Light, Science and Magic

Photographic lighting is a topic that will never go out of style, no matter how sophisticated cameras and other technology get. Even with the most high-tech gear, photographers still need to put a lot of thought and vision into lighting their photographs in order to get great results. Mastering this key skill has the power to dramatically and quickly improve your photographs as well as your efficiency.

Light―Science & Magic provides you with a comprehensive theory of the nature and principles of light, with examples and instructions for practical application. Featuring photographs, diagrams, and step-by-step instructions, this book speaks to photographers of varying levels. It provides invaluable information on how to light the most difficult subjects, such as surfaces, metal, glass, liquids, extremes (black-on-black and white-on-white), and portraits.

This new edition includes:

• Expanded chapters on portraiture and lighting equipment

• Chapters on necessary equipment when working on location versus in the studio

• An updated appendix of reliable photo gear sources

• Over 100 new photographs and informational sidebars

• Updated information about advances in flash equipment, LED panels, and fluorescent lights

Lighting styles will evolve, but the science of light will always remain the same. Once photographers understand the basic physics of lighting (without having to become physicists), they can apply that knowledge to a broad range of photographic styles.

Fil Hunter was a highly respected commercial photographer specializing in still life and special effects photographs for advertising and editorial illustration. During a career spanning over three decades, he worked for such clients as America Online (AOL), US News, Time-Life Books, Life Magazine (27 covers), the National Science Foundation, and National Geographic. He taught photography at university level and served as technical consultant on a number of photographic publications. Mr. Hunter won the Virginia Professional Photographer’s Grand Photographic Award three times. He co-authored Focus on Lighting Photos with Robin Reid.

Steven Biver has over 20 years of experience as a commercial photographer specializing in portraits, still life, photomontage, and digital manipulation. His client list includes Johnson & Johnson, USDA, William & Mary College, Condé Nast, and IBM. He has been honored with awards from Communication Arts, Graphis, HOW Magazine, and Adobe, who have also included his work on a Photoshop ‘extras’ disc to inspire other photographers. He is also the co-author of FACES: Photography and the Art of Portraiture.

Paul Fuqua has worked as an editorial and wildlife photographer for more than 35 years. He started his own production company in 1970 and is dedicated to teaching through the use of visuals. Paul has written and produced educational and training material in a variety of fields including law, public safety, history, science, and the environment. For the last 10 years he has produced educational material dealing with the natural sciences and the need for global habitat stewardship. Paul is also a co-author of FACES: Photography and the Art of Portraiture.

Robin Reid has been a professional photographer for over 30 years. She has worked for many federal courts (US Supreme Court, US Tax Court, and US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit and others), as well as Domino’s Pizza, Time-Life Books, McGraw-Hill, American Management Corporation, Diabetes Forecast, and Heckler & Koch. Ms. Reid has won various awards from Virginia Professional Photographers Association, including Best Portrait of a Child. She taught both Studio Portraiture and Tools of Photography classes for the Art League of Alexandria for many years. She co-authored Focus on Lighting Photos with Fil Hunter.