Review: Anne McKinnell's primer on lighting... excellent!
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 09 14, 2012
Photographer Anne McKinnell's8 Types Of Natural Light That Will Add Drama To Your Photographsis an excellent primer on lighting for the novice, but it's also a good review for those who have been shooting for awhile. She pulls no punches in this short 24-page Kindle edition, and immediately gets right into it with her introduction:"The first step to becoming a better photographer is to understand light. Light is the essential requirement to making a photograph for without light you have only a black canvas."The information here is presented logically and in a straightforward manner, and her topics are well chosen. There are well-chosen photos throughout, and it's surprising how much information the author has packed into this small eBook. As far as the topics go, just check the Table of Contents:> Introduction> Backlight> Sidelight> Frontlight> Reflected Light> Diffused Light> Dramatic Light> Twilight> Night> Your Histogram> ConclusionEarly on, author McKinnell suggests that the reader gather a few of your own favorite images, either as prints or on your computer screen, to get the most out of this eBook. That's excellent advice, as you'll be able to get far more out of this from an interactive analysis than taking the information here as a lecture. And the tips that she offers throughout are quite good, whether you use a basic compact digital camera or the latest DSLR. If you've never used your camera's histogram, you'll understand what it is and why you should use it.I viewed this first on my Kindle 2, but within the first few pages switched to my Kindle Fire, as the color images that Anne McKinnell offers here as examples are often dazzling. It's clear that she understands natural light, and the examples that she offers here back up her words. And peppered throughout are little tips offering practical advice, such using UV and polarizing filters, and carrying extra batteries. She even mentions limiting your discomfort when shooting outdoors in adverse weather: "Wear waterproof shoes and jacket and bring hand warmers and a hat, you get the idea. When you are warm and dry, storms are kind of fun."Anne McKinnell writes in an easy, matter of fact fashion, packing a lot of information in this small book, yet without ever being condescending. Her8 Types Of Natural Light That Will Add Drama To Your Photographsis an excellent primer on lighting for the novice, and as a Kindle freebie, it's highly recommended to digital camera users who want to expand their creativity.9/14/2012