Yet another query on lighting books

Dylan Johns · March 21st, 2005, 03:59 AM

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?

Steve Witt · March 21st, 2005, 09:24 AM

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

Emre Safak · March 21st, 2005, 11:06 AM

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

Zach Mull · March 25th, 2005, 04:23 PM

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.

David Delaney · July 22nd, 2006, 01:40 PM

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?

John Jackman · July 22nd, 2006, 09:32 PM

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/157...290236?ie=UTF8

Read the reviews for a more objective opinion :^)

Morton Molyneux · July 22nd, 2006, 11:08 PM

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

Khairul Amin · March 8th, 2007, 04:27 AM

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

Zulkifli Yusof · March 8th, 2007, 06:24 AM

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!

Khairul Amin · March 8th, 2007, 09:25 AM

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?

Jim Michael · March 8th, 2007, 05:36 PM

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

Gints Klimanis · March 11th, 2007, 11:51 PM

The Jackman book is good.

Here is a list of similar books :
http://www.webfilmschool.com/index.a...S&Category=272

Andzei Matsukevits · April 12th, 2007, 09:39 AM

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

March 21st, 2005, 03:59 AM	#31
Dylan Johns New Boot Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 21	lighting books 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?

July 22nd, 2006, 01:40 PM	#35
David Delaney Trustee Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Niagara Ontario Canada Posts: 1,121	Book on lighting? 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?

July 22nd, 2006, 09:32 PM	#36
John Jackman Great DV dot com Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Lewisville, NC Posts: 78	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/157...290236?ie=UTF8 Read the reviews for a more objective opinion :^) __________________ John Jackman www.johnjackman.com

March 8th, 2007, 04:27 AM	#38
Khairul Amin New Boot Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Singapore Posts: 6	Help needed for Lighting Book 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

March 21st, 2005, 09:24 AM	#32
Steve Witt Major Player Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: kentucky, USA Posts: 429	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

March 21st, 2005, 11:06 AM	#33
Emre Safak Trustee Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Brookline, MA Posts: 1,447	I also like "Matters of Light & Depth". If you want to get really technical, there is [the] "Set Lighting Technician's Handbook".

March 25th, 2005, 04:23 PM	#34
Zach Mull Major Player Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Portland, OR Posts: 273	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.

July 22nd, 2006, 11:08 PM	#37
Morton Molyneux Regular Crew Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada Posts: 98	"Matters of Light & Depth"by Ross Lowell is also very good. http://www.lowel.com/book.html

March 8th, 2007, 06:24 AM	#39
Zulkifli Yusof Regular Crew Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Singapore Posts: 86	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!

March 8th, 2007, 09:25 AM	#40
Khairul Amin New Boot Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Singapore Posts: 6	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?

March 8th, 2007, 05:36 PM	#41
Jim Michael Major Player Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 895	He is the moderator of the lighting forum on dv.com. You might ask him there.

March 11th, 2007, 11:51 PM	#42
Gints Klimanis Inner Circle Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: San Jose, CA Posts: 2,222	The Jackman book is good. Here is a list of similar books : http://www.webfilmschool.com/index.a...S&Category=272

April 12th, 2007, 09:39 AM	#43
Andzei Matsukevits Major Player Join Date: May 2005 Location: Tallinn, Estonia Posts: 300	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