Set Lighting Technician's Handbook

by Harry Box

A friendly, hands-on training manual and reference for lighting technicians in motion picture and television production, this handbook is the most comprehensive guide to set lighting available. It provides a unique combination of practical detail with a big-picture understanding of lighting, technology, safety, and professionalism, essential to anyone doing motion picture lighting. The fifth edition delves into every aspect of lighting and features vastly expanded sections on controlling LED lights, color science, lighting control systems, wireless systems, Ethernet-based control systems, battery power, and modern set protocol for productions small and large. With a generous number of original images, the book illustrates the use of soft light, the effect of lighting angles, and how the gaffer and DP build an effective lighting plan around the blocking of the actors. This encyclopedic volume of technical knowhow is tempered with years of practical experience and a much-needed sense of humor.

This is the ideal text for professional lighting technicians across film and television including lighting directors, gaffers, DOPs, and rigging crews, as well as film and television production students studying lighting, camera techniques, film production, and cinematography.

It includes a revamped companion website with supplementary resources, forms, checklists, and images.

Genres: Film, Nonfiction, Reference, Photography, Technical

624 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1998

Reviews

[Svava Lovísa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Skelfilega þurr lesning

[Sita · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had to read this book for class. It was actually quite well written with some anecdotes thrown in to make it livelier. My aspiring DP friend practically made this book his bible and I had to prized it off his deathly grip. I just gave it 2 stars because I just use it as reference. DP friend would probably gave it a 5 since he actually carry it with him everywhere.

[Jonathan Clement · Rating 3 out of 5]

due to the way its written its not memorable but knowledge heavy great reference book

[Julius B]

lol took me forever as it’s a giant book but on spring break rn and managed to finish it all. What a fantastic read, very insightful, learned so much useful knowledge!

[Peter O'leary · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you work as a grip, electric or cinematographer this is required reading. Exhaustive reference book for equipment specs, knots, protocol and anything else you might encounter or need to know on set. Of no interest to anyone else.

[Kellista · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing and so useful...a must have for anyone interested in set lighting. Gives many diagrams, tricks of the trade, calculations, etc.

[sean newhouse · Rating 5 out of 5]

The bible of set lighting

[David Choo · Rating 5 out of 5]

A bible on film lighting.