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Off-Camera Flash: Techniques for Digital Photographers Paperback – April 1, 2011

4.5 out of 5 stars 147 ratings

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Rather than focusing on the gear needed to use off-camera flash, this specialized resource hones in on the techniques needed—addressing photographers’ most common questions and providing practical examples of off-camera flash used on real assignments. Seeking to address the various challenges of off-camera lighting, professional photographers and advanced amateurs alike will find a range of confidence-building instruction, beginning with basic how’s and why’s of lighting for creative effect, the types of equipment available and instruction about their proper use, clear definitions of various technical concepts such as managing shutter speed and controlling flash exposure, using ambient light as well as natural sunlight during a shoot, and incorporating off-camera flash into a portrait session. Concluding this lesson plan is a look at five different real-life photo sessions, each employing a different flash technique. Here, photographers get a deeper understanding of each concept put into practice, marrying the elements of lighting with the natural elements presented by the shoot.
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Editorial Reviews

Review

"The best book I have read on the subject of shooting with your Speedlight on your hot shoe." —www.WeeklyPhotoTips.blogspot.com on On-Camera Flash Techniques for Digital Wedding and Portrait Photography

"This is the book you've been waiting for." —www.RonMart.blogspot.com

"van Niekerk explains everything you need to know about properly using a flash to capture the best possible image each and every time." —
Shutterbug

"Will definitely help you improve your off camera flash technique and ultimately your photography." —www.EPhotoZine.com

"This book is interesting and educational." —www.PortlandBookReview.com

About the Author

Neil van Niekerk is a professional photographer and the author of "On-Camera Flash Techniques for Digital Wedding""and""Portrait Photography." He lives in Wayne, New Jersey.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Amherst Media
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ April 1, 2011
  • Edition ‏ : ‎ Illustrated
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 125 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1608952789
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1608952786
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.09 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 8.53 x 0.41 x 10.99 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.5 out of 5 stars 147 ratings

About the author

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Neil van Niekerk
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I'm a wedding and portrait photographer based in northern New Jersey, and I also maintain a website for photographers which contains numerous articles on flash photography and various aspects of digital photography.

http://neilvn.com/tangents/

My interest in this wonderful medium started when I was still in high school. That would be in the late 70's, if you're trying to gauge the longevity of my interest in photography.

I am originally from Johannesburg, South Africa, but I emigrated to the USA in 2000. I am now a resident of New Jersey, USA, where I live with my wife and daughter.

I love photography for a variety of reasons. The stimulation and excitement of responding to new situations satisfies both my analytical and creative sides, and I also truly love working with people. I get real pleasure from sharing the happiness with the people that I photograph, and knowing that I'm creating images that will evoke wonderful memories for a lifetime.

Customer reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars
147 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find this photography book well-written and easy to understand, with clear explanations of off-camera flash techniques and polished lighting methods. Moreover, the book serves as an excellent resource for photographers, with one customer noting how each chapter covers specific situations. Additionally, they appreciate the value for money, with one mentioning it's a must-have for off-camera flash photography.

41 customers mention "Ease of use"41 positive0 negative

Customers find the book easy to use, with well-explained techniques and good information, making it a great reference book.

"...This is because the information presented keeps building on itself, and further progresses into new learning challenges...." Read more

"...It is full of practical applications and situations that you will certainly run into, and how best to deal with them when you do...." Read more

"...The author is an excellent photographer, very well known in professional circles, and an expert on flash gun/strobe lighting...." Read more

"...The explanations are clear and concise. The examples photos shows the explanations...." Read more

31 customers mention "Value for money"31 positive0 negative

Customers find the book to be worth the money, with one customer noting it is to the point and another mentioning it's a quick read.

"This is one of the best books I have read on off camera flash...." Read more

"...book is excellent in giving details, lucid explanations, and superb, real world examples...." Read more

"Another wonderful book by Neil...." Read more

"...This text is does just that; it's quite good. I appreciate that it is an easy, and straightforward read...." Read more

18 customers mention "Photography content"18 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the photography content of the book, describing it as excellent and the best off-camera flash photography book, with one customer noting how the examples illustrate the explanations.

"...of the photograph/portrait. Plenty of portrait results (bad and good), augment the detailed explanation...." Read more

"...Flash, Neil explains in detail his knowledge and his vast experience with photography, in this case with the use of off-camera flash...." Read more

"...The explanations are clear and concise. The examples photos shows the explanations...." Read more

"...His shots are gorgeous and that is helped a lot by the beautiful women he uses as models...." Read more

18 customers mention "Writing quality"15 positive3 negative

Customers find the writing of the book clear and straightforward, with one customer noting it is illustrated with beautiful examples.

"...Van Niekerk',s book is excellent in giving details, lucid explanations, and superb, real world examples...." Read more

"...The author is very knowledgable (a characteristic many authors have)...." Read more

"...Mr. van Niekerk certainly knows his stuff and writes very well. If you are looking for a good read while sitting on the toilet, this is it...." Read more

"...This book is written clearly and illustrated with beautiful examples to reinforce Neil's philosophy and approach using speedlights off camera...." Read more

16 customers mention "Off camera flash"16 positive0 negative

Customers find this book to be the best resource on off-camera flash photography, with one customer noting that the concepts are crystal clear.

"...Ambient, reflective, incident light are explained. How each aspect of your camera's exposure settings, effect and control the specific outcome..." Read more

"...The examples photos shows the explanations. It also shows you what to do in funky light situations so an impossible shot (before) becomes..." Read more

"Anything Neil writes is worth reading...easy to understand flash lighting ....." Read more

"I found this book very helpful in explaining flash - in general and use off camera...." Read more

5 customers mention "Lighting"5 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the lighting techniques in the book, with one customer highlighting the detailed explanations of lighting setups and another noting the author's expertise in flash gun/strobe lighting.

"...very well known in professional circles, and an expert on flash gun/strobe lighting...." Read more

"...you understand the concept of flash photography to create beautiful natural lighting in many different lighting scenarios...." Read more

"...Good lighting set up explanations, nice photos, and presented in a manner that even the most novice photographers can understand...." Read more

"Practical, to the point information, perfectly presented...." Read more

5 customers mention "Pacing"4 positive1 negative

Customers appreciate the pacing of the book, with one customer noting that each chapter focuses on specific scenarios and real-world examples.

"...It is full of practical applications and situations that you will certainly run into, and how best to deal with them when you do...." Read more

"...Each chapter is devoted to covering situations (i.e., lighting) you are bound to encounter in photography...." Read more

"...in the same easy to follow, sequential manner and gives great "real life" scenarios for the different techniques...." Read more

"...It really is a pity though that there are very annoying and confusing errors. These cover a range of about 7 or 8 pages...." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • Reviewed in the United States on October 5, 2016
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    If you are looking for hardware recipes, and layout diagrams of how to set up lights and backdrops, exact f-stops shutter speeds, ISO, including flash settings, and posing instructions in order to produce foolproof, beautiful portraits, may your photographic journeys be happy and satisfying as you blissfully pass by this book. Honestly, this is not that path.
    For the average "consumer" photographer, this book will probably encourage you to avoid serious flash photography, and stick to the popup, or that same brand automatic TTL flash. Though the book does address TTL flash control.
    For someone serious about learning what's involved, this will open up a whole new world of knowledge.
    It is not a comprehensive encyclopedia of artificial lighting reinforcement, but a gateway to open your brain wide.
    If you are new to these concepts, you may need to reread sections, and include personal notes like I enjoy doing.
    The author takes the path to help you understand what's going on with your camer's, specific setting, and the flash unit.
    Ambient, reflective, incident light are explained. How each aspect of your camera's exposure settings, effect and control the specific outcome
    of the photograph/portrait. Plenty of portrait results (bad and good), augment the detailed explanation.
    There is a learning curve involved, so you must have a hunger to take in this know-how, in order to benefit.
    Otherwise you may end up skimming the pretty pictures, putting the book in the bookcase, and giving your friends the impression you read and understand the book. This is because the information presented keeps building on itself, and further progresses into new learning challenges.
    Thus, if you seriously understand you will need to use pro flash techniques in order for your art or production to progress, this book is a very logical place to wrap your head around.
    And the author explains things in an easy to understand, and very digestible manner! Thanks Neil!
    3 people found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on May 16, 2011
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    This is one of the best books I have read on off camera flash. It is not a book about all the equipment you need to purchase, although he does touch on the absolute necessities required. It is full of practical applications and situations that you will certainly run into, and how best to deal with them when you do. His other book "On camera flash" is equally good. He shares his knowledge generously and should be commended for it. This is just the sort of information photographers new to flash must read. For that matter, even seasoned pros can learn from this guy. Whatever he is writing now...I am buying it. J Scott.
    2 people found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on March 3, 2014
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    I should have given it 3 stars because of numerous errors, but the book otherwise deserves 5 stars. The author is an excellent photographer, very well known in professional circles, and an expert on flash gun/strobe lighting. There are other books on this topic but the ones I've seen do not deliver the detailed explanation that this book gives. For example, there is "Understanding Flash Photography" by Bryan Peterson. Seems to be error-free, unlike this book, but it does not live up to the title. It would be most useful for those who shoot in program mode. Van Niekerk',s book is excellent in giving details, lucid explanations, and superb, real world examples. It really is a pity though that there are very annoying and confusing errors. These cover a range of about 7 or 8 pages. Each error involves a mix-up of photo & caption as it relates to text. So, either text is wrong, or photo and caption is wrong. To the author's credit he is trying to list these on a portion of his website, though not all errors are currently listed there. Alas, there was a time when these things were very rare. I was born in 1940 and I remember the time. We used to have competent editing at the publisher by a content editor and a copy editor. The content editor was expected to know the subject matter well enough to edit it. Sadly, those days are long gone. Even so, it is the author's responsibility to do the final editing via the galley proof. Lastly, for what it's worth this is not the only photo book I've purchased in the last year with these kinds of problems.
    2 people found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on March 6, 2011
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    Another wonderful book by Neil. In this book, as in the first, On-Camera Flash, Neil explains in detail his knowledge and his vast experience with photography, in this case with the use of off-camera flash.
    I must recommend this book to anyone who wants to learn to take good pictures with off-camera flash, as well as deciding when to use manual flash or TTL flash, how to position the individual with respect to the direction of ambient light, how to position the flash with respect to the subject, when using flash as fill flash, or as main lighting, how to correctly measure the exposure, how to balance flash with ambient light, what are the advantages and disadvantages of high-speed flash sync, etc .
    I must confess that my photography has improved considerably after reading the first book of Neil and since I read every day your web site ([...]).
    11 people found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on May 19, 2023
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    I’ve been doing photography for a while not. It’s the only hobby that has stuck with me throughout all my years. I’ve relied on auto flash all my life but this book gave me the know how to go full manual in portraits/special occasions with confidence.

    The explanations are clear and concise. The examples photos shows the explanations. It also shows you what to do in funky light situations so an impossible shot (before) becomes extraordinary. I’ve bought and read a few “flash” books but this is the only book where the concepts really stick. It has taken my photography hobby from blasé to good (great/excellent is really for people who spend a lot of time honing their craft and get paid for it). This book lets me take pictures where people think I know what I’m doing lol,

    It’s a great technical book on flash photography for budding and amateur photographers. I wish this was around when I started many moons ago, who knows where I would have wound up.

Top reviews from other countries

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  • patrick
    5.0 out of 5 stars A posseder
    Reviewed in France on March 11, 2013
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    Pour qui s’intéresse à la pratique du flash cobra, je vous conseille les 3 livres de Neil (il y en a bien 3)
    certes en Anglais mais relativement simple a comprendre et surtout une mine d'infos et de conseils !!!
    Report
  • airamoigroig
    5.0 out of 5 stars Libro eccellente
    Reviewed in Italy on September 13, 2013
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    È uno dei migliori libri in circolazione per l'utilizzo del flash distante dalla fotocamera (off-camera). Moltissimi esempi e situazioni diverse per capire le impostazioni migliori.
  • Becki1965
    3.0 out of 5 stars Nicht Fisch, nicht Fleisch
    Reviewed in Germany on January 15, 2012
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    Da ich mit anderen Büchern zum Thema "Fotografie" aus dem Amherst-Verlag eigentlich sehr gute Erfahrungen habe (gutes Preis-Leistungsverhältnisse, meist gut bebildert) habe ich mir dieses Buch gekauft. Vorweg schon soviel. Das Buch ist eigentlich o.k. und seinen Preis wert. Der Grund warum ich es trotzdem nur mit 3 Sternen bewerte ist das es sowohl aus dem Amherst-Verlag zum gleichen Thema Besseres gibt ("Just one flash" von R. & R. Deutschmann) bzw. es zu diesem Thema auch sehr gute deutschsprachige Literatur gibt (z.B. "Entfesselt blitzen" von Roggemann). Man muss hier also nicht unbedingt auf englischsprachige Literatur ausweichen.
  • Book Junky
    5.0 out of 5 stars On clearing flash fog
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on May 15, 2012
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    I don't know where you got your 'flash education' from, but mine was a bit haphazard because flash pictures didn't play a big role in the kind of pictures I take .You can probably see where this is going with not the right and enough information and the right equipment it's a recipe for frustration.And when you find yourself with a flash that has off-camera capabilities it just compounds the 'problem'. Then I ran across Joe McNally's books , inspirational text and style of writing but still,to my mind, a bit haphazard.

    Recently I got hold of Neil's books and it was like the sun started to shine through the fog.Everything fell into place and started to make sense.Intelligent talk at the right level ,like he was standing next to you. Ideally you should start with his first book 'On-camera flash' and then move on to this one. Best money I ever spent on flash equipment. If you have a love-hate relationship with your hot-shoe flash and you are done with all the frustration, get these books. Admittedly he uses professional Canon and Nikon flashes but you cannot fail to walk away from his books and see the sun shine.
  • PRAVIN THAKRAR
    5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
    Reviewed in Canada on June 9, 2015
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    Excellent book with lots information on techniques for digital photography.