Focus On Lighting Photos Focus on the Fundamentals.pdf

can do this picture, too. We’ll talk
you through it in Chapter 1.
Our goal here is to give you
enough knowledge of lighting—
whatever the source—that you
can take great photos without a
ton of gear or expensive strobes.
We also want you to understand
the lighting before you make
any more significant equipment
investment. If you decide you
must have one more light, not
attached to the camera, get the
least intelligent, least expensive
you can find. It will always be
useful in the future when you
need one more light in a complex
arrangement.
Later, if you need a more
expensive flash, or a whole studio
filled with strobes, you will know
better what works, spend your
money more wisely, and get a lot
more from your investment.
In the meantime, learn about
light. Join a camera club, where
there is enthusiasm plus a
great willingness to exchange
information. Share what
equipment is available. If each
of you can afford to buy only
one cheap light, together you
can outclass many professional
studios. We’ll also show you how
to make all sorts of tools, which
photographers need on occasion.
The camera and the little builtin
flash or an off-camera flash
often are not enough. Sometimes
we need to make a little light
bigger. Sometimes we need to
restrict the spread of a light.
There are tools to do this. Most
can be homemade. Experiment.
Make a homemade softbox,
snoot, grid, and gobo. There
are samples of all in the book,
as well as excellent photos using
them. Tape a white sheet to a
colored wall before investing in
seamless paper. Learn what you
like to work with—what helps
you get the photos you want.
If you find yourself wearing out
your homemade versions, then
it’s time to upgrade. But while
you’re learning, save your money.
Professional equipment is great—
it’s made to hold up for a career.
But it tends to be expensive. Resist
the urge to run out and buy stuff.
Rather like exercise equipment,
for all too many photographers
(professional and amateur),
these tools just gather dust all too
often. Until you’re ready for the
investment, make your own tools
or rent them or borrow them. In
the long run, you’ll end up with
equipment you actually use and
not waste money and stuff your
basement with cool gear you
don’t use.
Photography has always been
exciting. Today, we don’t have to
wait for the film to be processed
to know if we got the shot. With
digital, we know immediately.
It’s an ever-changing field.
New technology. New software.
Boy, it’s fun. However, with
more knowledge and a few
tools, you’re more likely to get
the image you want and get
it faster.
Introduction: <strong>Lighting</strong>? Why Bother? xv