Off-Camera Flash: Creative Techniques For Digital Photographers Download Free (EPUB, PDF)
Professionals and advanced-level amateurs seeking to push the envelope and enhance the creativity of their shots are shown how to add mood and manipulate color in their images with this guide. Using a technique known as off-camera flash, digital photographers discover how to alter a viewer’s perception through the use of shadows to mask certain details or to draw attention to a specific feature with a simple beam of light. From a survey of the gear required to create these effects and a detailed description of how the basic techniques are executed to more challenging instruction such as close-up techniques, on-location portraiture, black-and-white photography, and capturing motion, this handbook offers digital photographers step-by-step directions for picking up the tips and tricks to set their work apart.
Paperback: 127 pages
Publisher: Amherst Media (April 1, 2010)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1584289929
ISBN-13: 978-1584289920
Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 0.3 x 11 inches
Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (31 customer reviews)
Best Sellers Rank: #2,224,116 in Books (See Top 100 in Books) #99 in Books > Arts & Photography > Photography & Video > Equipment, Techniques & Reference > Flash Photography #527 in Books > Arts & Photography > Photography & Video > Equipment, Techniques & Reference > Lighting #1099 in Books > Arts & Photography > Photography & Video > Equipment, Techniques & Reference > Digital Editing
I have many books published by Amherst Media, and I do not usually write reviews for the books I purchase (in case you decide to examine my "other" reviews). "Off-camera Flash" is a BIG disappointment, and I have requested a refund from . I am SHOCKED at the number of 5-star reviews for this book, and can only conclude that they are from friends/past students of the author(s) or complete amateurs to flash photography.For starters, the majority of photos are all VERY DARK, and in my opinion, underexposed. As is typical when shooting outdoors with speedlites (off-camera portable flashes), photos are key-shifted with a darker background. However, in this execution, *both* the backgrounds and the subjects (models) are dark and underexposed. This is not "attractive" flash photography. The photos appear dark and lifeless.A background should only be key-shifted down about 1/2 to 1 stop from the ambient light. The examples provided appear to be at least 2 stops under, and what's worse, the model/subject is also at least 1/2 to 2/3 stops underexposed in most cases.There are images in this book where the photographer has walked into the ocean in 4-feet of water to capture an image (fully dressed), and even then the model is underexposed! There is a section on macro photography in the book and these photos are excellent, however.This book provides some basic advice/suggestions on triggering equipment (cheap radio triggers), and a handful of different light modifiers that can be used. Other than that, you will be left to go out and experiment completely on your own. In my opinion, a much better choice would be "Minimalist Lighting" by Kirk Tuck (also published by Amherst Media), or if you want to be REALLY wowed, do a Google search for "David Hobby" and purchase his "Strobist Lighting Seminar" DVD series. It's expensive, but worth every penny.
If you're timid about taking steps into the world of off the camera flash and need a cheer squad to give you the courage, then this book is for you. If you're looking for a well written book with in-depth explanations and advise then by-pass this one and keep looking.I was extremely disappointed in this book. I kept waiting for the motivational spiel to end and the real info to start. It didn't happen. I also didn't appreciate the condescending reference re getting your wife to help you by holding light stands etc. There are a hell of a lot of very capable women photographers out there, who certainly don't need this condescending BS.So do yourself a favor and don't waste your money or time on this book. There are definitely better books out there.
I'm very disappointed of this book. The authors go out of their way to trash other experts' views and techniques that have proven successful over history. He goes over and over about how everybody else does everything wrong and his "secrets" are the only right way of doing things.Also, as mentioned in other reviews, they focus more in the "you can do it, just try everything", more than really teaching techniques or practical suggestions.For a person completely new to flash it's Ok, but there are muuuuch better books out there. I would highly recommend "Speedlights and Speedlites" by Lou Jones Speedlights & Speedlites: Creative Flash Photography at the Speed of Light, "Hot Shoe Diaries" by Joe McNally The Hot Shoe Diaries: Big Light from Small Flashes;and "The Nikon Creative Lighting System" The Nikon Creative Lighting System: Using the SB-600, SB-800, SB-900, and R1C1 Flashes by Mike Hagen. Of course these 3 books are only useful is you own a Nikon or Canon, but most DSLR users do anyway.
I was very disappointed in this book.The writing style is often pretentious, and not useful when I've come to learn about off camera flash. These phrases come from a single sentence: "Creativity is flourishing... New ideas are being touted.. advanced techniques have emerged.. a youthful, ultramodern approach to message-building is being recognized". What?The photography was not inspiring, most every photograph is overly orange hued and the compositions are weak. I understand photos for educational purpose may be necessarily boring and I don't expect "behind the scenes" photos to particularly interesting. I will give credit in that they do provide lots of good comparison photos (examples with and without flash, or to show the effect of changes in setup). But most of the "end result" type photos should be reproduced well, color balanced, and inspiring. There were some to be fair, but far less than I would expect in a book about photography.My recommendation is look for other books on the subject. There are better. For example,"Speedliter's Handbook - by Syl Arena" - even though it's written for Canon shooters, the techniques are useful by everyone.
This book has VERY little in the way of substance. There are some useful tidbits, but you have to wade through a lot of fluff to find them. We are told about lots of things we should learn and become good at, but receive little in the way of practical instruction. I didn't buy this book to be told to go read another book (or whatever) to learn what I thought was to be the subject matter of this book!There's lots about how the authors' way of doing things is superior to other photographers. They see themselves as "bold and adventurous" versus other photographers who are "boring drones." The overall tone of this book is quite pretentious. In particular, there is a very condescending tone re: using your camera's automatic features. I don't dispute that learning to use your flash in manual mode ultimately gives you more control, but there is still a lot that can be accomplished using automatic modes, and there's just no need for the attitude. The irony is that while the book does include some nice example images, many are mediocre at best - nothing I would aspire to.Bottom line: there are much better books out there (as referenced in other reviews). Skip this one.
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