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

by Scott Kelby

Scott Kelby, the world’s #1 best-selling photography technique books author, is here with a new concept in photography and flash books—one that’s designed from the ground up to get you straight to whatever it is you need to do with a flash right now, get your answer fast, and get you back to shooting with your flash.Thanks to inexpensive flashes that are compatible with all major camera manufacturers (such as Yongnuo), owning and using a flash is now easily within reach for nearly all shooters, whether you're a hobbyist or aspriring professional. Once you own a flash, though, you'll have a lot of questions about how to get it to create the light you need—questions about camera and flash settings, questions about direction, quality, and quantity of light. And in addition to knowing how to use your flash, you need to know which modifiers and triggers you might need, and you need to learn use them quickly.That’s why this book was to quickly get you to the technique, the setting, or exactly the right thing you need to do right now to improve your work.Here’s how it When you need to know how to do a particular thing, you turn to the chapter where it would be found, find the thing you need to do (it’s easy, each page covers just one single topic), and Scott tells you exactly how to do it just like he was sitting there beside you, using the same casual style as if he were telling a friend. That way, you get back to shooting fast.This isn’t a book of theory, full of confusing jargon and complicated concepts. This is a book on which settings to use, and exactly how and when to use them. The whole book is written in Scott’s plain-English, down-to-earth style, which makes the experience more like the two of you are out together on a shoot.

It’s time to fall truly head-over-heels in love with your flash, so you can start creating the type of images with your flash that you’ve always dreamed of, and this is the book that can take you there.

Genres: Photography, Reference, Nonfiction

211 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 15, 2017

About the author

Scott Kelby is an American author and publisher of periodicals dealing in Macintosh and Personal Computer software, specifically for design professionals, photographers, and artists.

Kelby is editor and publisher of Photoshop User and Layers magazines, president and co-founder of the National Association of Photoshop Professionals (NAPP) and is president of Kelby Media Group, an Oldsmar, Florida-based software training, education, and publishing firm.
Kelby is a photographer, designer, and the award-winning author of more than 40 books.

Reviews

[Richard · Rating 4 out of 5]

I saw an offer for this book when I was buying some photo equipment at B&H and clicked on it and bought it on impulse. My book listings on goodreads show that I enjoy reading anything about the use of flash, but did I need another book on the subject? Well, the answer, provided by reading just the first few pages of this book, was "yes". Kelby is just one of the numerous accomplished photographers who disclose the capabilities of the small flashes usually termed "speed lights" that aren't anywhere near the size and output of the studio flashes that professionals like to use, but nevertheless can produce amazing results.

No photographer should be without at least one, or better several speed lights in their arsenal. "The Flash Book" does the best job I've read about, of clearly explaining flashes and their accessories, including the listing of brand equipment that is recommended by the author. Kelby has been there, seen it, when it comes to using flash to its best advantage. Reading his advice on tools and techniques will enable the reader to shortcut a lot of trial and error, especially of buying inappropriate equipment for using flash to capture their best photographs.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who has any questions on how to use flash.

[Louis Pepe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Author provides universal flash technique

This book sprinkles wry humor amidst consistent advice on how to apply the author’s basic formula for manual flash settings across a variety of scenarios. I have not applied the technique yet and I’m looking forward to seeing if I can master the method. If it works for me it will simplify most of my intended use for my pair of Canon Speedlite flashes. The recommended settings are universal no matter what brand camera you use or what brand flash equipment you have on hand. Equally important is the author’s advice to apply some type of diffuser, move your flash off camera, and consider the advantages of a radio frequency trigger (compared to a wireless IR optical trigger) if you can afford the required accessories. Options and choices are always well explained with justification.

[David Brown · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an entertaining how to book. It has told me that I need some more kit if I am to really get good but the good news for me was that even with my existing kit I can still do much better. And the best news. It is not hard. Kelby covers pretty much any common situation and explains how to maximise the benefits of your flash. At the end he provides summary workflows for indoor, outdoor and weddings.

[Joe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great reference

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.

[Cristian Eduardo Capellino · Rating 5 out of 5]

Practical, stright to the point, useful

If this is your first book regarding use of flash, you will definitely improve your use of light. You will also learn a bulletproof, easy to follow workflow to shoot indoors and outdoors. You will also get unbiased guidelines regarding required equipment for the different techniques. Fully recommend.

[Spencer Pullen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have been using flash for many years as a professional photographer. When I found out that Scott Kelby wrote a book about it, I was curious to see what he would have to say. The book is well written and there are examples on each page to illustrate what Scott is talking about. I picked up quite a few tips to help my photography. Now off to the camera store to buy more equipment!

[Jenna · Rating 5 out of 5]

As always, an easy and quick read. I have read other articles and instructions for flash and struggle to grasp it. This book has helped solidify the flash concept for me. It was extremely helpful, like all his books.

[Jakub Kolčář · Rating 5 out of 5]

I generally don't like Kelby's books very much, but after skipping the first few "to-be-funny" chapters the book is stuffed with lot of easy to aborb knowledge about all kinds of speedlite lighting. Both on camera and off camera.

[Tony Lopez · Rating 4 out of 5]

learned a few things

Although I prefer a more technical approach to learning about photography, I feel Scott’s KISS method brings you back to the basics and is effective.

I recommend it if you want to get to shooting with your flash as soon as possible.

[Luann Reifert · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent read, simple and easy to follow instructions.

[Ms. Annerley Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I recommend this book to anyone looking to understand photography lighting techniques . Fantastic reference book and a fast and enjoyable way to grasp the subject.

[Shannon · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great read. It was light enough as not to overwhelm with too much technical talk, but informative and instructional as well. Definitely a book I will reference again and again.

[Kim]

A comprehensive guide to using your Speedlight with work flow and everything.
I love Scott Kelby's books and writing style , humorous and to the point

[AmandaO · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overall this was really helpful. It got a bit repetitive at points, but that's not always a bad thing.

[Joe · Rating 4 out of 5]

I normally reach for this book at least once a year for a read. Did so again on 19 May 2019 being I was having serious problems with my flash cutting thru a reenactor's cap's shadow recently at an event. Got some good advice - and more. Do sorta recommend the book... but wish Scott understood and empathized more with those who have to use hot shoe flashes.

Also, as I wrote in my Amazon review last year, "I think Scott could have omitted some needless words of chatter and came out with an even stronger product. Also I wish there was a spiral binding option for folks who want to have the book lay flat while learning".

Overall good book. But room for improvement.

[Jahnny Earle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Best guide to on and off camera speed lights hands down!

[p Cox]

Does your flash intimidate you?

This is a great book. Mastering the flash takes a lifetime :-) This book plus lots of practice makes perfection. At least I kind of know what I don't know :-) good book at making you comfortable with your flash.

[Gabriel Rondelli]

A very good practical, on-point introduction about flashes