Studio Anywhere 2: Hard Light: A Photographer’s Guide to Shaping Hard Light

283 Pages·2017·32.28 MB·English

by  Nick Fancher

STUDIO ANYWHERE 2
HARD LIGHT
A Photographer’s Guide to Shaping Hard Light
NICK FANCHER
STUDIO ANYWHERE 2: HARD LIGHT
A Photographer’s Guide to Shaping Hard Light
Nick Fancher
nickfancher.com
Project editor: Ted Waitt
Project manager: Lisa Brazieal
Marketing manager: Jessica Tiernan
Editor: Linda Laflamme
Layout and type, original edition: Holly Beal Malone
Layout and type, updated edition: Kim Scott, Bumpy Design
Cover design: Kim Scott, Bumpy Design
Proofreader: Aaron Taylor
ISBN: 978-1-68198-226-7
1st Edition (1st printing, January 2017)
© 2017 Nick Fancher
All images © Nick Fancher unless otherwise noted
Rocky Nook Inc.
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San Rafael, CA 94901
USA
www.rockynook.com
Distributed in the U.S. by Ingram Publisher Services
Distributed in the UK and Europe by Publishers Group UK
Library of Congress Control Number: 2016950965
All rights reserved. No part of the material protected by this copyright notice
may be reproduced or utilized in any form, electronic or mechanical, including
photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system,
without written permission of the publisher.
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distinguish their products are claimed as trademarks of their respective
companies. Where those designations appear in this book, and Rocky Nook was
aware of a trademark claim, the designations have been printed in caps or initial
caps. All product names and services identified throughout this book are used in
editorial fashion only and for the benefit of such companies with no intention of
infringement of the trademark. They are not intended to convey endorsement or
other affiliation with this book.
While reasonable care has been exercised in the preparation of this book, the
publisher and author assume no responsibility for errors or omissions, or for
damages resulting from the use of the information contained herein or from the
use of the discs or programs that may accompany it.
This book is printed on acid-free paper.
Printed in China
This book is dedicated to those who won’t let obstacles stand in the way of their dreams. Keep pushing and
fighting, ignoring the haters. Don’t look back, and never stop learning.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
I’d like to begin by acknowledging Valerie Witte and the folks at Peachpit Press
who green-lit this project from the beginning. Sadly, due to layoffs at Pearson, of
which whom Peachpit is a subsidiary, the project was nixed. I’d like to thank
Ted Waitt at Rocky Nook for seamlessly transitioning the project from draft to
print.
I couldn’t have done it without the support of my wife Beth. I also need to call
out Linda Laflamme, my editor, Holly Beal Malone, my designer, and Aaron
Taylor, my proofreader, for helping me on this book, as well as Kim Scott at
Bumpy Design and Lisa Brazieal, the Project Manager at Rocky Nook. You
added a wonderful polish to this project.
Finally, thank you to all the readers of Studio Anywhere . Your enthusiasm
around the book has exceeded my expectations. Continue to tag your images
#studioanywhere so I can see what you’re up to. It really makes all of this
worthwhile.
—Nick
CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION WHY HARD LIGHT?
Hard Versus Soft
The Great Light Hype
Smoke And Mirrors
Demystifying Light
Traveling Light
Intentional Light
CHAPTER 1 SHAPING AVAILABLE
Looking For Light In All The Places
Don’t Go All Soft On Me
Going Blind(s)
Pro Tip: Hack Your Reflector
CHAPTER 2 SHAPING FLASH
Flash On A Hot Shoe
Through The Window Glass
Raked Over Walls
Modifier Options
Light Placement
Variety Is The Spice Of Life
Making A Scene
CHAPTER 3 AMBIENT BALANCE
Daytime: Outdoors
Daytime: Indoors
Evening: Indoors
Evening: Outdoors
Pro Tip: Smartphone Photography
CHAPTER 4 LIGHT BILLIARDS
Money In The Bank
In A Tight Spot
Getting Into Shape
Making A Scene
CHAPTER 5 FAKING THE SUN
Ethereal Light
Lens Flare
Maximizing One Light
Neither Rain, Nor Snow . . .
Pro Tip: Finding Inspiration
CHAPTER 6 LONG EXPOSURES
Percussive Light
Painterly Light
Making A Scene
CHAPTER 7 PAINTING WITH SHADOW
Shoot The Fork Up
Multiple Shadows
Pro Tip: Staff Versus Freelance
CHAPTER 8 COLORED GELS
Color Theory
Anaglyph 3D
Additive Color
Making A Scene
CHAPTER 9 GOBOS
Making A Gobo
Finding A Gobo
Pro Tip: Projecting An Air
EPILOGUE
What Now?
Making A Scene: Answers
INTRODUCTION
WHY HARD LIGHT?
First off, let me preface by stating what this book is not . This book is
not strictly hard light scenarios. Though it is mainly focused on
scenarios using hard light, this book does include a few scenarios that
involve mixing in a soft light source or softening an otherwise hard
light source, so don’t email to inform me of this “oversight.”
Secondly, this book isn’t a manual. As a matter of fact, I rarely even
read manuals. Even Ikea instruction manuals, which are chock full of
helpful illustrations, barely get a glance from me. I’d rather dive right
in and figure it out as I go. What this book is, however, is a
compilation of techniques, hacks, and tips that I’ve figured out or
picked up over the years that build upon the techniques discussed in
my previous book.
The main reason I rarely read manuals is that I am extremely
impatient. Whenever I am buying a new piece of gear, it’s because I
have thought about it and worked up to it for a while, so by the time
the package arrives in the mail, the last thing I want to do is sit and
read about it. I tear open the packaging, load up the batteries, and start
shooting. Many times this results in my failure; I miss some important
feature or do things out of order and have to backtrack. This
haphazard manner of working isn’t for everyone, but it allows me to
figure things out in my own way and to discover some wonderful,
unconventional ways of doing things.
Nor is this book a glorified list of a bunch of gear you need to buy, which you
may not be able to afford anyway, and it’s not meant to be an exhaustive guide
to hard light, either.