Making Light – a Craft & Vision review

This is my first review of a Craft & Vision ebook as an affiliate, though don’t let the potential reward all your purchases made sway you. I have been reading ebooks from this series from the very beginning, and will tell you honestly what I think of them.

I think it appropriate that my first review be for “Making Light 2: Advanced Use of Off-Camera Flash” by Piet Van Den Eynde. Since I consider myself a bit of a flash guy too; if by nothing more than volume. This is the second book in Mr. Van Den Eynde’s series, and if you’d like to try the first one you’re welcome to pick it up in the store, or even buy the two of them at a hot deal price of $8. The one thing I can consistently say about the C&V books is that you’ll get your money’s worth.

Mr. Van Den Eynde (may I just call him Piet?), picks up where his first book left off… which I didn’t read actually (but I will, I promise). Piet starts this book talking about something I’ve been working very hard on myself, breaking the sync speed. If you didn’t know your camera had a sync speed or what that means this book already isn’t for you – go back to book one.

If you’re interested in pushing your flashes beyond just “off camera” Piet takes you through the steps, explaining the relationship of light, aperture, shutter speed, and it’s effects on images, often with basic samples anyone could take (but also incredible images he’s created himself).

Piet is both a masterful photographer and a skilled teacher. Explaining with ease (at least to me, though I get the lingo) some of the more complex possiblites capable of using multiple flashes. Of note for myself, is using shadow and fill to interplay to create drama and depth in an otherwise two dimensional image.

His methods vary, but are incredibly affordable given the abyss of gear that photographers know all to well, but maybe that’s why he’s writing for the Craft & Vision series, after all: Gear is good, vision is better. Though, don’t worry, there is a gear section for you to load up your B&H shopping carts. He even brings up my beloved Quadra pack *sigh*.

Piet’s dance photographs are a joy to look at, and make me consider incorporating more motion into my work – as well as teaching us all how to capture that motion with off-camera flash.

If you’re new to flash I strongly suggest you pick up the first book or two-pack. But if you have a basis in off-camera flash already (like with your speedlights) than this book is a great way for you to get a few new ideas taking it all to another level.

You can get “Making Light 2” for $4 until 11:59pm PST October 24th, 2011 by using the coupon code MAKINGLIGHT4. (why not makinglight2?)

Posted on Wednesday, October 19th, 2011 at 8:01 pm. Filed under: Review RSS 2.0 feed.