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Product Description
When it comes to photography, it’s all about the light.
After spending more than thirty years behind the lens—working for National Geographic, Time, Life, andSports Illustrated—Joe McNally knows about light. He knows how to talk about it, shape it, color it, control it, and direct it. Most importantly, he knows how to create it...using small hot shoe flashes.
In The Hot Shoe Diaries, Joe brings you behind the scenes to candidly share his lighting solutions for a ton of great images. Using Nikon Speedlights, Joe lets you in on his uncensored thought process—often funny, sometimes serious, always fascinating—to demonstrate how he makes his pictures with these small flashes. Whether he’s photographing a gymnast on the Great Wall, an alligator in a swamp, or a fire truck careening through Times Square, Joe uses these flashes to create great light that makes his pictures sing.
After spending more than thirty years behind the lens—working for National Geographic, Time, Life, andSports Illustrated—Joe McNally knows about light. He knows how to talk about it, shape it, color it, control it, and direct it. Most importantly, he knows how to create it...using small hot shoe flashes.
In The Hot Shoe Diaries, Joe brings you behind the scenes to candidly share his lighting solutions for a ton of great images. Using Nikon Speedlights, Joe lets you in on his uncensored thought process—often funny, sometimes serious, always fascinating—to demonstrate how he makes his pictures with these small flashes. Whether he’s photographing a gymnast on the Great Wall, an alligator in a swamp, or a fire truck careening through Times Square, Joe uses these flashes to create great light that makes his pictures sing.
From the Back Cover
When it comes to photography, it’s all about the light.
After spending more than thirty years behind the lens—working for National Geographic, Time, Life, andSports Illustrated—Joe McNally knows about light. He knows how to talk about it, shape it, color it, control it, and direct it. Most importantly, he knows how to create it...using small hot shoe flashes.
In The Hot Shoe Diaries, Joe brings you behind the scenes to candidly share his lighting solutions for a ton of great images. Using Nikon Speedlights, Joe lets you in on his uncensored thought process—often funny, sometimes serious, always fascinating—to demonstrate how he makes his pictures with these small flashes. Whether he’s photographing a gymnast on the Great Wall, an alligator in a swamp, or a fire truck careening through Times Square, Joe uses these flashes to create great light that makes his pictures sing.
After spending more than thirty years behind the lens—working for National Geographic, Time, Life, andSports Illustrated—Joe McNally knows about light. He knows how to talk about it, shape it, color it, control it, and direct it. Most importantly, he knows how to create it...using small hot shoe flashes.
In The Hot Shoe Diaries, Joe brings you behind the scenes to candidly share his lighting solutions for a ton of great images. Using Nikon Speedlights, Joe lets you in on his uncensored thought process—often funny, sometimes serious, always fascinating—to demonstrate how he makes his pictures with these small flashes. Whether he’s photographing a gymnast on the Great Wall, an alligator in a swamp, or a fire truck careening through Times Square, Joe uses these flashes to create great light that makes his pictures sing.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
44 of 45 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
After reading some of the previous reviews, I do wonder what some people expected when they bought this book...it's well known this guy exclusively uses Nikon kit, so it was always going to feature that company's products. I use Nikon at work (as a Crime Scene Examiner) and I've just gone over to Canon (EOS 5D MkII) and Metz for my private stuff, so I feel I can give an unbiased opinion.
I bought the book because I wanted to know more about the capabilities of Speedlight lighting, as recent years have seen a lot more accessories available through companies like Interfit (their Strobist range). In the old days you had bulky studio kit or weedy little underpowered on-camera units. That's all changed now.
The author's use of American "slang" can be a bit irritating, but it's just his writing style. He's an American so get used to it. His pictures aren't perfect either (whose are?) but he doesn't say they are. It's all a matter of taste, after all, and if his clients liked them then who are we to criticize?
Where this author excells is in his huge well of experience using this type of lighting. In many cases, it's a case of using the kit to get a picture or not getting the picture at all, and for this you can thank the guy's background in journalism.
I really liked the case histories for each picture, with sketches and detailed notes to show you how he achieved the results. Some are really simple. So simple in fact you're left feeling quite inadequate, as there's always a temptation to over-light things and lose the atmosphere in a scene.
The author seems to have the knack of knowing exactly how much light to use, and where to put it, to achieve natural-looking effects under challenging situations. That's exactly why I bought the book in the first place, as I aspire to this myself.
So don't get hung up on the Nikon branding thing...just transfer the techniques to the kit you use.
And don't get hung up on the author's style of writing. He's American OK?
Additionally he's enthusiastic about what he does, and this comes over in the book.
So if you want to expand your knowledge about using Speedlights, get it.
And if you think you can write a better book on the subject then go ahead and do it.
I bought the book because I wanted to know more about the capabilities of Speedlight lighting, as recent years have seen a lot more accessories available through companies like Interfit (their Strobist range). In the old days you had bulky studio kit or weedy little underpowered on-camera units. That's all changed now.
The author's use of American "slang" can be a bit irritating, but it's just his writing style. He's an American so get used to it. His pictures aren't perfect either (whose are?) but he doesn't say they are. It's all a matter of taste, after all, and if his clients liked them then who are we to criticize?
Where this author excells is in his huge well of experience using this type of lighting. In many cases, it's a case of using the kit to get a picture or not getting the picture at all, and for this you can thank the guy's background in journalism.
I really liked the case histories for each picture, with sketches and detailed notes to show you how he achieved the results. Some are really simple. So simple in fact you're left feeling quite inadequate, as there's always a temptation to over-light things and lose the atmosphere in a scene.
The author seems to have the knack of knowing exactly how much light to use, and where to put it, to achieve natural-looking effects under challenging situations. That's exactly why I bought the book in the first place, as I aspire to this myself.
So don't get hung up on the Nikon branding thing...just transfer the techniques to the kit you use.
And don't get hung up on the author's style of writing. He's American OK?
Additionally he's enthusiastic about what he does, and this comes over in the book.
So if you want to expand your knowledge about using Speedlights, get it.
And if you think you can write a better book on the subject then go ahead and do it.
10 of 10 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This book is all about flash. Not the single tiny spark of light found on most cameras, but dedicated shoe mounted and remote flashes. The best aspect of this, is that McNally sticks to methods requiring just one single flash. Alot of photographers use more than one flash as well as expensive lighting equipment, but McNally shows how to acheive striking photos with minimal equipment. He does however let himself go in the last chapter and uses all the flashes he can find (and there are lots!).
Throughout the book, a couple of pages are used to cover an assignment that McNally has completed. The first page is the chosen image from the assignment, together with a catchy title. The methods, difficulties and lessons to be learnt from each assignment are then described along with other images which either didnt quite work, have an alternative viewpoint, or just show the layout and arrangement of the lighting situation.
The book is close to repeating itself on a number of occasions. I say 'close' as an entire book on how to shoot with flash is always going to repeat itself, but the author actually does a pretty decent job of making each chapter unique.
Technicalities such as gelling, zooming and compensating your flash are covered by describing how and why they were used to take a shot.
A point to note is that McNally is clearly a Nikon user, and there is absolutely no way of getting away from it. It should be understood however that the author cannot be proficient in every manufacturer's equipment, and when describing methods it would be naturally easiest to describe the actual equipment used. Dont let this put you off however, as most top-end flashes (and cameras to some extent) have much the same features, and a Nikon flash is as relevent to a Canon flash.
Summary
Beginners: Probably not suited to beginners. You may be overwhelmed by the jargon and want to experiment with on-camera flashes first.
Advanced: Recommended, especially if you like the dramatic effects.
Throughout the book, a couple of pages are used to cover an assignment that McNally has completed. The first page is the chosen image from the assignment, together with a catchy title. The methods, difficulties and lessons to be learnt from each assignment are then described along with other images which either didnt quite work, have an alternative viewpoint, or just show the layout and arrangement of the lighting situation.
The book is close to repeating itself on a number of occasions. I say 'close' as an entire book on how to shoot with flash is always going to repeat itself, but the author actually does a pretty decent job of making each chapter unique.
Technicalities such as gelling, zooming and compensating your flash are covered by describing how and why they were used to take a shot.
A point to note is that McNally is clearly a Nikon user, and there is absolutely no way of getting away from it. It should be understood however that the author cannot be proficient in every manufacturer's equipment, and when describing methods it would be naturally easiest to describe the actual equipment used. Dont let this put you off however, as most top-end flashes (and cameras to some extent) have much the same features, and a Nikon flash is as relevent to a Canon flash.
Summary
Beginners: Probably not suited to beginners. You may be overwhelmed by the jargon and want to experiment with on-camera flashes first.
Advanced: Recommended, especially if you like the dramatic effects.
21 of 22 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
With so many books on photography out there that by their summary promise 'the earth' it can be difficult to know what to buy. Not so when it comes to this new book by Joe McNally. It is quite simply an incredible book on photography - focusing on the use of flash photography (speedlights). In the first chapters Joe takes you through the kit he uses and why and then page after page shows some incredible photographs and exactly how he created them using; every thought, every mistake, settings ... the lot!!!! it's all covered making this THE book to own.
Honestly, if you only had one book on flash photography, in fact photography in general, then this is the one to own; it really is that good. As a professional photographer, this book has taught me so much and given me so many ideas for shoots ... my only wish now is that there were more hours in the day :o)
Honestly, if you only had one book on flash photography, in fact photography in general, then this is the one to own; it really is that good. As a professional photographer, this book has taught me so much and given me so many ideas for shoots ... my only wish now is that there were more hours in the day :o)
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Great Book
A very inspiring book. It isn't a manual at all, more so a book of how certain images were shot. Excellent introduction which really simplifies the Nikon Creative Lighting System... Read more
Published 8 months ago by JPS
informational and very readable
I really enjoyed this book, read it in one go and found it very useful and liked the writers style. So much that I could not put it down. Read more
Published 10 months ago by touchstone photography
Hot Shoe Diaries
I almost did not write this review, as I don't want too many people knowing how easy and fun this book is to follow and put into practice the techniques shown. Read more
Published 11 months ago by Mr. M. F. Wilson
Stunning book...Joe Mcnally does it again.
I have read and re-read this book from cover to cover...it is so inspiring to see what Joen Mcnally can achieve..his creativity knows no bounds ... Read more
Published 11 months ago by Mrs. L. M. Whitford
Complete waste of money
Maybe just a little bit interesting if you have Nikon equipment. For all the others this is indeed a lot of page filling Blah Blah Blah and drivel as reported elsewhere . Read more
Published 11 months ago by Gus
Hot Shoe Diaries
Joe McNally is the Jamie Oliver of photography!
A little bit of this, a bit of that, know the rules, bend em, break em, try stuff, experiment. Read more
A little bit of this, a bit of that, know the rules, bend em, break em, try stuff, experiment. Read more
Published 14 months ago by LucP
The Hot Ashoe Diaries
Despite the irritating style of writing which is fashioned on Scott Kelby's guide books this is a useful book. Read more
Published 15 months ago by J. F. M. Cruz
A really informative book - brilliant illustrations
I really enjoyed this book: sure the author is American and writes in a very colloquial style which took me some getting used to. Read more
Published 15 months ago by A. Sharad
Personal taste...
...you may not like his irreverent style, but he's informative, inspirational and to the point. I've loved reading the book, and tried a lot of new techniques too.
Published 16 months ago by Paul Williams
This man knows his stuff
More importantly he knows how to pass on that knowledge in an easily understood manner. A really instructive and entertaining read.
Published 17 months ago by Kestua
Listmania!
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