Light science and magic is a book that explores the intricate relationship between lighting and photography. The book, written by Fil Hunter, Steven Biver, and Paul Fuqua, delves into the technical aspects of lighting and how it can be manipulated to create mesmerizing images. The authors begin by establishing the fundamental principles of light, such as its behavior and properties. They explain how light can be observed, measured, and controlled to achieve desired effects in photography. Understanding these principles forms the foundation for mastering the art of lighting. The book then goes on to explore the various sources of light and how they can be used to create different moods and atmospheres in photographs.
First impressions, yes there is new material, the book is the same format as the last edition and it is definite a bit thicker. There is a lot of recycled material too (which is not going to really surprise anyone), the diagrams are going to look familiar but they've updated some of the examples.
During a career spanning over three decades, he has worked for such clients as America Online, US News, Time-Life Books, Life Magazine 27 covers , the National Science Foundation, and National Geographic. Steven Biver has over 20 years of experience as a commercial photographer specializing in portraits, still life, photomontage, and digital manipulation.
The book then goes on to explore the various sources of light and how they can be used to create different moods and atmospheres in photographs. This includes natural light, artificial light, and a combination of both. The authors discuss the importance of quality, direction, and intensity when it comes to lighting a subject effectively.
Book Review: Light – Science & Magic
Light – Science & Magic by Fil Hunter, Steven Biver and Paul Fuqua is probably the most important book on lighting that you will ever read. Moreover, if you only ever read one book on lighting, make it this one. This is, indeed, a rather bold statement. In fact, some readers who are new to shooting images may actually be puzzled by this praise once they read the actual book. The information there can be fully appreciated after you’ve fought a bit with real-world lighting problems.
Lighting is about the relationship between lights, subjects and camera (viewpoint). The third part of this triad is not immediately apparent to everyone. It is surprising (then again, maybe not) how many people “with experience” actually struggle when they face basic problems like removing an unwanted specular highlight in a multi-light setup. They then start switching lights off and on, or moving them around to localize the offending light. And that’s not even in the domain of hard things to do: lighting a shot with lots of glass or glossy surfaces in it can be an intimidating task if you don’t fully grasp how light works.
How does light work?
How many times have you seen this question asked? Then how many times have you seen “I have $1000 for a lighting kit. What lights should I buy?” or “How do you light this shot [insert-reference-link]?”? Yeah. Lots of people asking about lights, no one asking about light.
Light – Science & Magic (An Introduction to Photographic Lighting) actually attempts to answer this question. It is by no means a fully detailed work, and the approach may not be to everyone’s liking (it is quite heavily biased towards product photography). But it is the only book I’ve seen that attempts this. And that’s why I believe it is the first book on the subject of lighting that people should read. You can then move on to other books like Set Lighting Technician’s Handbook or Film Lighting, for example. These are also good books on their own, and will likely get reviews here.
Light – Science & Magic covers the basic photographic properties of light: brightness, contrast, color. Also, typical information like hard and soft, or small and large light, or applying the inverse square law. But where the book really shines is in the exploration of the interaction of light and subject, and light and camera. Transmission, absorption and, of course, reflection. I haven’t seen another book that can teach as much about reflection management.
Specular (direct) reflection, diffuse reflection, polarized reflection are all covered with an emphasis on the family of angles causing direct reflection. The book then goes on to show how this is relevant in revealing surface texture and subject shape, and for the purpose of separation and delineation. This is further detailed in two great chapters on lighting metal and glass. The first material is highly reflective, the second – both reflective and transparent. This is all essential knowledge about suppressing or exploiting specular reflection, and applicable to a myriad of subjects and situations.
Then there is one of the better overviews of portrait lighting, based on the functional properties of the lights involved. Followed by a very useful chapter on the connection of characteristic curves (transfer curves) and exposure, and how this connection relates to overexposure and underexposure. This is an often misunderstood (and sometimes underestimated) concept. Its significance is fundamental when purposefully exposing for a specific part of the transfer curve.
Most of the examples in the book are based on product photography lighting. But once you grasp the concepts, the rest is really a matter of scale. A popular saying has it that if you can light a human face, you can light everything. Well, after reading this book the obvious conclusion is: “If you can light a small glossy box, you can light everything”.
Light – Science & Magic won’t teach you about specific fixtures or light types (although, there is some info on the latter in the last chapter). Nor will it teach how to envision beautiful lighting. What it does is enabling you to realize your vision by knowing, controlling and finessing light.
This entry was posted by cpc on July 16, 2012 at 1:31 pm, and is filed under Book Reviews. Follow any responses to this post through RSS 2.0.You can leave a response or trackback from your own site.
Light – Science & Magic by Fil Hunter, Steven Biver and Paul Fuqua is probably the most important book on lighting that you will ever read. Moreover, if you only ever read one book on lighting, make it this one. This is, indeed, a rather bold statement. In fact, some readers who are new to shooting images may actually be puzzled by this praise once they read the actual book. The information there can be fully appreciated after you’ve fought a bit with real-world lighting problems.
A significant portion of the book is dedicated to the different lighting techniques and setups that can be employed in photography. This includes single-source lighting, multiple-source lighting, and the use of different modifiers to shape and direct the light. The authors provide detailed explanations, diagrams, and example images to illustrate these techniques. The book also covers the importance of color temperature in lighting and how it can be manipulated to evoke specific emotions and create different visual effects. The authors explain the concept of white balance and how it affects the overall color rendition of an image. In addition to discussing traditional lighting techniques, the book also explores the use of unconventional light sources and methods, such as using flashlights, Christmas lights, or even fire. These techniques can add a unique and creative touch to photographs. Throughout the book, the authors emphasize the importance of experimentation, practice, and observation when it comes to mastering light in photography. They provide exercises and assignments for readers to test and develop their understanding of the concepts discussed. Overall, Light Science and Magic is an invaluable resource for photographers of all levels who want to enhance their understanding and control of light. It provides a comprehensive guide to the art and science of lighting, allowing photographers to unleash their creativity and capture breathtaking images..
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1. John - 2 stars - "Light Science and Magic was a complete disappointment for me. The book claims to be a comprehensive guide to lighting in photography, but I found it to be excessively technical and difficult to understand. The authors assume that the readers have prior knowledge and experience in photography, which made it quite inaccessible for a beginner like myself. Additionally, the examples and illustrations provided were not helpful in clarifying the concepts. Overall, I would not recommend this book to anyone who is just starting out with photography."
2. Sarah - 1 star - "I regret buying Light Science and Magic. The book is overly complicated and fails to deliver on its promise of making lighting techniques easy to comprehend. The authors provide too much theoretical information without offering practical advice or tips on how to apply the concepts in real-world scenarios. As someone who wanted to improve my photography skills, this book left me feeling frustrated and confused. I found myself constantly flipping back and forth between pages and rereading sections multiple times, but still struggled to grasp the concepts. Save your money and look for a more beginner-friendly book on lighting."
3. Alex - 2 stars - "Light Science and Magic fell short of my expectations. Although it covers a wide range of lighting techniques, the book lacks clear organization and structure, making it difficult to follow along. The explanations are often convoluted and unnecessarily complex, leading to more confusion than enlightenment. Additionally, the authors present the information in a dry and academic manner, which made the reading experience rather dull. I was hoping for a book that would inspire and guide me in improving my photography skills, but this was not the case with Light Science and Magic."
4. Emily - 2 stars - "Light Science and Magic was a letdown for me. While it does touch upon important aspects of lighting in photography, the book fails to provide practical examples or step-by-step instructions. The authors assume that the readers have a strong technical background and understanding of photography, which is not ideal for beginners or casual enthusiasts. Furthermore, the book is filled with jargon and technical terms that can be overwhelming and difficult to comprehend. Overall, I found Light Science and Magic to be inaccessible and lacking in clear, concise explanations."