Does anyone know of some good resources on how to lighting? I have searched the internet and these forums. I have come up with a coupole of articles here and there. I have also found a bunch of books, but which one to get? and videos?
~Thanks
Matt

I'm not a lighting expert as 99% of the time I use ambient, outdoor lighting. The reason is that I'm a wildlife videographer. Capturing nature in natural (not artificial) light is one important aspect of what I do.

However, I am learning more about studio and field lighting so that I can venture into other video forms (shorts, etc) in the future.

Here is a DVD (not book) that should give you the essentials:

http://www.vasst.com/product.aspx?id=d36b1c4e-0bad-4e52-ae18-51b10f22fcfd

I cannot say if it's the best book on the subject. The true experts here will be able to comment on that!

When I was starting out I got "Lighting for Digital Video & Television" by John Jackman and thought it gave a very good overview of not only how to light, but why.

Good luck.

Also check out Ross Lowell's "Matters of Light and Depth." Back in print on Amazon.

I have both Ross Lowell's "Matters of Light and Depth" and "Lighting for Digital Video & Television" by John Jackman. Lighting for Digital Video & Television is a very practical book and goes into a lot of detail on how to light and the why part.
It gives technical information for how to light (what you need, how to power the lights without blowing fuses, safety) and how to do it on a low budget.
It also gives "formula" solutions for common lighting scenarios, like interviews.

Matter's of Light and Depth doesn't really get into that kind of information. It has more of a focus on expanding your creativity and artistry in lighting.

This Book Will Show You The Math

Then You Can Do Some Cyphering

I found the jackman book pretty useful. It might be especially helpful to read it to familiarize oneself with the basics, and then a stack of American Cinamatogapher magazines- an experiance which is far more rewarding when you know what an inky, a c-47, or a practical is.

"Lighting for Digital Video & Television" by John Jackman and Ross Lowell's "Matters of Light and Depth." are an absolute must for anyoune learning the techinques of lighting. Both very well written. A third that you could add to your collection would be "Set Lighting Technicians's Handbook" by Harry C. Box. This is the beginers guide to becoming a gaffer.
steve

Matt,

Similar opinion as Glen's above.

I REALLY like the John Jackman book. I've also seen him around here in these forums, which I think is cool. I bought "Matters of Light and Depth" and "Painting with Light" at the same time, which seem to be good as well. But John's book "Lighting for Digital Video & Television allows you to jump right in. I've been reading it every chance that I've had. He's a good writer and covers it all.

I have read all the above (and many more) and agree they are very useful. However the purchase I made that really helped me the most is the "Power of Lighting for Film and Video" series by Bill Holshevnikoff.

I think the reason I found it soooo helpful was the fact it was a visual demonstration of what I had learned from all those books. I think most of us are visual learners and this series puts it all together on screen for you. It includes lighting diagrams with all different kinds of lights from Lowel Pro lights to Arri HMI's. Meaning, this applies to the little light kit I have as well as the full gaffer truck. Just the little stuff like watching how a flag or scrim is set to control spill was huge for me. Yeah, I understood it all from reading, but after seeing it just once on the screen it really gelled for me. Maybe I am a dope but seeing works for me.

It is a four VHS (yuck) series. The cheapest I have found it is $100 from

http://www.konalight-shoppingcart.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc

Hope that helps

Mike

I agree. Bill is great.

He has tapes and does seminars. dvexpo ect.

I passed along your compliment to him

r

I agree. Bill is great.

He has tapes and does seminars.

Could he perhaps produce a DVD version?

I think he is working on some new stuff inc dvd

Bill is great. He used to write an article for a video magazine some years ago, and I clipped every one and keep them in a binder. For a long time when I'd get ready to do a shoot, I would refer to one of thearticles to get a rough idea of how to approach a lighting situation.

I met him at a seminar in 1999, and asked why he didn't print a "how-to" book. He said that the magazine owned all of the articles. Darn.

Even better- talked my work into sending me to The Workshops in Maine to their "advanced Lighting" seminar. Absolutely, hands down, no doubt about it one of the most creatively envigorating, nuts and bolts, hands-on, in depth seminar around. It gave me a basic precept to approach all lighting. It was a simple thing, but a light went on (ha-pun) and it's been helpful every since. You are there with a group of peers- all interested in the same thing. When you go to eat- you are surrounded by creative people writing, talking, photographing, planning-creating. Really inspiring. Highly recommend them to anyone who can swing the tuition.

Jeff Patnaude

Walter Graff is currently creating a DVD series on lighting. See
http://www.bluesky-web.com/dvd1headshot.htm

But be aware that Walter sometimes changes his mind about things.

Being curious about lighting myself, I checked out Bill Holshevnikoff's site [http://www.power-of-lighting.com/] after having read this thread. I watched the preview to one of his videos and liked it. I then e-mailed him and asked whether he will be releasing a DVD (PAL) version of his videos. He replied that by September his videos should be available in PAL on DVD - I take it this will be true for the NTSC version as well.

Here's a quote from a review over at Digital Producer.com http://www.digitalproducer.com/articles/viewarticle.jsp?id=25346

"Off the top of my head I can only think of about three training video series that cover basic lighting for video. At NAB 2004 the list got both longer and shorter. Longer in the sense that there are now more videos available, and shorter in the sense that there is now one video I recommend for those wanting to know the basics of lighting for video."

He reviews the DV Enlightenment DVD (http://www.dvcreators.net/products/dv_enlightenment.html) from DVcreators.net

I would also recommend Ross Lowel's book, "Matters of Light and Depth"

I just got this in the mail today. I ordered it after seeing the XL2 video that you guys (DVcreators.net) made. If no one minds, I'll post my comments to this link after I watch it. By the way, you guys do a nice job on your on-line product demo's.

Please keep in mind that I'm pretty new to this so my opinion is from a novice viewpoint.

This DVD was exactly what I needed. I think I'll probably watch it a couple more times and know that it will have a permanent place in my office. Watching this stuff is soooooo much easier than reading about it. Since everyone in this forum shoots video, I don't have to explain the advantages of watching a DVD vs. reading from a book.

I think I'll be able to make better decisions on what kind of lights to purchase and how to use them as well. I would imagine that I'll be referring back to this DVD when I start shooting with my XL2.

Thanks.

I just started reading Jackman's book and I'm really impressed. I think it's one of my better book buys in the last few months.

Walter Graff is currently creating a DVD series on lighting. See
http://www.bluesky-web.com/dvd1headshot.htm

But be aware that Walter sometimes changes his mind about things.

Not this time! The first in a series of DVDs that teach film style lighting is now available on my site at a price anyone can afford. It's called "The Vignette series" and in the first one I spend an hour showing you how to light heads like there is no tomorrow. You might ask how can a head-shot teach me anything? Well it's the foundation for everything you do. When you can do this right, it's amazing what the other possibilities are. It's kind of like the gateway to all lighting.

After reading through this thread a couple days ago, I was working to convince my employer/producer that he might pick-up one of the mentioned videos to help educate members of our staff, such as myself, who dont have a CLUE about lighting stuff.

His reply was that althese lighting videos were a scam produced to sell specific lights from specific manufacturer(maybe they would say these 'looks' could only be achieved with specific parts?). His claim didnt make sense to me. Aren't lighting concepts pretty 'transferable' between the various manufacturers' models?

Any reply to this?

I've seen two DVD's so far and neither encouraged me buy a specific brand. And actually one of them even encouraged the viewer to take advantage of how far technology has come by making your own lights with common items found at a hardware store.

The two DVD's that I watched both focused on the "how to's" of lighting for various shooting environments.

Before seeing these DVD's I was thinking that I was going to have to spend quite a bit on lighting. I thought that the more I spent, the better it would look. I've now realized that was not the right way to think.

Now I'll probably spend about a third of what I had originally planned.

I needed to hear that, thank you.

stefan

I purchased the 1st in the series a couple of days ago... haven't received it yet.

I always purchase new material for my library... unless they are very poorly done, it is always a good investment to build your database :-)

Hey guys, I'm pretty new to this forum. Today I went to get the Jackman book and I enjoyed it too. It's been pretty helpful so far. Thanks for the recommendation guys!

Thanks to everyone who has posted, I think Iam going to grab some books and DVDs ya'll recommended. Thanks to everyone's comments and everyone with future comments, ya'll have been a great help.
~Matt

I received Walter's dvd a couple of days ago, and I must say it is very informative. He covers a lot of information with practical applications to video and film. He shows you the equipment he is using to get his results as well. He shows how to break away from the standard hard 3-point lighting setup and use a minimum of lights to get pleasing results for both men and women. I highly recommend this video. It would be an invaluable resourse to those just starting out with video and an enlightment possibly to those who are stuck lighting the same way for every shoot. I can't wait to see his next one. Kudos to Walter!

Matt,

You are welcome. Glad to help. 1,300 views of "Learning Lighting," wow.

I just got Walter's DVD as well. Looking forward to it even more after reading the comments above.

Zach's write up is accurate. I will be buying the next DVD Walter releases.