approach. It leads the reader through the why and how so that he/she can create lighting setups for the job at hand. Understanding the concepts in this book give the photographer the ability to adapt to any situation and to cope with the nasty supries that arise when deadlines approach. Even partial mastry of the concepts in this book will make the reader more skilled than 90% of the photographers out there.

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!

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.

As a professional Product Photographer I am always looking for new insight into the craft of studio photography. I found that the authors of "Light Science & Magic" managed to compile a wealth of lighting knowledge and convey the info in such a way that is easy to digest and understand. My one complaint is that the inferior binding caused the book to fall apart as I read it.

This was a very thought provoking book on photographic lighting. Instead of giving you steps to follow, this book teaches you how to think for yourself about lighting. Armed with the basics and fundamentals, you can encounter a new situation and think critically yourself about how to properly light the subject.

The kindle version has the images scanned in, and they are about as good as you can expect the first generation kindle to display. The images are good enough that you can usually see the effects due to different lighting.

I bought this book in my quest to begin studio photography. I was hoping that this book would give me diagrams to follow to achieve these affects along with any other information I'd need. While the book does include some diagrams, this is NOT the purpose of the book.

The book is written in textbook form and is a comprehensive lesson on how light behaves. After reading it I now understand that these are the basics of lighting and having someone give you a bunch of diagrams will not be the answer to studio photography unless you also understand WHY these lighting diagrams work.

Being written in textbook form, this book is not for the faint of heart. I found myself on several occassions looking up more information to go along with what I was reading so that I could better understand the principles taught. (This is NOT because there was any information lacking...this was soley due to my capacity to understand science).

I have found myself looking at light differently now and feel I have a much better understanding on how to achieve the lighting effects I desire. If you are interested in studio photography (this book is about much more than studio portraiture however)I recommend reading this book FIRST and then following it up with a *fun* book on portrait photography.

Very good Technical.
Gives you good shortcuts for some studio problems.
Like already said, a good reference for product photographers and for everyone who hated physiscs at school.
Nothing new about light behaviour, but good explanations about it ver products.
"Changed my life ..." wasn't a little bit "DIVA"?

It would be hard to add much to what has already been said by so many. This is an excellent book on lighting for photography. I'd highlight again that this isn't a cookbook but instead focuses on the fundamentals. If you're looking for step by step instructions on how to reproduce the latest lighting gimmick you've seen in magazine ads then go elsewhere. If you're looking for a book on the fundamentals that will allow you to create your own lighting with ease and reverse engineer anyone else's lighting then this is the book you want. There are lots of books on photography and lighting out there and few that have much useful to say. This is probably one of the highest quality and most consistently useful books in the field of photography I've ever seen.

Okay so when I opened this book I wasn't too excited. There weren't a lot of pretty pictures... and there were (eek) diagrams. It looked like a text book, and an old fashioned one at that. But once I started reading it, everything began to come clear. For the longest time, lighting has been a mystery to me. And achieving acceptable lighting has been a guessing game because no one has ever explained it to me. This book explains it all. It covers some of the more notoriously difficult lighting scenarios on the premise that if can master those, you can photograph anything. It also lays the groundwork for you to make your own creative lighting choices. After reading a good portion of this book, I feel like I understand the science of lighting enough feel more confident in choosing appropriate lighting for many situations. If you are new to photography you can save yourself a lot of time and a lot frustration by reading this book.

Although I've read many books about photography, this one really hit the nail on the head for me. Most other books I've read don't spend nearly enough time on lighting except for a few notes on outdoor back lighting versus front lighting, but this entire book is about it! Of course, the other books I've read didn't have the word "lighting" in their title, so this may be a little unfair.

Aside from learning about photographing still subjects: metal, glass, black on black, white on white, etc., you will learn about how to light a portrait both indoors and out. The book goes into some details on the physics of light, reflected versus diffuse light, and how to position your lighting equipment to get the desired effect. Highly recommended - there may well be better books on this subject out there, but I haven't run into them yet. I think I've learned more from this book than the other ten or so books I have laying around.

I love this book coz' it told me alot, but, in my opinion, it is wordy...so, if he used some pictures instead of words woul dbe better!? I believe pictures could somehow express better. Anywaym this is a MUST for a serious photographer!!

I was just telling a friend about this book and realized that I had never posted a review of it myself. What I told her: I have a bookshelf packed full of books on various aspects of photography and lighting. If I could keep only one, this would be the one I would keep.

As David Hobby of Strobist says in his review, this book does not teach you HOW to light, it teaches you HOW TO THINK about light, which is many times more valuable. If you can learn how to think about light, you can teach yourself *how* to light, and do so much more efficiently and easily.

This book is an essential part of any photographer's library.

I was looking for some literature regarding lighting that would cover basics for product photography. Unfortunately, most books endulge in a certain high level lingo that would confuse most of the readers. One could easily see which author has more experience based on the level of simplicity he or she uses in order to explain some concepts. A friend of mine lent me this book and I have now the chance to write a short review about it.
First of all: the book is excellent. The paper and printing quality (full color for all photographs and diagrams) are outstanding. One can easily see essential details in images, like different textures and apperance of surfaces under various lighting setups. So this is a big plus.
The book is divided in 10 chapters as follow:

1. How to learn lighting; this chapter gives you basic information regarding general lighting principles, the way the author chose the examples and - most important - why did he chose those examples, the rationale behind all exercises and some hints for the way you should approach each exercise (procedures, goals - what you should get) and also some general information about shooting equipment that one needs in order to perform the exercises in the book.

2. Light: the raw material for photography. This chapter explains in detail, but not to boredom and in a very plain and explicit manner the properties of light that each photographer should know and understand in order to take proper images. What I most liked is the fact that the author starts from a basic principle (almost as an axiom) that the most important factor for photography is not the gear but the light and the way a photographer understands and uses light.

3. The management of reflection and the family of angles. Basic information about the way light is reflected by various materials and surfaces, discussions on the placement of the sources of light relative to the observer (camera) in order to get different results, polarization and some exercises that helps you apply the theory.

4. Surface appearances. This chapter elaborate a bit more some concepts from the previous chapters, with focus on surface appearance, textures, boundaries and some many other information about way different objects appear in different lighting setups. Many exercises included, things that you should try by yourself.

5. Revealing shape and contour. A very good read about methods of adding 3D appearance to 2D images using shadows, tonalities, surface detail etc. This is a chapter with a lot of info about "providing real life appearance" of your 2D images.

6. Metal. How to photograph metal surfaces. Detailed examples and information about reflection on metal surfaces, ways to reveal detail and avoid loss of detail in different lighting setups, information and exercises on photographing metal boxes, special challenges imposed by round metal objects (like globes) and the special issues such photos pose.

7. The case of the disappearing glass. This is one of the most interesting chapters and deals with photographing glass and glass objects. Various methods are explained and actions needed for succesful photographs are detailed in very clear steps, with plenty of rationale and concepts in behind. A special section deals with glass objects with liquid inside, that act as lenses and pose special problems to inexperienced photographer.

8. An arsenal of lights. This chapter will be the favourite for portrait shooters, people that want to learn and understand ways of lighting for portraits. The images are "disassembled" in their components by each light source in order to familiarize yourself with the effects of light characteristics, placement, intensity etc.

9. The extremes. This deals mainly with high-key, low-key and special (under or overexposed) images, situations that require such artwork and the interaction of environment (backgrounds etc) and the objects to be photographed.

10. Traveling light. This deals entirely with strobes (flash photography) and with special issues using flash. If you are new to concepts like guide number, bounce, feathering etc., this chapter will place more... light to it. Also, provided are a lot of practical examples that you should also try.

Overall this is one of the best educational books about photography - in general - and lighting - in particular - I have ever read. The language used is plain, concise and extremely to the point, the concepts are extremely well explained, reasons for different results are given and principles are well laid, just to be followed.

I would STRONGLY recommend (actually I have already ordered one for myself) this book to anyone is interested in understanding more the light, lighting, studio setups and general knowledge about light and photography, actually the most important ingredient for each image you might take.

If you are just starting or have been working for awhile with artificial lighting I really recommend you buy a copy of "Light, Science and Magic" , third edition. I have never come across as comprehensive yet down to earth guide for understanding and using the properties of light as this book. I have no connection with the authors and in fact only recently (early Sept. 08) bought a copy after hearing certain people here on photo.net rave about it. I was skeptical because of the title and feared it was yet another lighting cookbook of cookie cutter approaches to using light. it emphatically is not . It is very useful even if you never intend to never use artificial light. It is both well written and well illustrated.

As a companion volume I also recommend Kirk Tuck's book " Minimalist Lighting: Professional Techniques for Location Lighting" if you are using small strobes such as the Canon, Nikon, Metz or Sony Speedlights. Together these two books virtually 100% of the ideas concepts and practices of using light dynamically to make more creative and visually powerful photographs.

Lighting is what photography ("light writing", in Greek) is all about, right? If you haven't mastered lighting, you're not taking photographs; you're making snapshots.

This book is a masterful guide to light in all its forms and uses. Read it to learn what you can really do with your camera. I recommend it highly. I find myself returning to this book as a reference time and time again.

I've read virtually every book about lighting, and this is my favorite. The principles are clearly illustrated, and the writing is straightforward. I teach cinematography at a local college, and this book is required reading for my students.

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.

This book is truly vital for any photography that really want to get serious about their craft. The chapter on metal and glass reveal the ease at which these formerly impossible subjects can really be photographed. The book covers so much of the actual physics principles that it enables you to understand light, hence making lighting so much easier. I recommend this book to all levels, even pros as it is a great refresher course and might give you new ideas or inspiration. An essential textbook, in my opinion.

I would highly recommend this book to photographers and artists of different mediums looking for a better understanding of light and it's effects. It's been very helpful.

All I can say is this is a must have reference tool for any aspiring or pro photographer.
I learned more in one reading of this book than I learned in 3 years of trial and error.
This is a book I will read over and keep as a reference guide.
I only wished I had bought this 3 years ago.




Light: Science and Magic: An Introduction to Photographic Lighting

Great book. I am still on Chapter 2 of the book, but a great source of information regarding lighting. Essential for people who want to grasp the concept of photographic lighting.

This is one of the best photography books I've read, and hands down the best lighting book! If you're new to lighting, you'll want to read this book more than once, because it has so much information! Dedicated chapters on lighting principles, reflection and the "family of angles," surface appearances, shape and contour, lighting metal, lighting glass, types of lights, portrait lighting, lighting white-on-white and black-on-black all work together to make this an essential text book for any photographer. Be sure to pick this book up at the store!

Irene Abdou Photography
http://www.photoswithsoul.com

This is an exceptionally good book, written from a simple to understand perspective. I bought it on the back of the mostly positive reviews from others and I'm glad I did. (BTW, for the small numbers of critics, I'm not a "strobist", this was a new word to me I'd never heard until someone here mentioned it - but it's a useful site anyway and I don't know what the criticism's about).

But back to the book.
It teaches you the basics without any fluff, but with plenty of photographed examples of rights and wrongs, but more importantly why and how they're right and wrong, and how to avoid the latter. I now both understand and enjoyed learning about some of the basics about light, which to be frank, bored me senseless at school.

It's not a "how to light something in this situation" book, it's a "how to know what the pitfalls are so you can avoid them, and use better technniques" book. It tells you how to light, and presents really good discussion and examples of problem surfaces, for instance, glass and metals, and informs you in simple language you how to get the best results, without paying a fortune for lighting equipment (unless you want to). I know I've already learnt something useful from it, though Im only 80 pages in, and I've already given some other photographers tips on how to improve their photographs which I've found have worked for mine.

In short, recommended, a really good, informative and practical book. Very glad I bought it :D

i wasn't paying attention or the information has leaked out through the trade off for real estate in my fibrous container yearning for relevancy. that is why i need you. to bolster the methods of a successful preparation. but i haven't bought you yet. and here i pronounce indecision. there are just too many. what if i was limited to walking to the local bookshop? i would scoff at the washed up selection of used guidebooks then feel cheated by tweaked reprints of the industry standards. this industry is too big. hypothetically, i walk home, and along the way i am taunted by the satellite dishes i wish i had already reframed (to both my community plus my unknown community) for being a completely obvious art project that sacrifices the aesthetic for the conceptual yet surprises you with anonymous racism.

what if my search terms could have been better. what if the auto completion / auto correction was hindsight itself--imagine it: letters slowly congealing into subliminal idiom. do i keep it general, interrogative, pessimistic? "how to take a good picture" "photography" "light" "portrait" struggle to completion in the same suspense of watching a kid mess up at a spelling bee, going really meditative about their my mistake, sweat stains the only glory.

once i learned through exercises how to appropriately evoke the mood of (wheel's been invented) electrical setups. it was another notebook, seventeen pages in, that i was too lazy to recycle when the storage space let out the air in its balloon. i couldn't read my handwriting anyway.

i really can't stand the artificial much longer. i am planning a purchase by justification of investment. i will be ready now when the mother of some friend of mine contacts me about a reputation i had for training in this skill and therefore she'll want to pass my name on to someone who needs headshots of their niece's aspiring actress daughter. i will agree under the condition that the daughter will probably fail in that competitive industry and it won't be my fault. i will agree under the condition i take them in natural light.

technical hocus pocus may evaporate in the politeness of a first time conversation. so i should be prepared if someone misunderstands me and wants to be portrayed as an indoorsy hermit. discovering a niche is what to sell nowadays.

so what am i going to do when the pop of a flash resting on top the camera, as lazy as a microwave, exerts itself as if it knows how to light my subject?

(i hope to have learned by now) i would plant the flash elsewhere, a coiled wire ready to trip any intruder between me and it's piñata stronghold. (i hope to have learned by now) i would wrap the palm of a rubber glove around it, the allergic latex fingers brushed back like sturdy hair plugs not to interfere with the consistency of a diffuser. (i hope to have learned by now) you may decide not to pay me in fives tens and twenties because the job was shot on film, handed over in a closed off canister with a prankster smirk that reads: take it to not only walgreens but cvs, duane read and rite-aid when they are closed and shove it through their overnight drop off slot, creative directions on the envelope only--no contact information--scribbled in sharpie marker: turn me into grey scale to satisfy my craving for abstraction. (i hope to have learned by now) to prevent the inevitable of bargaining image quality for lack of knowledge. (i hope to have learned by now) i've been less qualified than others yet hired to team teach this stuff before i even have the time or energy to refresh my memory. (i hope to have learned by now) sunglasses and or a cigarette don't actually make you look cool. (i hope to have learned by now) tell the subject not to stand in front of the sun.

that larger forces in life mess up my light meter is the true search for compensation. while techniques indoctrinate trial and error, you bring me closer to secrets.

I found this book to be extremely helpful in explaining the physical properties of light and how these properties interact on different surfaces. The book helped me develop a knowledge of light control and how to put that knowledge to work in my photography.

If you're just starting with photography and have mastered your camera, exposure basics and composition basics - it's time to read this book. If you're a professional or advanced amateur - it's time to read this book. Absolutely eye opening. Worth every penny. Enlightenment in every chapter.

This book is great because it actually explains WHY your lights are lighting your subject a certain way, and shows you diagrams of the setup and the photo result. This is unlike other books I've tried, which just show the picture and tell the setup, with no explanation as to why the choices were made and why they are working. With this book, you will understand HOW to manage shadows, highlights, and reflections. It also talks about WHAT lighting schemes are best for different subjects and materials, and clerly explains WHY. I now feel comfortable setting up any studio lighting for a product because I understand the results of my lighting choices. Highly recommend.

When I needed to learn more about product photography to launch my website, I dreaded the challenge of also having to becoming a professional-level photogapher. Other books I investigated seem to have been written to help aspiring pros--and this book would be great for many of them too--but I wanted a book that could help me simply master the task at hand. This book saved the day. It showed me everything I needed to know to set up and begin taking crisp, detailed and appealing photos. I finally understood why my photos looked flat and what I could do to fix it. The language in this book is accessible and the writers show that they know their stuff without being know-it-alls. There is a great deal here that I'm not using today, but I'll enjoy exploring in the future. As an artist, I appreciate thier balance between the technical and the "magic." This is a great book that I'll keep using for years to come.

As a fairly hands on self taught photographer(semi pro)
I can say this book would be a good cheat sheet and advanced reminder to someone that is stuck in a setup with blinders.
We do get lazy sometimes and stick to what works, this book can remind us that there are other options and good rules of lighting we have learned but forgot. Not to say there are not great new meathods mentioned in this book also. For the beginner to lighting this book will explain basics in english to what seems like dbl dutch. In english this book will cover most all the basics up into the advanced lighting techniques. And help understand the science of light.

Experienced and inexperienced photographers - all those whose interest is the wonderful things that light can do - will love to read , well study , this beautifully written book which marries simple optics and photographic aesthetics in explaining the simple things like why does a piece of grey pewter look different to a piece of grey caard of the same brilliance and hue? And can we manipulate that difference?. It is all forehead- slaping stuff expaining the obvious reasons - when it has been explained to you - about why some things work and others don't.Hard toimagine anyone not benefitting from it, enjoying it, and re- reading it later.

This book is such an eye-opener. The bookmark I used while reading it was a piece of notebook paper folded in half and it quickly filled up with notes. While it is completely worthy of being used as a textbook, Light Science & Magic does not read like one at all. That is to say, it's not dry and lifeless. The ideas it presents are very clear, the text is written in a very easy to read style and the examples provided illustrate the concepts excellently. I've already noticed that I'm looking at light with a much more educated eye, thanks to this book.

This book is full of the fundamentals of lighting instead of "this is how I do it" promo shots that some authors use. If you want to know how light affects an object or vice versa this is the book for you. I wish I had this back in my student days...

I'm an intermediate level photographer and this book is wonderful. It educates you with diagrams, explanations, and real life situations so that you understand how light will affect the outcome. This is a definite 5. I think anyone wanting to learn photography should read what's in this book.

I just looked on my bookshelf. I see 23 books on photography. Without any doubt this is THE BEST. By far.

Whether you are a new amateur or an experienced professional, you will get a lot from this book.

The explanations "how to" are great. For those who want to go further in lighting comrehension and fundamentals. I tried some of the exercises, and it...works.
Highly recommended (it is a strobist.blogspot.com/ choice).
I don't think this book is for the very beginners.

The book is about what is light, how to use it in the difference materials and special effects.
it was very helpful for me because i look for a book that talk about the basic principles of light.

I just scan the book. I like the way the book teach how to manage the light during photographing. When I have time, I will go through deeper. Satisfied!!

well i first heard about this book on strobist. and ordered without expecting a lot from it. but it actually changed my concept and look of the light.

it is simply a must book for every amateur photographer, pros may enjoy reading also, since the book has really cool tips on it.

haven't finished the book yet but it's very intresting and full of useful information,some of the stuff that i alresdy knew but didn't how to apply to photography, so it was great to have such a book to put it words, learned alot from it.

I have taken some courses about lighting in my country, I would like to say that I cannot understand very well what I had in the course without what this book's instruction.Every creative lighting skill should be started from here.

This book is a required text for my Commerical 1 photo class, and what a great book it is! I love how it assumes that you know the basics plus, and uses terms that aren't novice level. This book should be in every pro photographer's library, very well written, loads of examples and real world lighting techniques.

This book is excellent, describing how to light a variety of common but tricky situations. It discusses all of the necessary physics in non-technical detail and in that way is a good practical accompaniment to technical physics texts such as Principles of Optics: Electromagnetic Theory of Propagation, Interference and Diffraction of Light (7th Edition) and Optics (4th Edition). I highly recommend it for those interested in doing photographic lighting as well as those trying to understand the physics of light.

This book is the basic text for how light works. It will introduce you to the behavior of light and the work of handling various surfaces, including what makes good portrait lighting. If you're into product photography, handling glass and metal is in there. If you're just interested in people, everything you need to know is here. Unless you're already in college for photography and are getting a solid grounding in all the technical (physics) aspects of photographic lighting, buy this book and be "enlightened".

Loads of information / explanations. A little bit of physics but only that necessary. Details how light works, how to photograph glass and metal, and much more. One of my favourite photography books, and so far the ONLY book (I've purchased around 20 photography related books from Amazon) I've been motivated to review on Amazon!

When I buy a Tec Book. I am happy if I get at least 1 really good chapter of info I can use. This book had many good chapters and I use it as a on going reference for my work. I recommend this book for anyone serious in improving their lighting techniques in the studio.

PS It's not filled with a lot of poor attempts at humor like some of the "Photoshop" technique books. You probably know who I am talking about...

This is essential reading for any photographer serious about "getting good."

Lighting is simple in theory but complex in practice; this book helps you with both. As the authors point out, one has all the practical knowledge about light and shadow they'll ever need stored in the brain already. But, also as the authors state, it's difficult to translate that into actionable ideas for your photography. That's where this book comes into play.

You'll learn the difference between, say, a polarized reflection, and diffuse reflection, and what each of those things -- among others -- means to your photographic composition. Read this book and attempt the examples provided; doing so will give you a MUCH better understanding of how to correctly light virtually any subject.

"Light: Science and Magic" is the end-all-and-be-all when it comes to learning lighting.

This is essential handbook for about everything you'll encounter in studio. You'll learn the basics and master the laws of light & surface and how to overcome many difficult situations, written in a language that is quite easy to understand. Every photographer should own (and read) this book, from rookie to pro! Outstanding!

no serious amatuer or pro photographer should be without this book on light and how to use it properly for better pictures.....film or digital it makes no difference

Recently, I was asked to photograph clear, glass dishware. My search for resources led me to "Light: Science and Magic: An Introduction to Photographic Lighting" by Fil Hunter, Steven Biver, and Paul Fuqua. My questions about glass photography were answered, and the examples and hints given were extremely useful. This text will not answer all your questions, and other sources are needed for detailed operational instructions for flash lighting. Hunter, Biver, and Fuqua will give you an excellent overview of concepts and "how to" for key lighting problems including shiny metal, glass and protraits. An excellent use is as a text for continuing education photography students, and as an addition to the library of advanced, non-pro photographers.

I bought this book because of it's promise of information on lighting difficult surfaces (glass, metal, etc.). What I got was so much more! The authors take the time to explain in detail what all the issues are with lighting these types of subjects, including the science of how light acts, and then applies this information to real life situations. Even though the information is technical, it is written in a very readable and user-friendly style. All this information is accompanied by easy to understand illustrations showing how various lighting set-ups will affect the final photo.

One of the statements that really stood out is that photography is a matter of controling reflections, since that is what we are capturing. This one single idea has really changed how I approach a subject, even in natural light. By applying the principles taught in this book, I approach subjects differently, knowing specifically how to adjust my camera angle or the position of the subject to the light source in order to get the effect I want.

I have several books on studio lighting, but none of them are as comprehensive as this one. It is my favorite, and I'm sure I'll come back to it in the future again and again!

I am not a photographer by trade, I am in fact a technology officer with nearly 30 years of technical background. My interest in photography has been simmering for my adult working life, and as I look toward retirement I have started to take on a serious investigation of the art and science of digital photography.

This book, Light Science & Magic is one of the best text books I have read in any field. I think if you find yourself in a stage of learning photography that I am, you like me will discover that you learn something valuable on every page you turn over in this book.

I cannot recommend it enough for anyone trying to understand the concepts of lighting for any aspect of photography....... and it is well enough written that it is just plain interesting reading.

I think this is the best book available on lighting. It is kind of laid out like a text book, but very readable. It is clear and where possible concise, but it does go into the science of lighting. It does not get too technical but gives you much more information than any other book I have seen. It shows how to light any subject type, such as reflective and non reflective.

Photography is.... the manipulation of Light. What is the single most important decision in lighting a photograph.....the size of the light source. Being able to describe light is the first step in ....being able to control it. What are the 3 primary properties of light that photographers are concerned with....Brightness, color and contrast. Lighting is a relationship between....the light, the subject and the viewer. To control lighting we must understand the subject, it can ...transmit, absorb or reflect the light. These are just a few of my notecards from this fascinating book. It is easy to read and has radically changed my photography.

I was recently faced with my first photography project that required lighting.

At the time, I had never used lights before in my photography and, to be completely honest, I was a little scared of the prospect. I had to learn a lot in a short amount of time so I needed a solid resource. After a little research, I bought Light: Science and Magic to get things started. I'm glad I did.

Fil Hunter, Steven Biver, and Paul Fuqua ease the novice reader in with very basic lighting concepts focused on two-dimensional subjects. Each chapter builds until you have an understanding of how to light complicated objects like metal and glass. The diagrams and supporting pictures clearly illustrate the concepts, and the writing is very natural and easy to understand. When I finished the book, I had the know-how and confidence to light just about any project.

This is such a great book because the authors teach the principles of lighting instead of just showing you how to achieve certain effects or lighting styles. These principles can be applied to many situations and utilized to achieve any effect you desire. In other words, you won't find just a lighting cookbook here. Rather, read this book and you will learn how to think about lighting and understand it from the ground up. This puts you in control of how your photos will look.

If you want to get started with lighting, Light: Science and Magic is an essential read.

Not much else can be said that hasn't already been said about this superb book.
I will add this though; I am in the habit of using a yellow highlighter pen to mark what I consider to be information worth remembering in a book, important info that I want to review when I re-read the book. My thinking is why re-read the whole book when I can just re-read the most important parts of a book - the highlighted parts (usally 2-3 cumulitive paraghraphs per chapter). Well, after reading the first 80 pages of this book, I realized that I had gone thru two new highlighter pens and flipping back through those first 80 pages, I also realized that nearly 90-95 percent of each and every page was highlighted. What an enjoyable and informative read!
Yes, the book is technical, but the subject matter is explained in a very linear fashion, written so as to be very understandable and most importantly, not without relating exactly why it is essential to taking better photographs.
Bottom line, if you are serious about photography, this book will hold a prominent position in your photographic library! Kudos and thanks to the authors.

This book is a real page turner and is probably the best "textbook" I've read in my life. Well at least it's in a textbook like format and is as thick as a textbook but only without the hardcover. Anyways, this book is purely dedicated to lighting. There's a clear introduction about light and how it behaves and you can understand it clearly if you have taken any physics class in school.

This books comes with a good break down of different subjects and how they are lit is very different. The transition from chapter to chapter is very nicely done. Every new chapter you start requires applies the method you've just learned in the previous chapter. As you read on, you gradually learn more and more without feeling like all the lighting information is hitting you all at once which can be overwhelming.

The book shows tons of examples from regular surfaces, to metal, to glass , etc. Surfaces or rather object that are just plain hard to take a picture of. These types of picture can almost never be achieved without proper understanding of light and how it behaves on various surfaces (both subjects and gobos/reflects/etc). However, this book breaks down and explains the setup required to take such a shot and trust me the setups are a piece of cake, anyone can do it.

Even though the examples in the book is in a contained environment like a studio, the principles you learn from this book can be applied to outdoor lighting and many other types of lighting. The author said that the setups are just basic ways of dealing with lighting issues for certain and how to solve lighting problems that seems impossible in a very clear fashion. And that is what the book does. It gives you the tool to so you can create your own masterpieces or money shots.

Basically: It's a great book, for a great price, easy to read, page turner, very informative = must have for any photographer who has a passion for photography and is always aiming to achieve beautiful pictures. (I am one of them)

The third edition of this book contains just the write combination of practical example, clear explanation, and enough theory to know what you're doing and a strong grounding in how to be creative in photography by knowing the rules, not being ignorant of the rules. The book includes a sensible look at digital photography and all but two of the sample images have been photographed using digital. This book will also teach you how to avoid endless hours of software manipulation by getting it right or nearly right before your jpeg or raw file hits the computer.

This book is comprehensive on the subject of studio lighting. The chapter on portrait lighting alone is worth the purchase price. The principles it teaches are straightforward and easily learned, and applicable to a universe of situations. This is the last book I'm buying on the subject. I wish it was the first.

This book is a terrific exposition about the science of light (in simple terms) and why it matters to photographers. It is so jam-packed with information I read it twice in one month! If you're looking for a book about the "best" films, cameras, lights, or other equipment, then don't buy this book. If, instead, you're looking for timeless book about lighting principles and how to handle difficult lighting situations, then this is the one for you.

amazing users guide to the basic principles of how light falls upon subject matter. If you ever want to know how to create better images using better light, then start with this book.

the book is laid out in easy to understand chapters, image examples and lighting diagrams. I had no problems trying out many of the lighting scenarios discussed in the book.

Recommended, especially if you are studying photography in high school or college.

This book was just what I was hoping it would be, easy to follow with clear explanations and examples.

It takes so much of the guess work out of the difficult situations covered in the book, replacing self doubt with solid principles to be applied to a wide variety of other lighting situations you might encounter.

A very good book, which I highly recommend.

I use this book as a text for my beginning lighting photo class. It is a great book with easy to understand illustrations. The text handles 'dry' material very well and in my opinion is a classic educational book for anyone interested in understanding lighting. I have been asked by the educational institutions to find a more up to date text, and I can not find one better! I am pleased with the updated version and inclusion of color illustrations. Thank you!

I would like to thank the authors, Hunter, Biver, Fuqua on a outstanding book on lighting. Once I started reading the book, I could not put it down. This book covers alot into detail, as to, how lighting works and how to use it. This is a must have book. I would suggest that those out there (photographers) that want to learn lighting, pick this book up and forget about the others. But, I must say that you do learn more as you read more, that's why I purchased 6 books on lighting. But by far, this is a good book to read. Little on the high price side, but get it, you won't be disappointed. Thank you.

D. Porter, AZ.

Fantastic book. The authors don't provide you with recipes on how to do something in particular, but instead explain why things work like they do.

You'll learn about different surface properties, about reflection, size and quality of light etc. and then you will learn how to apply that knowledge in the real world.

Just great.

Great source of information without the typical ego from the authors. This info is the real deal.

Got this book on the recommendation of the Strobist blog. I read through it quickly and am now in the process of reading it slowly and recreating each shot.

I have about a dozen books on lighting. If I could only have one, this would be it!
I plan to use the book as the text for a studio photography workshop that I'm setting up.

Learn how light and lighting really work so thta you can create the looks and effects you want. This book explains the principles of lighting in a very easy to understand way. It does not contain a ton of lighting diagrams to copy.

Once you understand the principles, you own them. You will be able to light - with a little practice.

The authors teach how the light works and its relationship with the objects that it illuminate in a plain language.
Using several examples, they teach how to light the most common and harder subjects.
You won't find recipes of how you must light, but you will learn how and why to light in a specific way.
Really a very good book.

This is a great book. The authors concentrate on how light behaves, the vital componant to great images. Reading this book alongside practical study has increased my knowledge enormously. As an aspiring photographer I think this book will be a constant companion until I have mastered the principles. This book doesn't try to be fashionable it is for people who truely want to understand what makes an image the way it is. Learn the principles then play with the ideas to develop your own style.

I read this book- Although hard to read, the concepts are essential to understanding lighting. If you want to become a better photographer read this book.

This book covers important basic principles and situations for photographic lighting. My only criticism is that I thought it could have been written a bit more clearly in places- there were parts I found confusing, even though I'm familiar with most of the material. Still, it's definitely worth the money and the time.

LSM gives an easy to understand explanation of the physics of lighting and how it applies to various subject matters and surfaces. This is a must have for any photographer; student, professional, amateur, novice... If you're a photographer and don't already own this book, buy it now.

Great book for those looking to develop a deeper understanding of lighting concepts as they relate to still and motion capture. A quick read packed with excellent illustrations.

An excellent publication.
This is a well-written truly authoritative work.
I could not recommend this book highly enough.

Great book for any photographer who prefers to understand rather than be given ready made solutions for photographing the most demanding subjects like glass or metal. Essential for any photographers bookshelf.

This is one of the very few books I admire. It's not about what all you can do with various tricks and techniques but it's more towards teachning you the basics so that you can create your own tricks and techniques.
For anyone who wants to know about light, this book is a must. It helps you understand light in the context of photography. It does not talk about some pretty setups which are sure to create "Exactly Same Effect", but it tells you how and why you would create a specific setup. Knowing this will help you alter that setup to reflect your perception of a shot. It is more along the lines of teaching you the science of light and once you know these facts then you can pick up any book on techniques and all those complex setups and techniques will make so much sense.
Without this knowledge, without this understanding, lighting will remain a mystery. Why a setup works and why another fails in a given condition you will never be able to tell.

The authors clearly know lighting, and they know how to present what they know. This book is packed with information from cover to cover. As clearly written as it is, I shall have to read it several times more to retain it all.