Lindsay Adler - Shooting in Sh*tty Light: The Top Ten Worst Photography Lighting Situations and How to Conquer Them

The Top Ten Worst Photography Lighting Situations and How to Conquer Them

Lindsay Adler
Erik Valind

Shooting in Sh*tty Light
The Top Ten Worst Photography Lighting Situations and How to Conquer Them
Lindsay Adler and Erik Valind

Peachpit Press
www.peachpit.com

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Peachpit Press is a division of Pearson Education.

Copyright 2013 by Lindsay Adler and Erik Valind

Acquisitions Editor: Ted Waitt
Project Editor: Valerie Witte
Production Editor: Lisa Brazieal
Developmental Editor: Linda Laflamme
Copyeditor: Linda Laflamme
Proofreader: Erin Heath
Composition: WolfsonDesign
Indexer: Rebecca Plunkett
Cover Photo: Lindsay Adler
Cover Design: Charlene Charles-Will
Interior Design: WolfsonDesign

Notice of Rights

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the publisher. For information on getting permission for reprints and excerpts, contact .

Notice of Liability

The information in this book is distributed on an As Is basis, without warranty. While every precaution has been taken in the preparation of the book, neither the authors nor Peachpit shall have any liability to any person or entity with respect to any loss or damage caused or alleged to be caused directly or indirectly by the instructions contained in this book or by the computer software and hardware products described in it.

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Many of the designations used by manufacturers and sellers to distinguish their products are claimed as trademarks. Where those designations appear in this book, and Peachpit was aware of a trademark claim, the designations appear as requested by the owner of the trademark. All other 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. No such use, or the use of any trade name, is intended to convey endorsement or other affiliation with this book.

ISBN-13: 978-0-321-86269-3
ISBN-10: 0-321-86269-4

9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

Printed and bound in the United States of America

To everyone who knows its not the camera that makes the photo. Its the photographer.

To everyone who wants to be a master of their craft.

To all those people who know its the camera that makes a photo great. Just kidding!

Thank you to all my friends and family who stick by my side through lifes ups and downs. Having great people like you in my life provides the stability to know that I can take on anything that comes my way. People like Mom, Dad, Alicia, Lila, Brooke, and more give me the foundation I need to continue to grow and succeed!

A big thank you to the Peachpit team for pushing through this first project together! You embraced my outlandish title and allowed me to be me. I wasnt always easy to work with, but Im excited for this book and to work together on future projects. Thank you to Ted, Linda, and Valerie for helping to bring this book to fruition!

Also, I continue to be blessed with so many people who support and follow my career. Thank you to the thousands of you who keep in touch through social media, at conferences, and in person. Your support allows me to write books like this and travel the world doing what I love. Thank you for allowing me to share and for sharing with me! I sincerely hope this book helps you as you embrace your passion and perfect your craft.

Finally, a huge thank you to Erik Valind. It was fate that we met, and Im glad we have been able to build a personal and professional relationship. Ive enjoyed the late-night book nights filled with ice cream, mac and cheese, and bonding. I love our book baby, and I look forward to seeing our continued success!

Lindsay

A huge thank you to my friends and family for your support over the years as I pursued a career in the creative arts rather than the cubicle. Most of you have stood in front of my camera countless times, helping me hone my craft. You all made it possible, and Im happy to be able to share in this book some of what Ive learned along the way.

To my grandfather, whose career began in WWII while hanging out of an aircrafts bomb bay doors to get the shot, then transitioned into a successful commercial photography career, which enabled him to raise a family. Thank you for showing me that it can be done, and the amount of passion that is required to do so, no matter what genre.

To my mom, for encouraging creativity in the home, and for always sharing yours with the world. Without your love of sharing photography and letting me borrow your old cameras, who knows where Id be today?

To my dad, a voracious reader. Seeing you with a book in hand every evening must have left an impression. There was never a shortage of reading material in the house or want for a recommendation on what to pick up next.

To Alicia, my biggest fan. Weve been friends forever, but Im most thankful for your love and tireless support over the last three years. Youve pushed me to be better in life and photography. Your sunshine and positive influence can be seen in both.

To Lindsay Adler, a great friend and incredible photographer! It has been a blast working together with you on this book-building adventure. Heres to many more years of being photo friends, other new and exciting projects, weathering creative challenges together, and the fun photos that they will all produce!

Finally, thank you to everyone who helped in creating the countless images for this book, the entire crew at Peachpit Press, and our editors: Ted, Linda, and Valerie. You embraced a unique title, and it has been a pleasure working together to bring it to fruition. Im excited for our first completed project together, and to empower photographers in their battle in overcoming sh*tty light.

Erik

As photographers, we all fantasize about capturing that perfect shoot under the ideal lighting conditions. Nothing feels better than clicking the shutter knowing that you have captured that beautiful scene. Perhaps you show up to a portrait session with the sun low in the sky, creating a heavenly glow of light around your subject. She is tall, slender, and in a flowing dress on the beach as waves crash behind her. Sometimes you really do have those striking visuals in front of you, just waiting to be recorded.

Other times, reality is not so pleasant, even bordering on brutal. You show up to the midday shoot to find harsh sunlight with no shade in sight and a concrete building for a background. Or perhaps the event youre photographing is indoors lit by sickly green, overhead fluorescent lights.

The reality can sometimes be miserable, but your images dont have to be. You cant always control everything on your shoot, but as portrait, wedding, and fashion photographers, lighting is an essential ingredient we must master.

Think of Shooting in Sh*tty Light as your survival guide for terrible lighting situations. No longer will you feel overwhelmed or confused when approaching challenging or unpleasant lighting. We, Lindsay and Erik, are here to demystify the light and give you practical, effective solutions to common lighting challenges. Whether youre a beginning photographer or experienced professional, this book will help you feel confident in creating quality images no matter how undesirable the light you encounter. You will know how to assess the scene and use your photographic toolbox to take control if it.