I wanted to know if anyone reviewed John Jackman's new book Lighting For Digital Video and Television?

I recieved an email from from DV.com this morning on it.

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1578201152/qid=1027344316/sr=1-3/ref=sr_1_3/103-1598375-8473443

This is an old post, but what the hey. I've read it, and I find it to be quite groovulent. There's a lot of good info, and some real world anecdotes thrown in, but I would recommend more diagrams. I have hard time dealing with some of what he says without being able to see it. Other than that, great!

Thanks for responding - I have not gotten a chance to buy the book yet.

I'd recommend it, just wish it had more diagrams. That's all.

I did an archive search and turned up a lot of suggestions on great lighting books, many of which I'm planning to buy. However, I'm looking for something really specific -- a lighting book with lots and lots of movie stills and accompanying diagrams of exactly how the scene was lit. I recently finished "Matters of Light and Depth," and really liked it, but find myself wanting something featuring even more real world examples. A book that featured this kind of thing almost exclusively would be great.

Have you seen J. Jackman's lighting book? I haven't but have read good feedback about it.

I believe that's "Lighting for Digital Video & Television." That was one of the book I was planning to buy.

I probably have more than half a dozen books devoted to lighting. John Jackman's book ("Lighting for Digital Video & Television") is a good general primer and covers, or at least touches, just about all of the bases. I would certainly recommend it to anyone looking for an inexpensive, basic book on the subject.

But all the books in print cannot substitute for just experimenting with lighting. It's one of those hands-on activities that can repay the effort investment many, many times over.

No-one really has answered Marco's specific question. It is also
one I'm interested in. It would be very nice to:

1. see photo's (or perhaps movies on an included disc) from
various points taken "as the camera"

2. see diagrams on how all the lights were setup

3. explenation on how they came to this setup and why it works
(or doesn't work) etc.

Does something like this exists or do we need to write our own? <g>

I'm beginning to think that it doesn't. Maybe "writing our own" isn't such a bad idea. One of the reasons I want a book like this is to give me more insight on what lights to start buying. It's hard to do much experimenting when all you've got is a single Tota light.

Offhand, the closest material I have to that type of format is the "ARRI Lighting Handbook", by Bill Holshevnikoff. ARRI includes this booklet when you buy ARRI light kits. You can also download part of the booklet at Bill's Web site (http://www.power-of-lighting.com/handbook.html).

Several other books feature many example shots and set-up diagrams but none strictly adhere to this format.

Now that is getting closer to it indeed.... Interesting!

i just ordered Kris Malkiewicz's "Film Lighting & Cinematography" books. I am looking for books on aspects of lighting and the techincle side of it. Any recommendations.

See this thread (http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/showthread.php?s=&threadid=4830).

http://www.promax.com/Products/Detail/5407

the above is a link to basic lighting for dv. i am going to buy it because i feel that i need some more visual aid to understand the different lighting concepts. i really would like to attend a siminar but they can be pricey. i figure this can be the next best thing. if anyone has seen this dvd or heard any reviews on it can you please leave your comments on it?

thanks in advance.

Never heard of it, but it isn't that much money. Let us know how
you like it?

will do Mr. Lohman

I've not seen this video. But John Jackman also has a popular book on lighting (mentioned here) and a regular magazine column on the subject. He is also a member here and occasionally stops by to "chat".

Good video as it comes from a good man.

Not a book but a good reference anyway.

I remember taking a look at the VideoMaker Magazine Video tape on lighting. I seem to remember that their editor that writes about lighting was one of the people in that group that seemed to know his stuff.

So you might want to add their video to the list.

I did buy and read Jackman's book. Pretty good stuff. Leaves a few things out but they are at the detail level. Stuff like clear vs frost lamps, how stuff hooks together physically, etc.

But worth the money.

Can anyone recommend a good beginners book or articule on lighting. I'm a newbie when it comes to lighting.

Thanks

That would be John Jackman's, "Lighting for Digital Video and Television."

I have a lot of quibbles with this book, and I don't care for Mr. Jackman's chummy writing style, but that said, there really is nothing in book form that provides such a worthwhile introduction to lighting techniques.

B&H also offers a FREE lighting catalogue that offers some very good tips in the back.

Wayne Orr, SOC

thx wayne, I will stop by BH and pick up a lighting catalogue.

How about Ross Lowell's "Matters of Light and Depth?"

Here are a couple of other sites:
http://www.film-and-video.com/index2.htm Go to "articles and instructions."
http://www.arri.com/infodown/htm/framlig3.htm Scroll down to Download pdf "How to get the most from your new Arri Light Kit"

That Arri link that Wayne provided is a very good one. The brochure's author, Bill Holshevnikoff, is a very practical and experienced fellow. (His site is called Power of Lighting (http://power-of-lighting.com/).) He gives pretty good seminars around the country, often as part of trade shows.

Wayne's earlier point suggesting that books are not necessarily the best place to start (I'm paraphrasing <g>) is actually a good one. Videos, seminars or hanging around experienced crew are the best methods for getting the hang of this subject. Birn & Sawyer has a series of two instructional DVD's on basic lighting. I've just completed a review of them for this site (http://www.dvinfo.net/articles/lighting/tanaka1.php). They're not a bad place to start, although the material is presented in an extemporaneous style.

Ross Lowel's "Matter of Light and Depth" is a great book I think. It also has a series of excercises that you can perform with a small kit - to help you on your way. And I also support John Jackman's book. I found it a great introduction to lighting.

Aaron

thx for all your valuable info, its has been a huge help.

I was wondering if you guys know of any good books on digital cinematography, someone who needs to learn from the start. I've read Scott Billups book, but the subject on digital cinematography is not that covered, and mostly he talks about HD, not miniDV.

I am looking at these 3 books right now, maybe they would be good.

Shooting Digital Video
by Jon Fauer

Digital Cinematography
by Paul Wheeler

Lighting for Digital Video & Television
by John Jackman


Any recommendations that you have?

I did a search in this forum for you since a lot of books etc. have
already been discussed. Please take your time to read the
threads:

http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/showthread.php?s=&threadid=20217
http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/showthread.php?s=&threadid=22487
http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/showthread.php?s=&threadid=15806
http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/showthread.php?s=&threadid=11107
http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/showthread.php?s=&threadid=2158
http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/showthread.php?s=&threadid=4830
http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/showthread.php?s=&threadid=5533
http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/showthread.php?s=&threadid=3707
http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/showthread.php?s=&threadid=415

i know this has been discussed many times, but i still don't know what lighting book to get. i need a book that can tell me lots about lighting ur film.....including the basics. can anyone help?

hello Dylan,
I'm new at all this stuff too but Ive gone through enough books reserching everything that I can make a few recomendations.
If you are just wanting basic lighting info, most books on Digital video have a chapter or section devoted to the basics. Only thing is, it's usually not a whole lot of information. Digital Videos for Dummies (third edition) by Kieth Underdahl is where I started. There is the most basic lighting facts in there. A book that is more in dept would be " Matters of Light and Depth" by Ross Lowell. I can't say anything about the book other than I am trying to get my hands on a copy myself. The interesting thing about this book is that it has been called "essentially practical & practically essential". To me this means a begginer like me can gain from it. Also, this book apparently started as a pamphlet on lighting tips and grew into the book that it is today. Check out this link and see for yourself. http://www.lowel.com/book.html

I also like "Matters of Light & Depth". If you want to get really technical, there is [the] "Set Lighting Technician's Handbook".

I have a book from 1986, Film Lighting by Kris Malkiewicz, that's not super technical and obviously not geared to DV, but it has a bunch of interviews with famous DPs (Caleb Deschanel, Haskell Wexler, James Wong Howe, etc.) explaining techniques they like to use and somewhat how to achieve them. It has plenty of schematic diagrams of lighting setups and stills from the results. Again, it's not going to give you step-by-step instructions for how to light for DV, but it has great info about establishing certain looks or moods from people who have proven themselves in the industry. Some of the technical info in the early chapters is still relevant as well. I've seen many lamps as old or older than those illustrated and discussed in the book (e.g. Peppers, Tweenies, Lowel Omnis and Totas) on sets in the last year even though the book is from the 80s.

I have an interview talking head shoot coming up and I want to light dramatically. Is there a good bible on lighting that would help me out in a pinch?

At the risk of seeming self-promoting, my book "Lighting for Digital Video & Television" has been the top-selling lighting book since it came out in 2002:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1578202515/sr=8-1/qid=1153625367/ref=sr_1_1/103-2393908-9290236?ie=UTF8

Read the reviews for a more objective opinion :^)

"Matters of Light & Depth"by Ross Lowell is also very good.
http://www.lowel.com/book.html

Hey guys. I was wondering whether anyone here wants to sell or knows how I can buy the book "Lighting for Digital Video and Television" by John Jackman. Made an order out at Amazon but was just notified that I can only get it around May which is way too long to wait. Would be glad if anyone can help me out with this. Thaks all. Cheers


Khai

Hi to a fellow member from Singapore!

I can't help you with the book but if the book is good, I believe it's worth the wait. In the meantime, I'm sure you can get similar books at any major bookstores or even libraries!

Hi back to you man. Guess I'll wait if someone else has a solution. Thanks anyway. So you doing camera work too in a production facility?

He is the moderator of the lighting forum on dv.com. You might ask him there.

The Jackman book is good.

Here is a list of similar books :
http://www.webfilmschool.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWCATS&Category=272

this book is ok, for basic stuff, u'll leard all types of lighting and many terms. If you already know that, then you might want to consider buying something more sophisticated