The Flash Book: How to fall hopelessly in love with your flash, and finally start taking the type of images you bought it for in the first place (The Photography Book, 6)

This book does a good job of covering the proper use of flash equipment both in the studio and in the field. If you choose to buy this book, be aware that a lot of the book is about studio lighting, so if you don't do or plan to do any studio work these parts of the book will be less valuable to you. There's enough about in-the-field lighting to be useful to you if you don't do studio work.If you study (and not just read) this book and endeavor to apply the ideas the author presents (and you're willing to do a lot of trial-and-error effort) you'll get a good grounding in how to use a flash, or multiple flashes, to create beautifully lit photographs.There are many recommendations on equipment to use and equipment not to use and these discussions are quite helpful. The good news here is that a good flash setup can be put together without breaking the bank. The reader will have to decide which equipment is a good fit for his or her photographic needs.That said, there are a few oddities in the book...On page 48 there's an odd and confusing discussion about adjusting the brightness of the flash by changing the flash power (no doubt about this) and by changing the f stop, which, of course changes the brightness of the flash and of the entire image.Also, there is a discussion about how to balance flash illumination and background illumination beginning on page 88, and another discussion of the same subject that begins on page 172. These discussions are for all intents and purposes the same. Good ideas, though.I recommend this book to the user who is willing to spend some time understanding and trying the techniques described.

Liked: Simple approach to using flash.Disliked: Writing style. The author made it clear at the beginning that the introduction to each chapter was going to be an attempt to be funny, and that one could skip each of these introductions without losing anything of importance. That was certainly true. But throughout the book the author kept trying to be funny. He may be a "best selling author of photography technique books" but as a comedian he fails miserably.It seems to me that the same information could have been conveyed in a short blog post. Here's a short summary ... perhaps it will save you from having to spend the money:1) Use manual mode, not TTL. Use a RF (radio) wireless trigger.2) Get the flash unit off the hot shoe ... unless you are bouncing light off the ceiling (or a wall behind you).3) Set the ISO to the lowest "natural" setting for your camera, try a shutter speed of 1/125 or so, and an aperture of about 5.6. Take a test shot to get the background as you want it ... perhaps a bit under-exposed.4) Turn the flash on and adjust the power (output) as needed. Take test shots.5) Change the shutter speed to adjust the background.6) Change the aperture (and the flash power setting) to adjust the effect of the flash.7) Change the ISO to adjust both bg and fg.8) Position the flash to come in at about 45 degrees and from the same side as the natural lighting.9) If you want to lug around a pile of stuff to make you look like an important photographer, bring in stands, soft boxes, and extra flashes. (He said nothing about using bounce cards -- e.g., Demb -- but they are often all you need.)10) Use gel filters on the flash to adjust the color. The cold-white of the flash doesn't work well for outdoor fill.One last thing. Ignore what the author says about the meaning of "ISO". Look it up on the web and forget what he said.

Don't get me wrong, there is some useful advice in this book. However, it is mixed in with a great deal of useless blathering and many pages of set up for insipid "jokes." Most of the photographs are completely unnecessary, and there is a lot of information missing (like how to actually set up your light stands, attach items, etc. The author recommends a large number of items to buy, and yet includes on vague reasons as to why you should purchase these items, and what to use them for if one does.If you took out the pointless stuff, this book would be a pamphlet. If you can find a used copy for about $5, go ahead and pick it up. It is not worth anything close to the cover price.

We should start with aperture 5.6 and exposer time 1/125... Sounds good, still. is not working for most circumstances. The best photographs (from National Geographic) like Joel Sartore, Bob Krist recommend choose on your camera 1 to 2 stops down of the ambient light... otherwise, we get that awful shadows when we use flashes... Don't make raccoon eyes (Joel Sartore) this means we go with our flashlight on the height of the eyes and not that stupid approach 45 degrees down from above the head because we need then a reflector or a second flashlight from the bottom up. Joel Sartore has for this case one softbox with a flashlight in one hand and shooting with the other hand... Or do you have always an assistant? And the biggest joke is when he recommends his configuration with 3 flashlights.. 2 flashlights left and right from the behind to middle and then one flashlight 45 down from above the head... And even his pictures from that configuration look awful... It is easier to write a book than to do awesome photographs....

This is an excellent reference for flash photography that addresses several typical situations. It provides several equipment options that will meet your budget.The only recommendation would be the addition of a one page checklist for each situation. This would be a quick reference for setup and also a quick reference for addressing specific issues.

Scott is probably the most prolific writer of our time on the subject of photography and Adobe Photoshop. He knocks out another winner in this new book which is an outstanding approach to flash photography that will change the way most enthusiasts approach lighting. Interesting, witty and an easy read for photographers at any level. Highly recommended!!!

To be honest, this is a poor book. Scott spends 260 pages telling you over and over again what could be said in ten pages. He coaxes, tinkers and plays with the reader slowly, slowly revealing 5 basic things about settings to improve your flash photography. What is so great about his tips books on photography are all the little tricks of the trade and basic things folk often overlook when making photographs. He dispels the didactic that to be a great photographer you need a] expensive gear and b] an encyclopaedic knowledge. Whereas in THIS book, he does little of that. To be honest, he's already covered most of the subject in his 'series'.A thorough disappointment. Photos and diagrams of light positions would have been helpful, but good luck everyone. Armed with a flashgun and a digital camera, makes mistakes and soon you will learn.

This book contains lots of clear explanations ( including pictures) explaining how to set up flashguns, following up with advice and equipment recommendations for mounting the flash off-camera. He describes how to use flashguns on location and in the studio, briefly covering scenarios including room interiors as well as portraits and events.It even has tips on how to make your portrait subject look their best and "how to get this shot" recipes. Even if you don't like Scott Kelby's chatty informal writing style, there is much useful practical information here. It's designed for readers with all levels of camera experience, but who are less confident with flash. If you're unsure about flash in any way or need to branch out a little, this is a tremendously useful book.

I agree with an other reviewer - I found the chatty, pally writing very irritating. The writer is not the friend of the reader - just explain what you want to say in a straightforward fashion. I found the explanation of the clock face thoroughly confusing (page 71)- a diagram might have been a better way of explaining the position of the light. Surely the photographer is at 6 o'clock or else the clock face is upside down. Just a very peculiar way of explaining something quite simple. On a positive point - covering the various aspects on a page by page basis is an excellent idea.

I LIKE EVERY PHOTOGRAPHER HAS BOUGHT FLASH GEAR AND NEVER USED IT. AFTER READING THIS BOOK. I AM USING FLASH ON AND OFF CAMERA ON DIFFERENT SUBJECTS WHILE LOCKDOWN IS ON. I HAVE SEVERAL BOOKS BY THIS AUTHOR. AGAIN HE HAS PUT THE SUBJECT IN A LOGICAL SEQUENCE. IAM A SILVER SURFER AND CAN UNDERSTAND HOW TO SET UP MY EQUIPMENT WITHOUT CONFUSION.EXCELLENT PUBLICATION

If Scott had confined his writing to actually telling prospective Users HOW to use and set up flash Kit, rather than waste space with idiot-level attempts at humour, it would be worth recommending.However in this form, the book continues to annoy, and I can't recommended it.