Great lighting book recommendation

I don't know about you, but the only thing I have bought more of (and been more disappointed by) than camera bags, is books about lighting. Just got a book that makes up for all the rest of the ones I've read.

Steve Bavister, Lighting for Portrait Photography

Unlike most books, all the pictures are NOT his, which means that you get examples of a very wide range of styles and approaches instead of a tremendous amount of detail on how one photographer views the world. For each picture, you get a discussion of why the approach was chosen, a diagram of the layout, shooting info, and a big full page image. The portrait examples are a bit on the "hipper than hip" side - I can't remember the last time I saw so many cross processed images in one place - but you get to see an amazing amount of creativity with relatively modest setups.

Don't usually get so enthusiastic about "how to" photography books. This one is different.

 

Physics of light definitely good to know

When I studied stage lighting in undergrad and grad school, we were forced to learn all kinds of physics of light, and it is something that I use every day, and not just when I'm controlling the light. It's given me an excellent feel for what to expect in terms of color and texture of light in any given situation, and how to find a place with the color and texture I want, if I'm not seeing what I want.

I'm going to check the book out. But I'll add, as a general recommendation that theatrical lighting books have awesome info on the physics of lighting, and delve into the emotional impact of different types of light, something that no photographic lighting book ever does. Understanding the best light for sorrow, or hope, or other emotional states, can be pretty useful, at least in understanding whether you're shooting against the grain...