Shooting in Sh*tty Light: The Top Ten Worst Photography Lighting Situations and How to Conquer Them

Shooting in Sh*tty Light: The Top Ten Worst Photography Lighting Situations and How to Conquer Them

by Lindsay Adler, Erik Valind
Released October 2012
Publisher(s): Peachpit Press
ISBN: 9780133093759

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Book description

Sometimes photographers have to shoot in less than ideal lighting situations. Maybe the wedding is mid-day in the middle of a field, or perhaps the event is in a florescent-lit room. These scenarios can be particularly intimidating for beginning photographers who don't know how to handle the many undesirable lighting situations they may encounter.

In Shooting in Sh*tty Light, professional photographers Lindsay Adler and Erik Valind cover the top ten worst lighting situations and provide a variety of solutions for each. They explain which solutions are most practical and why one option might be preferable over another, examining such problems as extremely low lighting when no flash is allowed, strong backlight, and the light on an overcast day.

Unlike other books that focus on natural light or lighting in general, this book addresses a very real need of beginning photographers, answering the question, “What do I do when the lighting is terrible?” Lindsay and Erik candidly show you the tools at your disposal, demonstrating the techniques essential to getting the job done with minimal fuss.

  • Shows how to deal with ten of the worst lighting situations, such as harsh midday light, extremely low light, and mixed light.

  • Offers real-life examples and practical solutions for handling poor light, such as identifying natural reflectors, bouncing light off a wall, or utilizing flash gels. 

  • Features a fun, conversational style to help you conquer the fear of poor lighting and approach any lighting situation with confidence!

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    Table of contents

    1. Title Page
    2. Copyright Page
    3. Dedication Page
    4. Acknowledgements
    5. Contents
    6. Introduction
      1. Tip 1: Don’t Shoot in Sh*tty Light
      2. Tip 2: Educate Your Clients
      3. Tip 3: Read This Book
      4. Tip 4: Equipment Doesn’t Make the Shot, but It Can Help
      5. Tip 5: Practice Makes Imperfect Light Perfect
    7. Chapter One. Direct Sunlight
      1. Take Cover!
      2. Combine Shade and a Reflector
      3. Make Use of Your Surroundings
      4. Look for Backlit Leaves on Trees
      5. Shoot in Direct Sunlight
      6. When You Are Stuck
    8. Chapter Two. Direct Sunlight, No Shade in Sight
      1. Create Your Own Shade
      2. Soften the Light
      3. Face Subjects Away from the Sun
      4. Use Flash on Location
    9. Chapter Three. Fluorescent Light
      1. Set Your White Balance
      2. Use Flash to Augment Existing Light
    10. Chapter Four. Mixed Color Temperatures
      1. Survey the Scene
      2. Eliminate Conflicting Light Sources
      3. Move Your Subject
      4. Add a Gelled Flash
      5. Overpower One Light Source
      6. Don’t Wait for Post-Processing
    11. Chapter Five. Shooting at Night
      1. Focus in the Dark
      2. Find the Right Exposure
      3. Use Light Modifiers
      4. Try Stylistic Lighting
    12. Chapter Six. Extremely Low Light, No Flash Allowed
      1. Drag Your Shutter
      2. Try an Image-Stabilized Lens
      3. Use a Tripod
      4. Shoot with a Fast Glass
      5. Increase to a High ISO
      6. Combine It!
      7. Move or Re-enact
    13. Chapter Seven. Low Light with Flash
      1. Try On-Camera Flash
      2. Modify on Location
      3. Move Your Flash Off Camera
    14. Chapter Eight. Dappled Light, High Contrast
      1. Choose What’s Important
      2. Purposefully Place Highlights
      3. Even Out the Light
    15. Chapter Nine. Strong Backlight
      1. Harness Lens Flare
      2. Overcome Difficulty Focusing
      3. Achieve Correct Exposure
    16. Chapter Ten. Overcast Day
      1. Watch Your Angles
      2. Try Reflectors
      3. Eliminate Overhead Light
      4. Turn Their Eyes to the Skies
      5. Use Flash
    17. Appendix A. Glossary
    18. Appendix B. Equipment
      1. Camera
      2. Lenses
      3. Tripod
      4. Flash and Flash Accessories
      5. Flash Modifiers
      6. Reflectors
      7. Diffusers
      8. White Balance Tools
    19. Index
    20. Add Page

    Product information

    • Title: Shooting in Sh*tty Light: The Top Ten Worst Photography Lighting Situations and How to Conquer Them
    • Author(s): Lindsay Adler, Erik Valind
    • Release date: October 2012
    • Publisher(s): Peachpit Press
    • ISBN: 9780133093759