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The new lighting for product photography : the digital photographer's step-by-step guide to sculpting with light / Allison Earnest.

By: Earnest, Allison [author.].
Material type: materialTypeLabelBookPublisher: Buffalo, NY : Amherst Media, [2019]Copyright date: ©2019Description: 127 pages : colour illustrations ; 25 cm.Content type: text Media type: unmediated Carrier type: volumeISBN: 9781682034064 (paperback).Subject(s): Photography -- Lighting | Commercial photographyDDC classification: 778.72 Summary: Allison Earnest guides you through the process of photographing products for commercial applications, demonstrating how to light even the trickiest of shapes and surfaces for accurate, appealing photographs. Step-by-step images and ample setup shots show how theory translates into practice, making it easy to master each technique." - back cover.

Enhanced descriptions from Syndetics:

In the Internet age, shoppers often don't have the advantage of touching or feeling an item in order to make a logical buying decision regarding. The same is true on menus; we have to decide whether or not to order that fancy drink or dessert based on a photograph of it. This makes the job of photographers more important than ever--without the right photos, even the best product won't sell in today's marketplace! In this book, photographer Allison Earnest shows you how to design images to contain all the information about color, depth, shape, and texture that potential buyers will need to evaluate the product using their eyes alone--and how to entice viewers with scene setups and lighting that set the right mood or match the needs of a specific publication, website, or advertising campaign. Comprehensive text and detailed setup shots make it easy to follow along and master the principles of photographing any product beautifully!

Allison Earnest guides you through the process of photographing products for commercial applications, demonstrating how to light even the trickiest of shapes and surfaces for accurate, appealing photographs. Step-by-step images and ample setup shots show how theory translates into practice, making it easy to master each technique." - back cover.

Table of contents provided by Syndetics

  • About the Author (p. 7)
  • Acknowledgments (p. 8)
  • Introduction (p. 9)
  • What to Expect (p. 9)
  • Images are Critical in Buying Decisions (p. 11)
  • The Role of the Photographer (p. 11)
  • Image Capture and Terminology (p. 11)
  • 1 People vs. Products (p. 12)
  • People (p. 12)
  • Products (p. 12)
  • People with Products (p. 13)
  • 2 Art vs. Commercial (p. 14)
  • 3 Light vs. Lighting (p. 16)
  • Light (p. 16)
  • Lighting (p. 16)
  • Qualities of Light (p. 16)
  • Color Temperature (p. 16)
  • Exposure vs. Lighting (p. 17)
  • White Balance vs. Cray Balance (p. 18)
  • Hard or Soft (p. 20)
  • Intensity (p. 20)
  • Metering the Light (p. 21)
  • Reflected-Light Metering (p. 23)
  • Incident-Light Metering (p. 23)
  • 4 Lighting Tools (p. 25)
  • Studio Strobes (p. 25)
  • Modeling Lights (p. 25)
  • Types of Studio Lights (p. 26)
  • Continuous Lights (p. 28)
  • Light Modifiers (p. 28)
  • Soft Light (p. 29)
  • Hard Light (p. 29)
  • Bouncing the Light (p. 29)
  • Blocking the Light (p. 30)
  • Cutting the Light (p. 30)
  • Grip and Support Equipment (p. 31)
  • 5 Beginning Principles of Lighting Products (p. 34)
  • Basic Light Functions (p. 34)
  • Main Light (p. 34)
  • Fill Light (p. 34)
  • Background Light (p. 34)
  • Accent Light (p. 34)
  • Types of Light Sources (p. 34)
  • Soft Sources (p. 34)
  • Hard Sources (p. 35)
  • The Size of the Light (p. 37)
  • Reflected Sources (p. 37)
  • The Angle of the Light (p. 38)
  • Determine the Composition, Add the Light (p. 38)
  • 0 Degrees (p. 38)
  • 45 Degrees (p. 38)
  • 90 Degrees (p. 39)
  • Backlight (p. 39)
  • Top Light (p. 39)
  • Determining the Correct Angle (p. 40)
  • The Subject Is the Active Player (p. 42)
  • Reflecting on the Surface Qualities of Your Subject (p. 44)
  • Diffused Reflection (p. 44)
  • Direct (or Specular) Reflection (p. 44)
  • Polarized Reflection (p. 45)
  • No Reflection (p. 45)
  • Separating the Subject (p. 46)
  • Watch for Tangents (p. 47)
  • A Basic Setup (p. 47)
  • Capture and Exposure (p. 48)
  • 6 Techniques for Single Products (p. 49)
  • Case Study 1: Paper Products (p. 50)
  • How It Was Done (p. 50)
  • Case Study 2: Embossed Foil Paper (p. 53)
  • How It Was Done (p. 53)
  • Case Study 3: Exposing for a Digital Screen (p. 56)
  • How It Was Done (p. 56)
  • Case Study 4: Martini Glass (Black-Line Effect) (p. 59)
  • How It Was Done (p. 59)
  • Case Study 5: Martini Glass (Black-Line Effect with Prop) (p. 62)
  • How It Was Done (p. 62)
  • Case Study 6: Martini Glass (White-Line Effect) (p. 63)
  • How It Was Done (p. 63)
  • Case Study 7: Lit Candle with Embossed Metal Lid (p. 64)
  • How It Was Done (p. 64)
  • Case Study 8: Engraving on Shiny Metal (p. 67)
  • How It Was Done (p. 67)
  • Case Study 9: Black on Black (p. 70)
  • How It Was Done (p. 70)
  • Case Study 10: White on White (p. 74)
  • How It Was Done (p. 74)
  • Case Study 11: Shoes on a White Background (p. 77)
  • How It Was Done (p. 78)
  • Case Study 12: Dragging the Shutter (Ambient with Flash) (p. 80)
  • How It Was Done (p. 81)
  • Dragging the Shutter Technique (p. 83)
  • Case Study 13: Shooting with a Light Tent (p. 84)
  • How It Was Done (p. 84)
  • Case Study 14: Blue Martini with Hot Shoe Flash (p. 88)
  • Case Study 15: Lipstick with Hot Shoe Flash (p. 90)
  • 7 Putting It All Together (p. 91)
  • Case Study 16: Lighting Products for Layout (p. 91)
  • The Problem (p. 91)
  • The Solution (p. 91)
  • Case Study 17: Multiple Products on Black (p. 95)
  • The Problem (p. 96)
  • The Solution (p. 96)
  • Case Study 18: Simulated Sunlight with One Light (p. 98)
  • The Problem (p. 98)
  • The Solution (p. 98)
  • Case Study 19: Gold Leaf Wine Bottle Label (p. 100)
  • The Problem (p. 100)
  • The Solution (p. 100)
  • Case Study 20: Mixed Textures (p. 103)
  • The Problem (p. 103)
  • The Solution (p. 103)
  • A Time for Postproduction (p. 104)
  • 8 Behind the Scenes: Postproduction (p. 106)
  • Case Study 21: Wine Bottles (Combining Products) (p. 106)
  • How It was Done (p. 107)
  • Behind the Scenes (p. 109)
  • TIFF vs. PSD (p. 110)
  • Case Study 22: Blue Martini (Drop Out, Clean Up) (p. 111)
  • Behind the Scenes (p. 111)
  • Case Study 23: Made with a Mission (Outsourcing Postproduction) (p. 114)
  • Behind the Scenes (p. 115)
  • Case Study 24: The Final Challenge (Focus Stacking) (p. 118)
  • How It Was Done (p. 118)
  • Behind the Scenes: Capture (p. 120)
  • Color Temperature (p. 122)
  • Behind the Scenes: Postproduction (p. 122)
  • Conclusion (p. 124)
  • Resources (p. 125)
  • Index (p. 126)

Author notes provided by Syndetics

Allison began her career as a photographer for NASA, where she documented space shuttle landings and experimental aircraft at Edwards Air Force Base in California. She also worked as a medical/advertising photographer at Centinela Hospital, the former hospital of the Lakers, Kings, and Dodgers. Many of Allison's photographs have appeared in magazines and journals. Two of her fashion/people images were nominated, two years in a row, at the Black & White Spider awards. Currently, sheis a Pro Contributor for Lexar Media and writes articles for PPA Magazine. Allison holds a BS in Business Management from the University of Maryland.
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