Once upon a time, in a land far, far away, there existed a magical tree house. This tree house was unlike any other, for it had the power to transport its visitors to fantastical worlds and unique adventures. One sunny Sunday afternoon, a group of friends stumbled upon this extraordinary tree house and decided to enter, curious about the wonders it held. As they climbed up the creaky old ladder and entered the magical realm, they found themselves in a vibrant soccer stadium surrounded by lush green grass and cheering fans. They were astounded to learn that they had been transported into a soccer match like no other. The trees that surrounded the stadium had transformed into players of different sizes and shapes, each possessing their own special skills.
I received my copy of the book today and spent just a few minutes briefly glancing at it. The primary reason the book is bigger is because the font of the primary text is larger and because there is more space between each line. That's excellent for those of us whose eyes are gradually deteriorating, which perhaps suggests the age of people they believe to be their target market.
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. Added Material Use of a Tilt-Shift Lens A section in Chapter 6 explains that when photographing a highly reflective, flat surface straight on to avoid perspective distortion, a reflection of the camera will appear in the photo.
The trees that surrounded the stadium had transformed into players of different sizes and shapes, each possessing their own special skills. Excitement filled the air as the friends realized they had the chance to join in on this enchanted soccer game. With a surge of energy, they laced up their boots and stepped onto the field.
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Strobist Reader Favorite: Light, Science and Magic
I especially love escaping the August heat and disappearing into an air-conditioned room somewhere with a good photo book.
And since I suspect that you guys do, too, I am always curious to know what you are reading.
A few weeks ago, I asked you for your best bets. And boy, did you respond. I got nearly 100 "Strobist Book Review" e-mails, listing everything from how-to books to monoliths by great photographers.
(I even got a couple of "gag" book review e-mails, but we won't go into that. )
One of the most popular suggestions was Light, Science and Magic, An Introduction to Photographic Lighting, by Fil Hunter and Paul Fuqua.
This is no lightweight, either. Weighing in at 360 pages, I would expect I might find a new trick or two in here. I would note that people were sending me e-mails suggesting this book for the site before I even solicited your ideas. So, it's on my next Amazon order list, too.
I am happy to introduce you guys to my faves, and just as pleased to get fresh ideas from you for my own reading list.
Anyway, the book is apparently a very good volume on lighting theory.
Says Strobist reader Jeff:
You can safely file most books on photography in the trash can. This one you will reread.
It covers the "basic principles of lighting" in a straightforward and well-written manner, including the family of angles, diffusion, revealing shape and contour. There are also good chapters for lighting people, glass, and metal.
And there is a bad, outdated chapter on equipment, which seems obligatory in these books.
And this, from Joe:
Unlike many books which show you specific lighting setups and diagrams, Light - Science and Magic starts with the fundamental principles underlying the behavior of light. While some may be put off by the seemingly scientific focus of the book, the writing style is actually quite friendly and unintimidating.
The potential applications of learning these principles for portrait and editorial photography are immense. If you are actively working on improving your lighting technique, understanding the basic theory behind what you're doing will be tremendously useful.
Others noted that this book is not a cookbook, per se, but a book to give you a much better understanding of how light creates various effects.
The info on Strobist is pretty heavy on the "how-to" stuff. But you need your basic theory, too. Otherwise, you are just a photographer with a bag of specific tricks. Which can be about as exciting as driving a train. Knowing your theory is more akin to having the ability to go off-roading. Or being able to improvise a jazz solo, rather than just read music.
The establishment says:
"This is the first book I have seen on photographic lighting that is worth using as a text. Light-Science and Magic is about principles, not cheap tricks or the authors' portfolio. Thanks." -- Pete Christman, Savannah College of Art and Design.
"An excellent guide to high-quality studio-style lighting, even on location." -- John Alderson, Booklist.
And the reader reviews at Amazon are pretty impressive, too.
(At this point I will confess to being somewhat addicted to Amazon's reader reviews. They run the gamut from being right out of the New York Times book review section to looking like an extended family fight on the Jerry Springer show. )
Read it? Loved it? Hated it?
Comment on it below.
Either way, I am very much looking forward to reading it. Many thanks to all who recommended it.
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Thanks to Simon Garrett's post in another thread, I just now learned of the upcoming fifth edition of Light: Science and Magic. It is not yet released but can be pre-ordered at Amazon.com in hardback, paperback and Kindle versions. Even though I regularly refer to my copy of the fourth edition, I'll pre-order the new edition because I consider the book to be my Bible of Light.
Little did they know, the rules of this game were not the same as regular soccer. In this magical realm, anything was possible. The fearless friends soon discovered that each time they kicked the ball, it would shimmer and glow, granting them extraordinary abilities. Some could suddenly run faster than the wind, others could perform gravity-defying tricks, and a few even had the power to manipulate the ball's trajectory. It was an entirely new level of soccer that they had never experienced before. As the game progressed, the friends used their newfound powers to outwit and outplay the tree players. They ran, sprinted, and weaved through the enchanted defenders, scoring goal after goal. The once skeptical fans were now in awe of the friends' exceptional skills and abilities. As the final whistle blew, the friends emerged victorious, bathed in a shower of confetti and applause. They celebrated their triumph, filled with a sense of accomplishment and joy. Exhausted but thrilled, they thanked the magical tree house for this incredible experience, realizing the memories made would last a lifetime. With a wave of the tree house's magic, the friends were transported back to the familiar world, leaving behind the enchanted soccer stadium. They returned filled with stories of an extraordinary adventure that would be remembered for years to come. And every Sunday, when they gathered together, they would retell the tale of the magical tree house soccer game, forever cherishing the special bond they shared and the memories created that sunny Sunday afternoon..
Reviews for "The Soccer Game Nobody Expected: A Magical Sunday in the Tree House"
1. Mary - 2 stars - I was really disappointed with "Magical Tree House Soccer on Sunday". The storyline was weak and predictable, and I couldn't connect with any of the characters. The writing style felt juvenile and lacked depth. Overall, the book did not live up to my expectations and I wouldn't recommend it to others who are looking for a compelling and engaging read.
2. John - 1 star - I found "Magical Tree House Soccer on Sunday" to be incredibly boring and uninteresting. The plot was slow-paced, and the dialogue felt forced and unnatural. The magical elements introduced in the story also seemed out of place and poorly executed. I struggled to finish the book and was ultimately left feeling underwhelmed by the entire experience.
3. Sarah - 2.5 stars - While "Magical Tree House Soccer on Sunday" had an intriguing concept, it fell short in its execution. The characters lacked depth and development, making it difficult to care about their journey. Additionally, the writing style was simplistic, and the pacing felt off. Overall, I found the book to be average at best and would not recommend it to others seeking a more engaging and captivating read.
4. Robert - 1 star - I was highly disappointed by "Magical Tree House Soccer on Sunday". The plot was unoriginal and lacked any real excitement or surprises. The dialogue felt corny, and the characters were one-dimensional. I struggled to stay engaged throughout the entire book and found myself skimming through pages just to finish it. I would not recommend this book to anyone who is looking for a well-written and entertaining story.