Product Description

While certain ecological problems associated with artificial night lighting are widely known-for instance, the disorientation of sea turtle hatchlings by beachfront lighting-the vast range of influences on all types of animals and plants is only beginning to be recognized. From nest choice and breeding success of birds to behavioral and physiological changes in salamanders, many organisms are seriously affected by human alterations in natural patterns of light and dark.

Ecological Consequences of Artificial Night Lighting is the first book to consider the environmental effects of the intentional illumination of the night. It brings together leading scientists from around the world to review the state of knowledge on the subject and to describe specific effects that have been observed across a full range of taxonomic groups, including mammals, birds, reptiles and amphibians, fishes, invertebrates, and plants.

Ecological Consequences of Artificial Night Lighting provides a scientific basis to begin addressing the challenge of conserving the nighttime environment. It cogently demonstrates the vital importance of this until-now neglected topic and is an essential new work for conservation planners, researchers, and anyone concerned with human impacts on the natural world.

Customer Reviews (3)

Review: "Artificial Consequences of Artificial Night Lighting"
Review first posted on my blog (includes pictures):[...]

What I expected: A dry account of scientific literature on the title's namesake.

What I got: Way more than that.

Ecological Consequences of Artificial Night Lighting, edited by Catherine Rich and Travis Longcore, is one of the most readable, yet thorough, summaries of a specific topic within science writing that I have read to date. Beyond paraphrased accounts of the drastically-underappreciated scientific studies examining the ecological consequences of artificial night lighting, each section of the book begins with a brief account of a relevant naturalist's anecdotal experiences observing organisms in their nocturnal environment and ends with a succinct, meaningful conclusion as to where we should go from now.

It should be obvious to anyone who has lived within 50 miles of a modern urbanized human society (that means you!) that urban glow lights up the sky unnaturally. ECoANL cites a paper by Cinzano et al. (2001) which calculated "18.7% of the terrestrial surface of the Earth experiences night sky brightness that is polluted by astronomical standards." This impressive figure continues to include 61.8% of the United States and 85.3% of the European Union.

The impact of turning our planet into a giant night light is startling.

In addition to being an interesting and informative read, ECoANL was an essential jumping-off point when conducting research on the effects of artificial night lighting on anurans (frogs and toads).

Topics included in ECoANL: Mammals, Birds, Reptiles and Amphibians (the reason why I picked it up in the first place), Fishes, Invertebrates, and Plants

On top of being a beautiful literature synthesis (at a good price), the main editors suggest reasonable and practical solutions to understanding and reducing the impact of artificial night lighting.

Overall: 5/5 - A model novel in the scientific writing community

EVERY environmentalist and biologist should READ THIS BOOK
This book is fantastic! Any person whom (professionally or by amateur interest) considers themselves an advocate for the environment, nature and/or planet Earth needs to know what is in this book. This is a CRITICALLY overlooked subject, effecting everything that lives on this planet.

Here are examples not only of effects on plants, insects and animals but how to mitigate them
A reader might anticipate from its title that ECOLOGICAL CONSEQUENCES OF ARTIFICIAL NIGHT LIGHTING holds a in-depth technical focus on night lighting's impact on nature - but it goes beyond chronicling science to consider how human activities from lighting affects animals and plants in a variety of ways. 'Photopollution' exists nearly everywhere thanks to mankind's activities: here are examples not only of effects on plants, insects and animals but how to mitigate them. Sections seek a readable approach by pairing vignettes of events and experiences of nighttime creatures with plenty of science and analysis of the physiological and behavioral effects of light pollution. It's these vignettes which make this book accessible not only to college-level students of science, nature and ecology but the general non-scientist public library browser, as well.

Diane C. Donovan
California Bookwatch ... Read more

Product Description

Product Description
Combining theory and application, A Practical Guide to Stage Lighting provides a comprehensive analysis of lighting systems along with step-by-step examples and illustrations of the technical tools and methods.Readers will benefit from experience-based tips, techniques and traps to avoid in preparing and executing a lighting design.Anecdotes illustrate why some techniques succeed while others fail.

Existing textbooks about theatrical lighting analyze artistic vision and visual concepts, which are important for the aspiring designer. These texts do not, however, provide any information about the mechanics required to produce those visions.This book addresses the realities of working in the theatre using practical methods to squeeze flexibility out of a lighting system and present solutions to common problems.



Practical approach to lighting design and implementation

Includes experience-based tips and traps to avoid

Thorough examination of the documents used to create the lighting design ... Read more

Customer Reviews (9)

Great!
The product I ordered arrived on time and in perfect condition.I would gladly order through them again.

Amazing and to the Point!!
I love this book, a must for any one interested in the running out a show behind a lightboard.Very useful!!! A+

A great useful book on the PROCESS of lighting
This is hands-down the best book I've ever read regarding the process of designing and executing a lighting design.Other books do wonderful jobs of discussing instruments and electrical aspects, or how to create a design, but very few discuss the day-to-day paperwork and personal interactions involved in getting that design executed.This book addresses that subject thoroughly, discussing what documents to create, how to schedule time in the theatre, how to work with all the other folks involved in creating a production, and so on.Highly recommended.

Organised Stage Lighting
I would say this is NOT the first book to buy or read for someone wanting to learn stage lighting design. The books does not cover the basic theories.

But - it offers a very good guide to the real-world contraints and demands of lighting. The author give very concrete and useful suggestions and advice. Analysing a complete design ('Hokey') step-by-step is a clever move. It is also the perfect book for those who want learn how to accurately document their designs to last nut and bolt. Even with my 20+ years in lighting and lighting design, I found this book a worthwhile addition to my collection of lighting textbooks.

WOW
Get This Book! This book has everything a aspiring lighting designer needs. Shelley clearly shows his thoughts with clear illustrations. The first page is his complete lighting design for a show!!Buy It! ... Read more

Product Description

Now in full color, this guide helps the lighting designer with all of the many creative and operational challenges you face.  Providing respected and clear coverage of the process of programming automated lighting fixtures, Brad Schiller brings you from basic principles to pre-production preparations.  Concepts, procedures, and guidelines to ensure a successful production are covered as well as troubleshooting, much needed information on work relationships, and of course all of the fun technology including LED lighting, console networking, digital lighting, and more.  The final chapter brings the creative thinking of some of the heaviest hitting lighting designers of today, featuring Butch Allen, Jason Badger, Mike Baldassari, Richard Belliveau, Allen Branton, John Broderick, Dall Brown, Mark Butts, David Chance, Christian Choi, Vickie Claiborne, David Davidian, Patrick Dierson, C. Andrew Dunning, Mike Falconer, John Featherstone, Cory Fitzgerald, Laura Frank, Demfis Fyssicopulos, Craig Gaff, Steve Garner, Jon Griffin, Tim Grivas, Rob Halliday, Bryan Hartley, Bud Horowitz, Steve Irwin, Seth Jackson, Mark "Junior" Jacobson, Shannon January, David "Gurn" Kaniski, Mats Karlson, Eric Kennedy, Tom Kenny, Hillary Knox, Marcus Krömer, Jim Lenahan, Steve Lieberman, Esteban Lima, Heath Marrinan, Michael Nevitt, Adrian Ngieng, Paul Normandale, Jim Ohrberg, Steve Owens, Mitch Peebles, Paul Pelletier, John Rayment, Benoit Richard, Scott Riley, Larry "Uncle Fester" Robbins, Timothy F. Rogers, Susan Rose, Arnold Serame, Marsha Stern, Henry M. Sume, Howard Ungerleider, Lawrence Upton, Jon "Hillbilly" Weir, and Ross Williams.

Customer Reviews (9)

Great Book
Good overall lighting book.I would recommend this for anyone looking to get into the technical side of lighting.The theatrical side was a bit lacking, but overall a great book for learning.

Not Much info on Programming
I am an intermediate programmer looking to expand his knowledge.I was looking for a lot more out of this book.It doesn't tell you too much about programming Automated Lights.Let me sum up what the book did tell me:Save your show!

Great Book
I have been in the concert production business for a couple of years and this is a great book to have around.

A must read for up and coming lighting designers and prograqmmers
A great book that is not to technical and shows some real world ideas and solutions

Automated Lighting Programming Made Easy
The tips, tricks and techniques have been invaluable for both conventional and moving lighting programming.An excellent purchase for anyone interested in a more organized production.Very well organized, and generalized to facilitate programming virtually any console or utilizing any instrument.

While specific manufacturers are mentioned, they are not covered in great detail.This book is a wonderful suppliment to any programmers library, but cannot replace a thourough understanding of console syntax that is only obtained through expereience and reading console system manuals. ... Read more

Product Description

Blake Taylor's memoir, written when he was 17, offers, for the first time, a young person's account of what it's like to live and grow up with this common condition. Join Blake as he foils bullies, confronts unfair teachers, struggles with distraction and disorganization on exams, and goes sailing out-of-bounds and ends up with a boatload of spiders. It will be an inspiration and companion to the millions of others like him who must find a way to thrive with a different perspective than many of us.

Customer Reviews (33)

A must read for anyone dealing with ADHD
My son has ADHD and I have been searching for books to read so that I may do everything that I can to help him become a sucessful adult. I have not read a book so inspirational and moving in years! I smiled, laughed and even cried throughout this book as it is almost a mirror of my son. Blake could have not written a better book that made me able to see things from my son's perspective. Not only does the author give his personal stories, but ways of how he tried to make the different issues he faced and symptoms better. I now have some great suggestions to give my son for some the struggles. When he is a little older and needs some extra inspiration, I will be giving this book to him to read. To know that Blake went on to college and was cabable of writing such an wonderful book, makes me now realize more than ever that my son is going to be okay.

A Must Read!
As a female with ADHD, I have focused my research on gender differences in the disorder. I liked Blake's practical suggestions. Actually reading about someone going through it, I realized that some of the little things I didn't like about myself were actually symptoms that you don't usually read about in general descriptions of ADHD. I didn't realize I had tics until he described his and I did some more research on it, and discovered that some of the embarrassing things I do aren't really my fault. Even though I wasn't even diagnosed until I was 24 (I'm now 26), I find so much more confidence in myself knowing that some of the problems I faced throughout high school and college weren't just because I was inferior or defective. I found his nuanced account of what life is like for him very helpful.

Perfect book for a child or adult living with adhd
I'm reviewing this for the individual actually living with add or adhd. I can't and won't speak to what a person who does not have this "disorder" might take from it.
This is a short and brilliant little book, in which a young man who has yet to be jaded by the adult world and has been incredibly well-supported by his family explains, honestly and with a good degree of insight, how his life experiences have been impacted by having adhd. This book was more or less what I was looking for and something I simply haven't been able to find in the clinical literature. If you look up a definition of adhd, you get a list of symptoms that you are somehow supposed to match your or another's behavior to. Over time I've realized that not only are those lists not terribly useful but they frequently are completely useless and leave a great deal of uncertainty about what is adhd and what is behavior that is separate from that and it's really sort of impossible to diagnose from these lists (or by visiting so-called "professionals" - but that is a different issue). In order to understand a disorder, you really have to hear stories from people who have lived with it. Those are the symptoms you have to look for.
The other problem with books by and assistance from people who are not intimately familiar with a disorder is that they generally contain absolutely useless advice. An example would be orderliness. It's good and well to say, you need to organize yourself. But when you present something in a vacuum like that, it induces stress and intimates a negative trait on the listener's part - as though being "organized" in a very traditional way is the only correct way to do things and anything other than that is incorrect. And a number of people (maybe most? I don't honestly know) actually believe this to be true. Those of us who operate with a lack of obvious organization (from the perspective of an external party) know that our systems generally work well, oftentimes much better than what appear to us to be pathologically "organized" systems. But the point is that you know what works best for you. When someone else has already dealt with your underlying issues, the advice they give based on their experience is actually useful. The author offers examples of how he adapted his world to certain types of organization, rejected others, all the time knowing that he would have to see for himself what worked. Throughout the book he does this. The end is particularly insightful, speaking to the positive and unique abilities of those with adhd in the form of a short list. And what's nice about that is that it underlines that while adhd may represent a different way of being or processing information or interacting with the world, it doesn't mean that it is an incorrect way or really represents a disorder. It just means that to do what you want to in this world, you may need to adapt your behavior to those who have less creativity and insight.
And yes, he does say medication helped him immensely. I don't know of anyone with adhd it has not helped and I see no reason for people not to do things that help them and do not hurt others and so I think it's a very responsible and appropriate statement for the author to repeat. he's explaining what works for him.

Sometimes a teen can only learn the hard way.
Decades ago, ADHD was not understood, and kids with the disorder were treated as "bad kids". In recent years, kids with ADHD have received more "reasonable accommodations". When such a boy/girl does something wrong, there's a debate on whether or not to penalize the child. But whether you take away the TV, take away the Nintendo, or make the kid clean up the mess, one question remains; what happens to the kid when he/she is 20 years old? Your boss at work will not care if you have ADHD, nor will a Judge and Jury. There's no such thing as the ADHD defense.

Blake's story shows how kids with ADHD may have no choice but to learn the hard way. Take for instance the part where he's at a sailing club and breaks a safety rule. He ends up needing to be rescued, and gets banned from the premises. He can't use ADHD as an excuse now, because unlike a teacher in a classroom, the owner doesn't have to make any accommodations for ADHD.

Blake ends up learning the hard way, when he starts a fire on the kitchen table and his parents refuse to let him learn to drive.

If you or your child have a.d.d., READ THIS!!!
Whether you have a child who is ADD/ADHD -- or YOU are ADD/ADHD -- please read this book.It is such a short-read, but makes such an impact on your heart & mind.Something that really stuck with me through this book, was how the author talks about how he is sudden-outbursts of ticks on a regular basis, and now it really effected his life...even effected his chances of getting into a very-strict private school.
It is SO true--so much is relatable for ANYONE with add/adhd--but ESPECIALLY kids.I was 17 when I read this book, and it made me feel sooo sooo soo very happy and content to realize this boy went through many similar things as i did throughout my public-school career, and it gave me much peace inside from reading his lovely tips/inspirational writing/and good recommended resources.
I still think of this book a LOT, from time to time.And..it's such a darn short read.Give it a chance. ... Read more

Product Description
In Stage Lighting Design, a leading expert guides readers through experience to knowledge, inviting them to investigate every aspect of the roles of the stage electrician and the lighting designer. Among the topics covered are: choosing and using equipment; working with color; techniques for focusing; planning, testing, and executing a lighting design; lighting in the round and other staging layouts; and lighting Shakespeare, Brecht, and many other production styles. Throughout, safety points are emphasized and clearly highlighted in the text. Stage Lighting Design is complete with 40 lighting designs, 150 photos and diagrams, and 75 exercises that will enable readers to practice their skills. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Neil Fraser shows LDs the light at the end of the tunnel!
Neil Fraser, Head of Lighting at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art has continued his excellent guides to the world of theatre lighting design with "Stage Lighting Design, A Practical Guide". This book gives a fantastic first time insight into lighting design for beginners as well as giving useful tips to slightly more experienced designers and students.

Sections are concise and maintain your interest with the use of innovative exercise suggestions and links to real life situations from Neil's own career. This is a valuable commodidty in a book of this kind, where it is easy to become bogged down in essential but unexciting theory - the book covers all the essentials in an easy to digest fashion as well as expanding on them to support their relvance to the career.

It will shortly be followed by its partner book on Lighting Theory in order to complete the knowledge base required to begin lighting theatre. ... Read more

Product Description
Skilful lighting involves a subtle blend of systematic mechanics and a sensitive visual imagination. It requires anticipation, perceptiveness, patience and know-how. But learning through practice alone can take a great deal of time. This book is a distillation of many years' experience, with advice and guidance that will bring successful results right from the start.

Whether you are a student studying lighting techniques in the television, video and film media, or a professional lighting for the camera, this book will be an invaluable aid. Other members of the production team, including camera crews, designers and directors, will also find the information here interesting and useful.

The book concentrates primarily on the fundamental principles of lighting in studios, on location and display, as well as single-camera, small unit production, improvised and economy lighting, and working with limited facilities. Emphasis is also placed on the safety aspects of working with lighting equipment.

Lighting for Television and Film reflects the author's considerable experience of lighting techniques in BBC studios, his teaching and consultancy work.

Gerald Millerson's analytical writings spring from a lifetime's personal experience in the medium, and from his teaching and engineering background.During his career with the BBC, he was primarily associated with studio operations in the Television Service.His lecturing background included courses in TV production at a number of American universities.
His other books for Focal Press are Television Production, TV Scenic Design, Video Production Handbook and, in the Media Manuals series, Effective TV Production, Lighting for Video and Video Camera Techniques.



*A classic and definitive work

*Internationally acclaimed sourcebook

*Reflects current development in lighting technology ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Highly recommended
This is a marvelous book as an advanced course in lighting. It provides a classic grounding in light effects and light theory. I would characterize it as an intermediate to advanced text book, so it is not a good choice for those just starting out. And while it is chocked full of valuable information, the writting style is very much text book as well, so many people may find the presentation a bit dry. Be aware that the focus is more on television, although most of the advice applies to film as well. If your interest is digital cinema, then this would be a plus for you. The book is also beginning to show it's age in the section on lighting instruments. There are a number of instruments in common use today that are not covered in this book. That information, however, is readily available from manufacturers. Buy this book for it's timeless information on light and its critical importance in the look of TV and film.

Wow!
I'm about one third of the way through this book, and I'm really impressed!Most of the information is on lighting, but I'd never realized how important and complicated lighting could be.This book also covers some related topics for creating good looking video -- though I haven't gotten to those yet.The author has a lot of relevant technical expertise, and does a very good job of conveying that knowledge.No previous experience is required, but I wouldn't call this a beginner's book -- the depth of technical knowledge conveyed is impressive.This is a third edition, which tells you that "Lighting for TV and Film" has sold well over many decades.

Lighting for Television and Film
This skilfully illustrated book is a practical guide to lighting for television and film. It covers the principals, techniques and equipment involved in lighting for single-camera location shoots, as well as multi-camera studio productions. It is an excellent handbook to help film students understand all aspects of lighting, but can be retained throughout your career in the motion picture industry for reference purposes. It starts off with the basics and gradually moves on to more complicated aspects of lighting. The emphasis is on the practical application of the theory behind lighting. In this respect it is full of examples of common problems and how to solve them in practice. It is clear that this book was written with the knowledge gained from years of practical lighting experience. ... Read more

Product Description
Lighting and the Design Idea emphasizes the design process—the process by which lighting designers turn their ideas about a piece into the medium of stage lighting. The technological tools of stage lighting are covered, with a focus on using those tools within the design process. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Considerable Updating of an Already Excellent Book.
Unlike the typical college textbook "new edition" that tweaks pagination and swaps a few figures, but little else, the second edition of Linda Essig's Lighting and the Design Idea, is totally revamped. This edition is a clear improvement on an already concise and comprehensive introductory textbook. All other intro texts lean too far toward mechanics and hardware at the expense of art and design, or are artsy books that leave the reader hunting for practical application. Furthermore, there are a number of lighting books, packed with lovely pictures, which somehow manage to omit both art and craft in their glossy pages. Essig manages to touch on both important sides of this very technical art in a surprisingly small package.

True, Richard Pilbrow's 500-page tome is the definitive book and is on every lighting designer's shelf, but it is very cumbersome for an introduction to stage lighting course. Undergrads will be much less overwhelmed with Essig's book, which is better illustrated (especially the 2nd ed), far more succinct, and the best balance of art, theory, and practice of any available text. Pilbrow's text, though graced withcharming, hand-drawn cartoons, is poorly illustrated (and surprisingly outdated) for a book concerning such a visual field. Essig 2nd Ed., does a much better job of getting the figure on the same page as its text reference than the 1st edition.As would be expected, the 2nd edition, delves far more deeply into CAD, automated lighting, and the explosion of new technologies since the 1st edition's 1997 publication.

Yes, the price is steep, especially considering Pilbrow's book has managed to hold its $35 price for several years. On the other hand, it's a bit apples/oranges, since that is the same price for the same book--the 1997 edition rapidly becoming outdated. Don't be surprised to see Stage Lighting Design's next edition have a similar price bump, as what has happened to Lighting and the Design Idea. And really we're talking 15 bucks. I would rather have my students fork over an extra $15 for a book they will actually read and learn from than buy a slightly cheaper paperweight.

As a Set Designer, I teach Lighting Design as a second language, so to speak. So I have read nearly every lighting text available, both to keep myself current, and in the search for the best text for my students. For an undergraduate or an into course, Lighting and the Design Idea is, hands-down the clear choice.

Professor of Lighting Design
This is hands down the best book on lighting design I've seen.
It is clear, coherent, and concise.A wonderful book to use for
both beginning designers, as well as for intermediate and even
advanced designers, for review and clarification.
This is not a book about technical subjects - it is about design, which is what sets it apart.

Must Have Lighting Textbook
Lighting and the Design Idea by Linda Essig is an essential lighting textbook for serious lighting educators, professionals and students.All aspects of lighting design from conception to execution are covered.Buy and enjoy! ... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (5)

Great Book, Easy to follow, great results!
This book has been essential in understanding basic light setups for portraits.Lighting has been an illusive subject for me, and this book has integral to my understanding of it.The pictures that the author uses are simply phenomenal.I would recommend this book to any beginning photographer.

A Practical Overview
It's easy to fall into the trap of thinking that good lighting equals complicated lighting. With that mindset, you can defeat yourself before you even begin--you'll intimidate your portrait subjects with too much equipment and frustrate yourself trying to manage it all (never mind potentially TRANSPORTING it all!). Moreover, you'll squash anything that was fluid or natural about the portraits you're trying to create. The images will end up looking "produced."

In this book, Hurter reminds us that even one-light portraits can be breathtaking--add a reflector and you're pretty much in business. The KISS (keep it simple stupid) principle pays off here in some truly lovely images that show how the best in the business are streamlining their lighting strategies for a look that is very current, very authentic, and very appealing. And, hey, it's even more ECO-FRIENDLY--fewer lights, less power!

Whether you're trying to get back to simpler shooting style or just getting started in portraiture and looking for ways to minimize your initial investment in lighting equipment, you'll find this book a useful guide.

Any public lending library or photography library needs this
Photographers often spend thousands on the latest lighting and photography gadgets when they should be seeking simplicity: that's the contention of neo-pro Bill Hurter, which covers the basics of understanding light and how it works in photographic results. From designing two-light studio setups for natural portraits to taking photos on location, the idea is basic: simplify approaches yet preserve natural, professional results. Any public lending library or photography library needs this, which comes packed with color examples throughout.

A great read!
If you're new to studio photography and looking for a great book to help you get going, Simple Lighting Techniques for Portrait Photograhers by Bill Hurter is an excellent start.It's definitely a book for beginners that talks about light, lighting, and how to control it.There is discussion about the classic lighting set-ups and how to achieve them, it provides tips from some of the Masters of light, and it will answer many questions that one may have as they set up a studio.The sample images are beautiful and do a great job of conveying the theories being taught.

Simple lighting equals natural images
A book that steers away from complex lighting situations and enters the realm of lighting techniques in a more basic form.Advantages of this philosophy are outlined and examples to reinforce are illustrated throughout.A nice characteristic of such a style of lighting is that it does not matter if you are working in or out of the studio.A lot of good information that is clearly written make this book highly recommended. ... Read more

Product Description
Revised and thoroughly updated, this practical guide to photographing people is better than ever!

What is the color of skin? You may think you know, until you enter the world of digital photography and try to reproduce what you see. Differences in software, lighting, computer calibration—everything has an impact on color. And that’s all before you get into differences between people in terms of skin types, ethnicities, age, gender, and more! Hollywood-based photo-illustrator Lee Varis guides you step-by-step through the maze.

This new edition covers the very newest trends and techniques in photographing, lighting, and editing skin—and offers plenty of tips, examples, and valuable advice from the author’s own professional experience in the field.

• Shows you how to digitally capture all skin types: male, female, young, old, different skin tones and ethnicities, with makeup or without, wrinkled, tattooed, and more
• Covers a wealth of topics in addition to photo editing, such as how to obtain model releases and compose shots, how to shoot groups, and how to create promotional headshots
• Incorporates the latest on working with Photoshop and Lightroom
• Showcases exceptional work from a variety of photographers and artists

If you're photographing people, you’ll want this valuable and unique guide on your shelf. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (66)

Taking the guesswork out of retouching
Now here's a book that really deserves to get the highest praise possible. Lee Varis knows his stuff and lets us in on fast and very precise techniques. The book reads as if Lee is talking to you directly, motivating you and making you anxious to read on. If you start this, you want to go on and on. Lee explains not only the "how", but the "why". Sure, retouching is still work, but with the background info Lee gives us, the results are predictable. Your creative idea's are attained with Lee's straightforward, understandable directions.
There's a very interesting piece on calibrating the camera and making camera profiles.
The color of skin is explained, in general and some "special cases" (Caucasian versus Asian for example). Retouching by the numbers adds an extra safeguard against overprocessing the image. But, then again, Lee is a real artist, showing us that the impact, the emotional side is what really counts. Judging if you have reached your goals is still a matter for the eyes and feelings to decide if the end result is pleasing enough. That can't be calculcated.
PS5 is used and Lee shows the progress that has been made with this Super Toolbox. Raising the contrast without saturating the colors, adding local contrast in a controlled way, how to not use the high-pass filter, not use the clone stamp a zillion times for skin imperfections. Everyone can find something here, for there are very simple and readily useable things, but also elaborate multi-step actions.
The book is very well illustrated, the images show what effects can be reached. Subtle (and often not so subtle) alternatives are showns and their effect on the image quality. Lee is only showing you the 1-step process, if it is not "quick and dirty", he's after a professional result. Not degrading the original in any way, but enhancing.
This is a book from a real pro, and now you can reach that technical level too!

New tricks for old dogs
Though I've worked in Photoshop since 1992 and work extensively retouching my own and client's images, this book offered a few new tricks to this old dog. Though aspects of lighting and shooting are more oriented toward novice photographers, the retouching techniques are are worthwhile for even advanced/experienced shooters.

SKIN
Excellent book on photoshop re-touching. This book was referred to me by so many professionals that I had to purchase it, finally!!!! What a great book. Now I can live, really live!!! :D

Slipping off the skin
Skin is a great book, It took me less then one day to go through and learn everything that it had to offer.

Overdone
The techniques may be useful, but the application is way overdone.Many of the 'after' photos look as if mortician's wax has been caked on the models.Very unnatural and unappealing. ... Read more

Product Description
An illustrated sourcebook for professional designers providing ideas and inspiration for lighting design concepts for residential and commercial spaces, including offices, stores and restaurants. Over 600 examples of lighting solutions are used accompanied by captions discussing the design concept and the materials used, and schematics are provided to offer insight into a range of lighting techniques. ... Read more

Product Description
Digital Lighting contains strategies for lighting design that are relevant to any digital artist. It presents an awareness of computer lighting models, how they differ from real-world lighting effects, and how to approach 3D lighting projects differently from practical light. Topics covered include: What good lighting can do for you; Light sources; Shading; Shadows; Exposure and content; Color: temperature, correction, mood; Qualities of light; 3-point lighting; Indirect illumination; Multipass rendering and compositing; Lighting in production; and Case studies: natural lighting, interior lighting, character lighting, and effects lighting.Amazon.com Review
New Riders' [digital] series is performing a tremendous service to the computer animation and graphics community. The newest addition to this family is [digital] Lighting & Rendering. Author Jeremy Birn has long been regarded as a talented computer graphics artist and generous writer, and he's been sharing his techniques and discoveries for years.

Using computer graphic and 3-D tools to create accurate images is easy; using them to produce beautiful, inviting, memorable images requires more than technical skill. [digital] Lighting & Rendering introduces reasons and techniques for using light, shadow, texture, and composition. The book is not software-specific, but demonstrates techniques that are applicable to almost any 3-D graphics application. It is assumed, however, that your 3-D software of choice supports such basic rendering features as soft shadows, light maps, colored gels, depth-of-field blur, motion blur, and so on.

The first half of the book discusses lighting and shadow: lighting workflow; light types; using lighting rigs, such as three-point lighting; shadows and shadow type; and light quality. Lighting--how it's used, where it's placed, the kind of shadow it casts, its intensity--is critical to any image, whether you're creating a photorealistic computer re-creation or a surreal fantasy picture. [digital] Lighting & Rendering explains not just how to use various lighting techniques, but why.

An outstanding chapter on color and its use through composition and lighting offers insight into how colors are perceived and how color affects a scene. The importance of color, hue, and saturation should not be underestimated, and the examples in this chapter, like in every other, drive home that point.

Additional chapters cover exposure, composition and staging, materials and textures, and compositing. There is no accompanying CD-ROM, but the platform-generic nature of the book (and of the subject matter itself) makes it unnecessary. The book is designed to educate and inform; it is up to readers to apply what they learn to their own projects.

Although fewer than 300 pages long, [digital] Lighting & Rendering is an informative and important book, useful to any computer graphics artist. Each page is filled with fascinating, immediately helpful information about the craft. The publisher spared no expense on the book's production, either--every page is in color, with at least one color photo per page illuminating the text. Mr. Birn's experience and insight are not to be underestimated, and this book is not to be missed. --Mike Caputo ... Read more

Customer Reviews (41)

good book
I haven't gotten far enough in the book to realy experiment with the lighting, but reading this book is pretty helpful.

Must have for those into CG graphics
Lots of helpful illustrations and clearly explained concepts.

Even if you know a lot about digital lighting and rendering chances are you could still learn many new things from this book. Highly recommended.

Another recommended [digital] title!
This book has some great theory and topics that do not fade with time. Even though there is a Second Edition out the information within this book is still rich and plentiful. I own several of the [digital] titles and have been pleased with all of them, and this one is probably about the most informative of all the titles I own.

Get the 2nd edition, not this!
This 1st edition came out in 2000 and now there's a new 2nd edition coming out this year ~ I ordered the up~to~date one instead!

Ray
Mr Birn makes great effort to illuminate the subtle and unappreciated aspects of creating visually aesthetic lighting and rendering.He helps pin down the elusive "why" factor, as opposed to bombarding the reader with a lot of technical information. ... Read more

Product Description
In the critically acclaimed Five Men Who Broke My Heart, Manhattan journalist Susan Shapiro revisited five self-destructive romances.In her hilarious, illuminating new memoir, Lighting Up, she rejects five self-destructive substances.This difficult quest for clean living starts with Shapiro’s shocking revelation that, at forty, her lengthiest, most emotionally satisfying relationship has been with cigarettes.

A two-pack-a-day smoker since the age of thirteen, Susan Shapiro quickly discovers that it’s impossible to be a writer, a nonsmoker, sane, and slender in the same year.The last time she tried to quit, she gained twenty-three pounds, couldn’t concentrate on work, and wanted to kill herself and her husband, Aaron, a TV comedy writer who hates her penchant for puffing away.Yet just as she’s about to choose her vice over her marriage vows, she stumbles upon a secret weapon.

Dr. Winters, “the James Bond of psychotherapy,” is a brilliant but unorthodox addiction specialist, a
former chain-smoker himself.Working his weird magic on her psyche, he unravels the roots of her twenty-seven-year compulsion, the same dangerous dependency that has haunted her doctor father, her grandfather, and a pair of eccentric aunts from opposite sides of the family, along with Freud and nearly one in four Americans.Dr. Winters teaches her how to embrace suffering, then proclaims that her months of panic, depression, insecurity, vulnerability, and wild mood swings win her the award for “the worst nicotine withdrawal in the history of the world.”

Shapiro finally does kick the habit–while losing weight and finding career and connubial bliss–only to discover that the second she’s let go of her long-term crutch, she’s already replaced it with another fixation.After banishing cigarettes, alcohol, dope, gum, and bread from her day-to-day existence, she conquers all her demons and survives deprivation overload.But relying religiously on Dr. Winters, she soon realizes that the only obsession she has left
to quit is him. . . .

Never has the battle to stem substance abuse been captured with such wit, sophisticated insight, and candor.Lighting Up is so compulsively readable, it’s addictive. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (31)

Profound
I've never had any addictions. But I easily related to the themes of need, satiation, and having to be honest with ourselves when coping with these feelings. This was surprisingly profound and I recommend this to anyone who's open to examining how as people we deal with loss.

Smart, Funny, Addictive
We're all hooked on something: love, sports, drugs, cupcakes. No matter what your addiction is, you'll profit from reading Shapiro's book. In it, she detoxes from the substances that are preventing her from living her fullest, best life (cigarettes, pot, booze, gum -- don't laugh...even bread & pasta, perish the thought!) With fearless honesty and self-deprecating humor, Shapiro walks readers through the process, which she tackled with the help of a brilliant addictions specialist (and wannabe writer) named Dr. Winters, who has plenty of issues of his own. You'll love the little Zen wisdom notes he gives her at the end of each session; feel the discomfort of withdrawal; relate to the negative reactions of those around her when Shapiro overcomes her addictions, one by one; and most of all, cheer her on as she confronts her demons. Packed with insights (and cheaper than therapy), this memoir should be required reading for anyone seeking to reinvent themselves.

Honest, funny, Couldn't Put it Down!
I loved Susan Shapiro's book "Five Men Who Broke My Heart" and couldn't wait to pick this one. It didn't disappoint. She has a fresh, open, honest, and funny as hell voice that makes it less like reading a book and more like reading a good friend's journal. She's open about all her flaws and she just has a way of setting the scene that makes you feel like you were there in the room with her. I just started her latest book SECRETS OF A FIX-UP FANATIC and it's also fantastic. This is one of those books that once you start it, you can't put it down.

Enjoyed the hell out of this book
I'm almost completely burnt out on memoirs.I have finally outgrown "chick lit" novels about protagonists turning 30.And didn't want to read some dry take on addiction.But I wasn't quite ready for a "serious" novel.Ergo, "Lighting Up" really hit the spot.I doubt the veracity of some of it, there are a few parts where she kind of contradicts herself, as if there were two different versions of the story and it didn't all get smoothed out during the editing.

But it comes down to this:I couldn't put it down, I laughed and I CARED and that says a lot.

p.s. folks who have problems with the fact that Shapiro is self-absorbed might want to avoid books where people fully admit their problems are not earth-shattering in the grand scheme of things.

car wreck
Shapiro is a late comer to the genre of the self-help, diaristic memoir.Nonetheless she has not learned anything from those who have written in this territory before her.The book is an extended magazine article, as if putting her text in quotations as conversation makes it a novel.But it is so filled with self absorbed congratulatory writing that it becomes somewhat perverse in its hold over the reader--like the magnetic attraction of a car wreck.In the book Shapiro is an attractive (?) forty-two year old woman who has sex with her husband (which is apparently a big deal for her.I predict her husband will dump her for another woman before she is fifty), becomes smarter than her therapist, and becomes a successful writer with a perfect extended family.Except no children because she was too busy obsessing about herself during child bearing years. Who has empathy for this protaganist?With her luck I expect to see this book as a made-for-TV movie very soon.Hallmark channel. ... Read more

Product Description
Be the brightest star on the block when holiday season rolls around. In this easy-to-use outdoor decorating guide, "Mr. Christmas" himself helps transform any home into a sparkling winter wonderland. For everyone from electrical project wizards to people who have never used an extension cord, here is a step-by-step guide to planning, shopping for, and installing a dazzling house and yard display for the holidays. This book turns complex technical tasks into easy and affordable do-it-yourself projects that will impress the wife, enchant the kids, and make the neighbors green with envy. With detailed illustrations and handy packing and storage tips, Holiday Hero eliminates the holiday headaches of untangling lights year after year. Things are looking brighter already. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Good, funny book!!!
I found this book to be really cute.I love decorating, and its common sense way of handling things will make it easy for me to do it next year!!!

Nice addition to Holiday tradition
This book was given to me as a gift.I have been decorating for several years and found the book to be an enjoyable read.The author has a great sense of humor and definitely put me in the mood to decorate.Reading the "Holiday Hero" man creed was awesome.It was essentially a list of Christmas man laws.Brilliant.The section on electricity would be especially helpful for beginners.I look forward to reading the book each year!

holiday hero
The item was a gift for my husband. He really seems to enjoy reading it! ... Read more

Product Description
Budget-friendly, environmentally sound, and one-of-a-kind, discovering new uses for what you already have or what you discover in the salvage yard is truly living local. It reduces a garden’s environmental impact, saves money, and — most importantly — is fun and creative. From making pathways out of scrap wood and metal to creating garden lights from discarded indoor fixtures, The Revolutionary Yardscape features dozens of garden design projects and inspirational ideas for taking advantage of salvaged materials found in the home, junkyard, or thrift store.

A master of using reclaimed items, expert Matthew Levesque covers the basics of hardscaping, garden construction, and outdoor decor using local materials. He includes essential techniques and step-by-step guidance for transforming unconventional salvaged materials into pathways, decking, fences, screens, containers, seating, and more. The Revolutionary Yardscape also shows readers how to see the beauty and possibility in salvaged materials. Levesque gives tips on how to think outside the garden box — from imagining a pile of old keys becoming a rain chain to seeing the infinite possibilities in scrap metal and piping.

This new set of skills embraces the idea of finding an object first and letting the design plan follow. Vividly illustrated with photographs of exciting contemporary projects, The Revolutionary Yardscape will make gardeners think outside the box by designing with unexpected materials.
... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Creative endeavor
If you want a beautiful, creative backyard that demonstrates environmental awareness, then this book is for you! Author, Matthew Levesque, is exceptionally creative and most importantly, doesn't appear to feel the need to make his surroundings look like everyone else's. So, in a way, this book is not for everyone - only those with sufficient vision, a willingness to work hard, and who are not intimidated by the small minds around him/her who are interested in conformity.The explanation and examples for each section of the book are clear and concise and the photos are terrific!If you didn't have any ideas for re-doing your yard before you got this book, you'll definitely have some afterwards. The only negative about this book is that it could have been longer. Hopefully he'll write a follow-up soon.

Enlightening Ideas
Matthew Levesque's book, "The Revolutionary Yardscape" is a beautiful book to look at and has such wonderful ideas for reuse. Nothing created by Levesque is "made in China".Repurposing items we have all around us is not only good for the environment but also good for the country.Levesque's book show us the way to rethink our environment in a creative and useful way."The Revolutionary Yardscape" illustrates how we can live beautifully and aware.

Best yardscaping book ever!
The Revolutionary Yardscape is truly a jewel in the DIY genre. I've been wanting to redo my backyard for years and after countless books on the subject this is the only one that has really hit the spot for me. Levesque offers ideas, lists of materials and advice on many outdoor projects that are easy to create with salvaged materials (this means that most of the materials required for the projects are very inexpensive to get if you do not have them already). He gives the reader step by step instructions for reusing every day items and a much lower budget than most of the DIYs out there to create incredible sculptures, completely unique waterfalls (they key chain waterfall, for example, is definitely one of my favorites) and artful lighting for a stunning backyard (or front yard) landscape.
If you only buy one DIY or yardscaping book to recreate your outdoor spaces with, this is the only book you need. Well worth the money! ... Read more

Product Description
As every photographer quickly learns, there’s more to studio lighting than simply learning the equipment. In Basic Studio Lighting, an expert photographer and renowned photography teacher provides nuts-and-bolts guidance for mastering the complexities of one of the most important aspects of making a photograph: proper lighting.

Readers will discover surefire tactics for using equipment properly and innovative ways of utilizing color and light to create fabulous effects, as well as getting hands-on practice with exposures, accent lighting, backgrounds, set-ups, and dozens of other studio techniques. Plus, dozens of outstanding color photographs illustrate each technique step by step.

Perfect for aspiring photographers and students as well as veterans, Basic Studio Lighting provides all the theory and practical techniques needed to create professional photos that make an impact. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (16)

Basic is the Key Word
If you are learning lighting and need diagrams, skip this book.

If you are learning lighting and enjoy creating your own lighting setups and are willing to experiment to be different than the masses, buy this book.

The information will get your feet on the ground and help you grasp what light does, you can then take this a build your own lighting setups to match your personal vision.

If you have lots of experience and know lighting back and forth, then this book may be too basic for you. I enjoyed, even though I knew I was ahead of some of the topics, but if I had been looking from an experience point of view for a new "Wow factor" I would have been disapointed.

Fantastic book on studio lighting.
I've read and can appreciate all the reviews that came before this one. This book is NOT a cookbook on lighting. It IS a treatise on understanding how lighting effects photographs and how to best use lighting to define your photographs.

Those reviewers that have complained that the book didn't tell them how to light a given photograph will return to this book for understanding and inspiration once they master the basics.

I've read (and learned from) many photographic lighting books prior to this one and can say this is the finest book I've yet seen. It taught me to understand lighting, rather than simply use lighting.

Good book
I really like it, it's easy to read and good illustrations. good tips on lighting. it's really helping me on my photo technique's and my equipment.

Me gusto, es fácil de leer, y las ilustraciones son muy buenas. Me esta ayudando mucho en mi técnica de fotografia y me da ideas para montar mi estudio

It's not the book the title implies
This book should been titled "Studio Lighting Theory".While I appreciate the theory and concepts described in the book, I was looking for BASIC STUDIO LIGHTING instruction, and this book does not deliver.There are many, many nicely lighted portraits and product shots in this book but they are like teasers..."Try and figure out how I lighted this one!"In another review of the book, the reviewer considers the lack of diagrams a plus, but I surely can't see how holding back information can be beneficial.

I suspect, this was just a money grab by the author.A collection of his photographs--most of which he may not even remember the lighting setup used.The book is a bit dated, too, with nothing but film references and no fluorescents even mentioned in the continuous lighting section.

If you are looking for an introduction to studio lighting, this book will disappoint.I suggest looking elsewhere.That's what I'm doing now.

Such a Missed Opportunity
There is no question that Tony Corbell takes wonderful photographs. Go to his website at [...] to see for yourself. But, as we've often seen, raw photographic talent more often than not does not translate into teachable talent or competent writing skills.

In `Basic Studio Lighting' Corbell tackles a needed subject, writes in an agreeable fashion and delivers with beautiful examples. Yet one finishes this book, while thankful for the nuggets of valuable information, ultimately disappointed.

Disappointed at the missed opportunity. Corbell might very well have delivered a photographic knockout punch. He could have written the definitive textbook on studio lighting. Instead his book falls into the "out of 144 pages, I picked up three new ideas" category that too often describes photographic instruction books.

How do you possibly write a book on basic studio lighting without a single lighting diagram connected to an individual photograph? Tony Corbell did.

He even knows the importance of conveying that information. Consider, on page 128, Corbell writes "Placement of the separation light is of key importance..." yet no diagrams. As in none.

Didn't early on somebody, anybody (maybe an editor who should have known better) say, `Uh Tony? You might want to diagram those lighting setups, just in case someone might actually want to use your information"? This omission alone takes this book from the keeper category and lands it into the `read once and discard' category.

This book reads like Tony's lectures might sound if they were written down with a slideshow of images behind him, not like a book written from scratch.

Such a missed opportunity. ... Read more

Product Description
The third edition of this successful handbook provides tips and techniques for the beginning wedding photographer as well as for professionals seeking to refine their techniques and expand their business. Featuring 50 new images and an updated text covering topics as varied as online marketing, digital techniques, and lighting, this guide helps photographers ensure that they will be at the right place at the right time to take the best picture. Advice on how to take flattering portraits of couples and how to select appropriate sites for wedding pictures is included. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (11)

Appears very outdated
I was disappointed at the techniques and example photographs provided in this book. The images look like they're from the 80s-90s. I was even more shocked to discover that this book was published in 2005. The teaching given might be fine if you are the only photographer within a thousand mile radius of Podunk. For anyone else, especially if you service a large, trend- and art-savvy metro area, this book will be pretty useless. I did get some information out of the business section. The most useful part of the book to me was the boilerplate contract at the end.

wedding photography
I received my order in a timely manner.The preview was that, which was the determining factor that made this book my choice.I was able to compare and choose the book that best fit my needs. The book was most helpful in it's approach and coverage of the wedding ceremony.

Not that impressed
This book was not what I expected.I wanted more specifics on how to get a good shot quickly and this was more of an outline of becoming a professional.I'm not going to quit my day job, I want tips to photograph weddings of friends and family quickly.Most weddings I have been to do not allow for hours of staged photographs.The couple want the pics taken and they want to be on their way to the reception......

Good choice for beginners
I buy this book when I began to shoot weddings, I didn't know not a lot on not a lotand it really helps me, If you're a beginner in this business it's definitely a good choice !

More than meets the eye
I really don't enjoy weddings that much; and wedding photos are pretty low on my list of things to look at.However, a friend wanted me to take photos at his wedding so I read this book.Sensibly I declined taking photos at his wedding and he got a professional.(Just because I have a nice camera does not mean I take nice photos!)The book explains how to position the couple for staged photos and interesting things to do with the lighting.I especially enjoyed the sections in the back of the book that was kind of a "cook book" of how to set the gang up for different photos.The author also discussed the artistic photos of the bride; some work and some don't in capturing the "character" of the bride using lighting and composition.This book is also enjoyable to look at.After reading the explanations of how the shots were created I doubt that I will look at good wedding photos without an appreciation of what the photographer did to make them happen.It's another good photography book that should give the average person a jump start into taking better than average photos at a wedding.(Bonus points if your wife catches you reading it!) ... Read more

Product Description
A lighting instruction guide for photographers. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

Lighting Design Top 5
I would easily say this is one of the top 5 books on Theatrical andConcert Lighting Design.As a young designer his advise in learning and developing the craft as well as the background he provides is invaluable.I'd recomend this book to anyone seriously considering the field.

You don't need photos...it's the theory and technical info
Another person reviewed this book complaining that it wasn't effective because it didn't have an abundance of color photographs. He missed the mark big time! This isn't a book on lighting for photography, it's a book on lighting for the eye and a theatrical experience, two different things. A static photo doesn't give you the interaction with how the cue ran, what the actors are doing, how the audience is supposed to feel. The photo whould just be a picture of a person in a light and convey nothing.

True, the end product of lighting design is a visual medium, but the means of getting there are purely cerebral.

Lighting designs are drawn in black and white based on theory, knowledge, practical experience and the ability to visualize. This is a book on theory and knowledge culled from Pilbrow's extensive experience.

If you want to approach lighting design like a cake recipe or an auto repair manual then this is the wrong book for you and probably the wrong career.

If you are dedicated to your craft, want to add to your knowledge base and get more out of your work experience, buy this book. Reading this book is like sitting down with Pilbrow and asking him how he did this or that and why. As your career grows, you will find yourself rereading passages of this and getting more out of it each time.

It's a Visual Medium for Pete's Sake
When I received the book I was surprised that Pilbrow had written a 450+ page book on lighting and there were only 6 pages of color photos and scattered pencil drawings and black/white photos in select areas.This is analogous to explaining engine repair without detailed diagrams.The lighting designer is a visual person.It is a visual medium.Words are poor vehicles to carry the ideas of this art form.I think Pilbrow missed the mark.That's why I'm returning the book.

Information and inspiration
This book helped me make the decision to go for lighing design as a career .... the first half has the info most of us in the industry have picked up on stage but orders it very well, the second has many wonderful anechdotesfrom his and many others careers.Its the only lighing book I have foundthat one can enjoy reading again and again.

The best book on theatre lighting anywhere
I bought this last year, and it quickly became one of my favourite books of all time.It's well written, and is packed full of information.But that's only the beginning.Pilbrow has chucked in years of experience andanecdote, not only from his own extensive career, but also from many otherexcellent designers.Whenever I'm lighting a show, I take this book withme.In a way, it is my own lighting assistant.This is a must, not onlyfor lighting people, but also directors and producers.And that is becausethis book endevours to emphasise the 'art' of lighting, and not just thecraft.

And it's about time. ... Read more

Product Description
Photographic Lighting: Essential Skills offers practical coverage of everything you need to know to understand the characteristics of light and the foundations of photographic lighting, including film, filters, exposure, compensation, zone system and an array of creative techniques. Students and committed amateurs will find sound technical knowledge with inspiring projects. Developing professionals in need of a refresher or a reference need look no further. The authors use terminology that is easy to understand and explain techniques in a clearly written, no nonsense manner. Photographic Lighting: Essential Skills ensures all the fundamentals of lighting are learnt and applied to help improve the use of light in photography and encourage visual expression.

* A variety of activities and assignments throughout the book teach lessons in a creative context that can be applied immediately to develop the professional in you
* Two all new chapters cover the latest post-production and composite imagery techniques and provide the necessary tools needed to refine and improve your photos
* Features online support, including video tutorials and downloadable figure files. It's like having the authors in the room to show you how it's done! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Just Scratches the Surface
Alot of topics discussed wtihin the text which is a plus, but it falls short of providing any kind of depth. Although this is supposed to fulfill the beginner to intermediate target range, most readers above the beginner level will be left disappointed. I purchased this book as it was an assigned text for school, but immediately follownig completion of the read...I purchased another Focal Press Publication as this book just scratches the surface of most topics it explores. Albeit dated, I would recommend this book for true Beginners, but for those beyond this level...I would recommend Light-Science & Magic, 3rd Ed (Hunter, Biver & Fuqua), which will give those wanting more information on the topic of Lighting much more depth in the areas of shooting metal, glass & portraiture. ... Read more