Placing Shadows, Third Edition: Lighting Techniques for Video Production

Book Description

A mix of theory and practical applications, Placing Shadows covers the physical properties of light and the selection of proper instruments for the best possible effect. For the student, advanced amateur, and pros trying to enhance the look of their productions, this book examines the fundamentals and is also a solid reference for tips on better performance.

* Heavily illustrated in full color!

* Covers the fundamental properties of light as well as many tips and tricks

* Includes up-to-date equipment and techniques such as lighting for High Def, HMI lighting, etc.

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Customer Reviews:

No Technique - thin on using shadows for anything.......2007-04-04

Reviewer Joel (CA United States) is 100% correct: This book's description and all of the other reviews are completely misleading. The book is thin on content at this price range and doesn't even truly cover the subject of "Placing Shadows", and, other then building off of a foundation of the standard 3 point lighting system, it doesn't provide any techniques to do anything with shadows at all.

What it does provide is a good easily understood explanation of color and the measurable aspect of temperature along with definitions of the various existing light bulbs, their properties and color temperatures. But if you are at the stage where you're looking to buy a book to help you with using shadows then you should already know everything this book has to offer on this subject. And if not this isn't the book to get it from.

This book is not what I thought it would be as I was expecting some advanced knowledge on creatively using lights to create shadows that would enhance my productions. What I got was a rehash of the basics of illuminating a subject, with illumination as the key word.

If you want to learn lighting for video go get one of the lesser costing setup books that have page after page of diagrams of different sets and the various positions of where the lights should go.

This is not the book to help you learn about using shadow techniques to enhance your production as it is more a book about light bulbs and their color temperatures.

Oh, yeah, the second edition's cover is completely different and looks like a cheeply produced self published paperback book.

Now I have only one question: Where do I get a refund?

Placing Shadows.......2005-12-21

Placing Shadows in an appropriate title for this book. Shadows are the 3rd dimension of lighting ignored by many video professionals. The book explains in depth, the spectrums and characteristics of different types of light. Most books don't go into these explanations except 400 level college video classes. By doing so, it gives a basis to go on to discussing the many assorted manufactures lights and their practical use. Not just hypothetical lighting situations, but actual sets, from office settings to exercise videos. Also acknowledging, every set is completely different and must be lit by what is necessary to create the look you need.
Additionally this book, described how to set up your monitor by using different color bars and using waveform monitors and vector scopes, something that many college graduates were never taught how to do, like ME! If a student learns and retains everything in this book you will be ahead of all you peers and will understand what is being done on a set when they're in the real world of video.

Good info if you want to know how a light bulb is made........2003-08-26

I have a background in photography so using tungsten lighting is not new to me. I thought this book would have more technique then I was led to believe.

It does have some great info on how a light bulb is created and the various parts but is not very fulfilling. this book is not what I thought it would be like and
the reviews from others are misleading.

It goes over various lighting setups, any photography book covers this and skims over ratios. It explains color meters in short detail but it would be great to have more "meat" to hang on to then the author's bad grammar and old sayings. He suggests that you learn by doing. enough about his experiences, show me something I don't know how to do!

If you want to learn lighting for video, this is not the book to buy. If you want to learn about light bulbs and color tempatures of tungsten lights then this book delivers.

I give it a 2 stars because it does have some merit but not in the area of lighting technique. For a really thin book, its not worth the price even if you get a discount.

Puts ligth on the life of beginers and pros.......2002-04-20

I belive this book can be very helpful for people who want to make films, either as a guide to create a nice looking product or as a general idea of how ligth works for the image, this book is a great begeaning in every cinematographer's career.

Great introduction to "Art" of lighting........2001-11-10

As a beginning Videographer I found this book a great introduction to the many different lights and techniques used in obtaining good video. The book is also very current on what is available today. I feel it could have been a little more in-depth, but for the price and length I found it well worth buying and reading. The authors write in a very "readable" style that educates you but doesn't bore you. Highly recommended.

Average customer rating:

Highly recommended
Wow!
Lighting for Television and Film

Lighting for TV and Film, Third Edition
Gerald Millerson
Manufacturer: Focal Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 024051582X

Book Description

Skilful lighting involves a subtle blend of systematic mechanics and a sensitive visual imagination. It requires anticipation, perceptiveness, patience and know-how. But learning through practice alone can take a great deal of time. This book is a distillation of many years' experience, with advice and guidance that will bring successful results right from the start.

Whether you are a student studying lighting techniques in the television, video and film media, or a professional lighting for the camera, this book will be an invaluable aid. Other members of the production team, including camera crews, designers and directors, will also find the information here interesting and useful.

The book concentrates primarily on the fundamental principles of lighting in studios, on location and display, as well as single-camera, small unit production, improvised and economy lighting, and working with limited facilities. Emphasis is also placed on the safety aspects of working with lighting equipment.

Lighting for Television and Film reflects the author's considerable experience of lighting techniques in BBC studios, his teaching and consultancy work.

Gerald Millerson's analytical writings spring from a lifetime's personal experience in the medium, and from his teaching and engineering background. During his career with the BBC, he was primarily associated with studio operations in the Television Service. His lecturing background included courses in TV production at a number of American universities.
His other books for Focal Press are Television Production, TV Scenic Design, Video Production Handbook and, in the Media Manuals series, Effective TV Production, Lighting for Video and Video Camera Techniques.

*A classic and definitive work

*Internationally acclaimed sourcebook

*Reflects current development in lighting technology

Customer Reviews:

Highly recommended.......2006-07-08

This is a marvelous book as an advanced course in lighting. It provides a classic grounding in light effects and light theory. I would characterize it as an intermediate to advanced text book, so it is not a good choice for those just starting out. And while it is chocked full of valuable information, the writting style is very much text book as well, so many people may find the presentation a bit dry. Be aware that the focus is more on television, although most of the advice applies to film as well. If your interest is digital cinema, then this would be a plus for you. The book is also beginning to show it's age in the section on lighting instruments. There are a number of instruments in common use today that are not covered in this book. That information, however, is readily available from manufacturers. Buy this book for it's timeless information on light and its critical importance in the look of TV and film.

Wow!.......2005-05-31

I'm about one third of the way through this book, and I'm really impressed! Most of the information is on lighting, but I'd never realized how important and complicated lighting could be. This book also covers some related topics for creating good looking video -- though I haven't gotten to those yet. The author has a lot of relevant technical expertise, and does a very good job of conveying that knowledge. No previous experience is required, but I wouldn't call this a beginner's book -- the depth of technical knowledge conveyed is impressive. This is a third edition, which tells you that "Lighting for TV and Film" has sold well over many decades.

Lighting for Television and Film.......2001-01-22

This skilfully illustrated book is a practical guide to lighting for television and film. It covers the principals, techniques and equipment involved in lighting for single-camera location shoots, as well as multi-camera studio productions. It is an excellent handbook to help film students understand all aspects of lighting, but can be retained throughout your career in the motion picture industry for reference purposes. It starts off with the basics and gradually moves on to more complicated aspects of lighting. The emphasis is on the practical application of the theory behind lighting. In this respect it is full of examples of common problems and how to solve them in practice. It is clear that this book was written with the knowledge gained from years of practical lighting experience.

Set Lighting Technician's Handbook, Third Edition: Film Lighting Equipment, Practice, and Electrical Distribution

Average customer rating:

A lot of Really Good Info.
Great for beginners or review for experts
A must have, for any D.O.P
Everything you wanted to know about lighting Film and TV but where afraid to ask
Everything I could've hoped for

Set Lighting Technician's Handbook, Third Edition: Film Lighting Equipment, Practice, and Electrical Distribution
Harry Box
Manufacturer: Focal Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0240804953

Book Description

Comprehensive. Detailed. Practical. Set Lighting Technician's Handbook, Third Edition is a friendly, hands-on manual covering the day-to-day practices, equipment, and tricks of the trade essential to anyone doing motion picture lighting. This handbook offers a wealth of practical technical information, useful techniques, as well as aesthetic discussions.

The Set Lighting Technician's Handbook focuses on what is important when working on-set: trouble-shooting, teamwork, set protocol, and safety. It describes tricks and techniques for operating a vast array of lighting equipment including xenons, camera synchronous strobes, black lights, underwater units, lighting effects units, and many others. Since its first edition, this handy on-set reference continues to be widely adopted as a training and reference manual by union training programs as well as top university film production programs. New in the third edition is an expanded resource section, new illustrations and tables, and coverage of new lighting products and techniques for how to use them.

Expanded resources section: websites, unions, chat groups, bulletin boards, etc, plus new illustrations and tables
More advanced, concise, and comprehensive than ever
Coverage of new lighting products and techniques to help you use them

Customer Reviews:

A lot of Really Good Info........2007-06-03

A MUST HAVE for the inside scoop into the Industry.

Great for beginners or review for experts.......2007-05-15

If your planing a career in the motion picture or television business than this book will greatly advance your technical knowledge of the business. If your an old pro at the business the book is great for a quick reference to prepare you for a shoot.

A must have, for any D.O.P.......2007-05-15

This wonderful book, covering all the major areas in lighting, in enough detail to give a solid grounding. w

While it may appear a little too technical for the absolute beginner, it does offer a solid base in knowledge for those with a little experiance wanting to expand their knowledge, and take away plenty of ideas with which they can put to trial on future set's.

If your looking to become a cinematographer; but feel there are gaps in your knowledge, get this book. I believe it to be a must have.

Everything you wanted to know about lighting Film and TV but where afraid to ask.......2007-03-21

Harry C. Box's book on Set lighting for film and TV is the most comprehensive book on the subject. He writes with humor and an insiders knowledge, while taking the time to explain things as though you where a novice. If anyone is considering a career in Film production this is a must read on their list.

Everything I could've hoped for.......2007-03-11

This book is great in that in speaks to all levels. Going over the basics between a baby and a junior all the way up to distribution and specialty lighting, this book will inform the novice and work as a reference for the rest of us.

Most of the second half of the book is all reference charts. It's a great source for planning your next shoot all in one place (for those of us that don't have the luxury of getting half the rental shop to accommodate our needs).

Lighting for Video, Third Edition (Media Manuals)

Average customer rating:

A wonderfully concise guide to what we needed to know
First Step on the Professional Path

Lighting for Video, Third Edition (Media Manuals)
Gerald Millerson
Manufacturer: Focal Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0240513037

Book Description

Enables readers to produce top-grade results whether they are lighting off-the-cuff with a portable compact kit or tackling a major project with an extensive heavy-duty rig. It does not assume technical knowledge or previous experience and after covering
basics it guides readers towards the most effective ways of tackling particular projects, and shows typical professional solutions to everyday situations.

Wide coverage of all aspects of lighting provides an understanding of the techniques involved
Benefit from the inside knowledge and expertise of the author
Easy to understand jargon free step by step guide to tackling everyday situations

Customer Reviews:

A wonderfully concise guide to what we needed to know.......2006-02-13

Jennie Bourne, my partner in producing Future of TV.net, is building an HDV studio in Long Island, and is finding this a highly practical book to help make equipment choices. We're getting extraordinary results with the (amazingly affordable) Sony HDV cameras, but lighting is proving crucial to getting the quality we need. This was recommended as a great book to learn how to get professional results.

What makes this volume special is the writer's success in explaining the key ideas in so few pages. It reminds me of classic computer manuals I've used, including "The C Programming Language" and the original "little Mac Book." Clearly covers the subject with obvious expertise and no excess wordiness.

New eqipment is coming fast and furiously, so we'll also be visiting the shows, checking the stores, and reading the magazines. However, this book is providing great perspective to priniciples that don't change.

First Step on the Professional Path.......2000-06-23

Lighting theory and application are thoroughly discussed in plain language. This is an excellent text for new students and for the more experienced communications professional who needs to learn basic lighting for a quality video product. Techniques such as 3-point lighting, illuminating subjects in natural light (outdoors), and special effects for mood are as relevant today as they were in 1991. The only drawback is that there are some newer lighting products on the market that build on the basics. For that type of information, I suggest you consult trade manuals. This book will educate the novice to intermediate videographer. It will inspire future lighting technicians.

Average customer rating:

Lighting for Video, Third Edition (Media Manuals)
Gerald Millerson
Manufacturer: Focal Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000OPYA6Q

Customer Reviews:

DNAngel meets Robin Hood.......2006-11-24

Saint Tail is the story of a young, Catholic school girl named Meimi Haneoka. By day, she's a perfectly normal girl who worries about fashion, grades, and boys just like everyone else. But at night she becomes Saint Tail: a mysterious theif who, with the help of her friend Seira (a nun-in-training), steals stolen items and returns them to the original owner. Every time she goes on a new mission, she sends a calling card to Asuka Jr, her classmate and rival who is training to be a detective. Asuka Jr is always on the scene of Saint Tail's heists and tries his hardest to catch her.

I started reading Saint Tail back when I was in grade school and have loved the series since. The relationship that Meimi and Asuka Jr share is just so perfectly sweet and innocent that you'll get a cavity just from reading it. Each character has their own perfectly unique personality and with each volume comes new adventures with new life lessons for Meimi and Asuka Jr as they blossom into adulthood.

If you're into such manga as Card Captor Sakura or Sailor Moon, you'll love Saint Tail. This is a great shojo manga and is the perfect addition to any magical girl collection. However, if something like Saint Tail sounds a little too sweet and innocent for you and you want something a little more grown-up, I would reccomend DNAngel. It's a lot like Saint Tail except the main character's a guy named Daisuke who transforms unwillingly into the angel Dark and keeps the items he steals for himself. Daisuke is interested in a girl from school and Dark happens to like her twin. The plot becomes even more complicated when the twin Daisuke likes is interested in Dark and the one Dark likes is interested in Daisuke.

On the whole Saint Tail manga series..........2006-05-03

I remember reading the manga and watching the anime when i was young. So this series really has a deep place in my heart. That said this manga series truly is the epitomy of cute, sugary, and nauxiating shojo style. Generally it will remind you of mangas like Alice 19th or Ceres. Card Captor Sakura is also not so far away from this genre.

this mangas good point lies in its sugary cuteness,likable characters, and all the situations between the theif and the detective. How they will end up being is very obvious, and you probably can tell what will happen on the way pretty easily, but you will also find that it's very hard to to just push this book aside and say that "it sucks." Comedy and the cuteness certainly will keep you flipping you pages through till you reach volume seven and say "that was a fun read." romance also works out really well here as well I thought. I found myself cheering for the main characters in each event though the result was obvious. The characters are likable and attractive and the storyline cheerful.

the negatives? If you expected deep analysis of the psychology of love that you would see in Kare Kano, that is not here. this manga really isn't about depth. But it certainly is about getting you cheer for its chracters. It's length is too long considering its content, but then again it could've gone longer as dragonball which has no depth and perhap no story went on for 42 volumes. If you do not enjoy these cute shojo manga, don't even try reading it. Don't force your self to read it so that you can say this manga sucks. Go read something else i would say. But if you like shojo genre certainly this manga is worth a try.

But even for shojo manga this isn't the best. Among Shojo mangas I enjoy mangas like Kare Kano (Masami Tsuda), Fruits Basket (Natsuki Takaya) or Paradise Kiss (Ai Yazawa) more. New manga "NANA" by Ai Yazawa seem to be promising as well. Card Captor (CLAMP) is certainly better than this one as well. But hey if you already read most 1st rate shojo mangas this one certainly won't be a bad read.

Thereby Hangs a 'Tail'... .......2006-03-13

Saint Tail is the story of a fourteen-year-old Catholic schoolgirl named Meimi Haneoka. At night, she transforms into the intrepid thief Saint Tail, a Robin Hood-like character, stealing things from people who took them unjustly and returning them to their rightful owners, using the power of magic tricks. With the help of her best friend, Seira Mimori, a nun-in-training, Meimi locates the people in peril and saves the day.
However, it's not all that easy. A somewhat high-strung boy at Meimi's school named Daiki Asuka (a.k.a. Asuka Jr.), who wants to be a detective, has been appointed by the mayor to capture Saint Tail, and he is determined to do so. This is somewhat confusing, as Saint Tail is only out to do good deeds, and Asuka Jr. is PERFECTLY AWARE OF THIS, but he still makes a point of trying to capture her. (I think it's that he thinks thieves are unforgivable, but it still doesn't make any sense.)
Asuka Jr. has no idea that Meimi is Saint Tail, because he has never seen her face. (Although at times she has been within perfectly good viewing range of Asuka Jr., so perhaps he is extremely nearsighted.)
Among the other cast members are Manato Sawatari, a reporter for the school paper who does not get on terribly well with Asuka Jr.; Kyoko and Ryoko, a couple of schoolgirls who are friends with Meimi; Genichiro and Eimi, Meimi's parents, who are a magician and a former thief, respectively; and (introduced later on in the series) Lina (Rina?) Takamiya, the mayor's niece, a somewhat formidable girl who attempts to catch Saint Tail as well.

Saint Tail is really nicely done; the art is not only really nice, but the writing can also be really clever and funny. However, sometimes it doesn't make any sense, since certain things aren't explained. (This actually holds true for practically all anime and manga, and it is somewhat frustrating, but it is to be expected.)

Also, sometimes I get really annoyed at some aspects of Meimi and Asuka Jr.'s relationship, in that Asuka Jr. will occasionally act domineering and Meimi will act as if she hasn't any say in their relationship, and she should just do as Asuka Jr. says because he is apparently superior to her.
This really gets on my nerves, but fortunately the rest of the series more or less makes up for it.

In conclusion, Saint Tail is really good, and I'd recommend at least checking it out of the library. I'd also recommend checking out the anime if you like the manga.

This was SO cute!.......2005-11-28

Saint Tail is the sweetest manga I've read. Saint Tail is a book you should defiantly read. This is definitely a girl's book but I've heard of guys reading it. This truly a heart warming story about a girl named Meimi who is a student by day and a thief by night. No she is not the bad thief but a "Robin Hood" for her town. She takes back things that were taking or stolen from the innocent and unknowing. Not only does Meimi struggle with her secret identity she struggles with her schoolwork, love life, and not to mention BOYS! She is helped by a nun in training that tells her about people who need help or someone's problems. This series is definitely books you should have on your bookshelf! Even though they're around ten dollars they're worth your money!!!!!!!!!! This is SOOOO cute and adorable! You just have to have it!!

Saint Tail vol. 1.......2004-12-07

What could I say about this book in one word...FANTASTIC!!!!! In this book it tells you how Saint Tail started to send calling cards to Asuka Jr. This book has many chapters in it but when you read the first chapter it becomes a little too hard to put down this book. The art work in this book is wonderful. Also in this book Megumi Tachikawa has a bonus story, two to be truthful and bonus pictures. I know I like these books and I bet you will to like these too. So trust me and buy this book, better yet buy the whole collection.

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