copladocus

Hi Hogs,
Once again I poll the pen for the collective wisdom of this crowd. I want to learn more about studio lighting. Please chime in with your recommendation for a great instructional text, preferably one that shows examples of setups and the results of same. . While I know the difference between a snoot and a grid, I don't know how either will affect my images. I see a lot of books on the topic but I would rather spend my money on what y'all think is the best of the lot. What say ye???
as always, thanks!
Tom

SharpShooter Loc: NorCal

I would just google uTubes for what you’re looking for. 1 light, 2 light etc and whether speedlights or strobes etc.
A good place to start is “The Strobist” or the Adorama, “learning center”!
Good luck!
SS

spaceylb Loc: Long Beach, N.Y.

Check out this... http://www.zvork.fr/vls/

rgrenaderphoto Loc: Hollywood, CA

On the YouTubes, look for The Slanted Lens and Tony & Chelsea Northrup. Both have easy to follow and fun explanations for a wide variety of Studio Lighting. Matt Granger has several also.

Gene51 Loc: Yonkers, NY, now in LSD (LowerSlowerDelaware)

You first need to tell us whst you want to light.

Then you need to state your budget.

Next you need to say how big your studio is.

Then you need to restate your budget.

Google is you friend.

Seriously, you don't really expect to get a complete education here, for free, do you?

Start here,

https://www.pixelz.com/blog/lighting-equipment-101/?ads_cmpid=957758065&ads_adid=43151433050&ads_matchtype=b&ads_network=g&ads_creative=227471889083&utm_term=&ads_targetid=dsa-375214471623&utm_campaign=&utm_source=adwords&utm_medium=ppc&ttv=2&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI4u-t05Gf2gIVypTtCh0o0AQ4EAAYAiAAEgJTwvD_BwE

Remember, Google is your friend. . .

CaptainC Loc: Colorado, south of Denver

The links and suggestions above are all excellent and Gene is right about Google. I am a fair to middlin' portrait photographer and have used the resources mentioned. BUT the best education has come from one-day and multi-day classes/workshops with some really talented photographers: Don Chick, Fuzzy Duenkel, the late Darton Drake, Tim Walden, Tim Kelly, and several others. There is no substitute for live instruction and the ability to ask questions.

Another requirement—and I do mean REQUIREMENT—is to find a mentor or two who will critique your work and give you honest feedback. Your friends and family are unqualified for this.

CO

I've had a bunch of books on studio lighting and they were almost useless. I finally found these books by photographer Christopher Grey that are a gold mine of information. He has a direct approach and gives information that can really be used. He has many photos that show changes he made in the setups and diagrams of the sets. On Amazon, you can do a "Look Inside" and see some of the pages and index. He even has chapters on how to properly use a light meter - "Metering the Face and Profile". Other interesting chapters include "Specularity and Depth of Light" and many others.

Here are the Christopher Grey books I have:

Studio Lighting Techniques for Photography
Advanced Lighting Techniques
Lighting Techniques for Beauty and Glamour Photography
Master Lighting Guide for Portrait Photographers

CaptainC Loc: Colorado, south of Denver

I have two of those for sure - maybe three. But here's the deal—reading the books is only helpful if you do it while setting up lights and subject, taking the photo and seeing if your result is what you are going for.

You cannot learn to fly by reading a book or watching videos, you cannot learn to cook that way, you cannot learn golf that way and you cannot learn portrait photography that way. I have hundreds of photos of myself learning to place lights and seeing how much difference a small movement can make.

Good luck.

CO

How do you presume to know what I do?

I have my own studio photography meetup group on Meetup.com. We meet every one to two months. We set up backdrops, studio strobes, softboxes, strip softboxes, umbrellas, beauty dishes, reflectors, grids, use light meters. We have usually have two models, sometimes three to pose for us. I not only have my own studio meetup group but attend other studio shoots. Here's one I just did with my group. This coming Saturday, I have two photo shoots - one to recreate the look of the Great Gatsby and a fashion show later that day.

(Download)

CaptainC Loc: Colorado, south of Denver

My apology. I was intending that for the OP, not you.

copladocus

I saw these on Amazon and along with all of the other authors listed, that is what prompted my question. I was drawn to these exact books so your contribution here is quite a bit on point. Thank you

copladocus

I agree with you in part. I think it is important for me to know what lights can and cannot do before I buy them. I also don't want to waste a lot of time experimenting when I can begin armed with the experience and advice of accomplished photographers. Even with that advice on board I am sure I will still make plenty of mistakes and as we all know, those can teach us more than our successes, and I am all good with that. If I had a local professional photographer who would allow me to apprentice I would surely do that. Any volunteers? I come from a background of police and crime scene photography where the requirement is to render a photo as "a fair and accurate depiction of the scene." There is no attempt at artistic flair but rather just stark reality. I want to go beyond that in playing with studio and table top fun stuff, hence the lighting. I do well enough for producing on line auction shots of property and furniture but it is not good enough for me personally and my evaluation of that mediocrity is due largely to the limitations of my lighting options. thanks

SharpShooter Loc: NorCal

Cop, from what you have said, here’s what I would do.
I would buy a set of 3 or 4 if you can afford them, of Paul Buff lights. Choose the price range that suits you. I’m guessing their cheaper lights are the least powerful Bees at about $250 each, maybe more. The Genius at about $500 each will do most anything you could throw at them.
They(Buff) can help set you up with the correct triggers and a battery(s) for location work etc.
There a millions of uTubes dedicated just to the Buffs because they are popular.
They are a very good company and a good warranty and CS.
There are lots of other good lights too but the Buffs are good.
Some of the new battery run lights like the good also but info is less available to start out.
Using the same light can help with color balance and setting up power ratios etc.
Buff also makes all the modifiers you could need like soft ones, umbrellas etc.
Accessories like snoots and barn doors can come as you need them. Good luck
SS