The Hot Shoe Diaries: Big Light From Small Flashes

I never like to read books. I like workshops, DVD training, working with other photographers, and going out and shooting, everyday. I hate it if a day goes by and I do not shoot something. I was looking for something to give me ideas. I shot mostly sports but with the economy being down, and every person with a digital camera calling themselves a photographer I have been doing more work that requires flash. Actually I am always using flash when not shooting sports, as you should know the creative part of photography requires the photographer to use flashes to create ART. When shooting outside the real PRO PHOTOGRAPHER is always using multiple flashes to produce PROFESSIONAL results. Nothing like shooting in a park with lights hanging from the trees, ever want a great hair light or back light a subject. PHOTOGRAPHY is all about LIGHT, and this book is a history of 30 years of creating light. Just to be very clear I have been using flash for more years than I care to remember. One reviewer who gave this book four stars was funny. He bought an SB700 and this book because he (D. Lynch) was shooting a wedding as the main photographer in a week and needed to learn to use his flash. I hope he was doing the wedding for free. Anyway this book is NOT to learn how to use a flash. This book is about creating light with a lot of flashes. This book is to see how one true PRO PHOTOGRAPHER has used a CLS lighting system to make art. I do not remember one page that only one flash was used, so if you only own one or two flashes this is a book to show you how a true PRO PHOTOGRAPHER uses multiple flashes to create ART. For the non-Nikon shooter be aware ALL the pages can apply to YOU, if you use a camera with a similar flash system. So for the detractors, this book is about lighting, the examples apply to lighting, and as far as I know every camera manufacture has some kind of lighting system, and even cheap manual flashes can be used much of the knowledge contained in this book. Ok, I am not a writer, my review is written by a PHOTOGRAPHER!! This book is written by a PHOTOGRAPHER, NOT A WRITER. So if the wording is not like the books written by WRITERS, to bad. If you need "a how to" use your first three flashes this may not be for you. If you want a book written by a great writer buy something else. IF YOU WANT A BOOK WRITTEN BY A GREAT PHOTOGRAPHER WHO HAS CREATED GREAT WORKS OF ART, USING MULTIPLE FLASHES AND RELATED LIGHT MODIFIERS, THIS IS THE BOOK TO READ. Have I learned a lot, more than I did before I read ti, it has expanded my knowledge of multiple flash photography. Ever time I work I look at different ways to light something and sometimes change my formula, sometimes not and sometimes wonder what was I thinking. This book has given me more ideas. The title says it all "The HOT SHOE DIARIES". It does not say learn how to use a flash. For ALL those who have rated this anything but five stars you did not understand what this book was about. This book is exactly as described. And what a book it is. It is a DIARY of creating great light on location with portable speedlights. It is really for professional photographers, and maybe those who actually want to try and create ART. All the concepts apply to any flash system. The writer uses Nikon which makes it easier for Nikon shooters to know the equipment used in the book. But if you are using another make of camera you should be able to translate the equipment to your equipment. If you can not translate to your equipment that is your shortfall, not the books. You will need a lot of flashes, light modifiers, stands, extra hands, and a way to trigger it all if manual equipment. Do not get upset if the book is above your level of photography, it is above 99% of every camera owner. Few working PRO PROFESSIONALS are at this level. And in today's world of every person with a camera is a professional photographer it is so far above their level that they will be completely lost reading this book. This book is written by a photographer at the top level, with years of collecting equipment for every possible lighting situation on the planet. The day you can read this book and UNDERSTAND the "how the photos were created" you will rate this a five star book. And you will learn a lot of tricks to expand your ability to light things.

More similar than different in structure relative to his previous book "The Moment it Clicks" and much of what I wrote in my review of that book applies here. This is an excellent book to read after reading "The Moment it Clicks" (and it also stands very well on is own if you do not read "The Moment it Clicks"). Hot Shoe Diaries entertains as it educates. Joe is a great storyteller and his stories and rants are entertaining as well as educational. While certainly not a straight textbook, this book is more instructional in a formal way than his last one. Joe walks us through the equipment he uses explaining why he's chosen the individual pieces and tells us what are the important and the not-so-important aspects of each and how to use them. He tries to keep us focused on the key elements necessary to accomplish the lighting techniques he discusses later in the book. Most of his lessons are simply the stories of how he has created each of the impressive images that are in the book. Most of the chapters are a discussion of the story behind an image (Joe's storytelling is quite entertaining), a discussion of how he created the image(s) technically and some general relevant photographic principles. While this book is about 300 pages long, I guarantee that most will read it in under one day (I did). Joe's writing is fast paced and enjoyable. Most of what is in this book can be implemented with any brand of similar equipment although certain convenience features may not be present. If you use recent model Nikon flashes then this book is an excellent fit for you. In my case, even though I've used Nikon flashes for a very long time, have read all the relevant user manuals as well as some of Thom Hogan's excellent publications and writings, it was only after reading this book that I finally "got" the real-world value of the "Auto FP" option that recent Nikon flashes offer. In sum, this book educates and entertains. It is fast reading and has lots of impressive imagery. One thought that kept going through my mind when I read this book was not that Joe is very technically capable of using the equipment he has, he certainly is. What impressed me was that he seemed to always come up with yet another creative idea of how to use the equipment to create a compelling image.

A good book by a great photographer, wonderful images and lots of interesting insight. However, it is all about Nikon cameras and flashes, so for those of us that don't use Nikon, a lot of the good information is useless or at least takes work to transpose and make useful. That's really a shame, it would not have been hard to either write this in a more general way or have some co-author "translate" things to at least 'the other' big camera maker Canon. (Note: I own Canon gear but would be just as happy with Nikon gear, I'm not a Canon fan boy or Nikon hater. Both are exactly equal in my book, I just could not afford to buy one of each) So, had I known that it's so Nikon focused, I would not have bought the book, and I'm glad I did not order his other book at the same time. And I won't. There's just too much camera and flash specific writing that has no value for me with my Canon gear. Unfortunately. That aside, and if you can get past his sometimes patronizing, sometimes overly forced beer-drinking-buddy like writing style, there's a lot of fun and interesting info from the front lines of photography in here. The images are fantastic and I do take good value information with me, I just wish it would be either more generic (i.e. not all based on model numbers) or - well - based on Canon gear :-D The value of the information is greater than the style and gear shortcomings, so 4 stars seems to be fair. 5+ stars if I had Nikon gear.

SPOILER: 'Hot Shoe Diaries' is pure McNally and the best book I've ever read on flash photography. Two words: "buy it." LONG VERSION: Joe McNally's photo secrets were kicked out of the closet by the skeletons a long time ago. That's great news for those of us who have become infatuated (and infuriated) with the use of small flash units. Joe's latest book 'The Hot Shoe Diaries' is an exposé that tells all. There's never been a book on flash photography that covers the subject so thoroughly, so beautifully and so humorously. I'm certain that 'HSD' will reign as the undisputed champion on flash photography for a long time. The first thing to know about 'HSD' is that even Joe has a hard time taking himself seriously. Joe repeatedly demonstrates his understanding of where he stands in the universe by filling 'HSD' with memorable photos - such as the self-portrait where he uses a chicken as a lightstand. Joe's humor is what sets 'HSD' apart from other photo books. It is what protects us from mind-numbing concepts, such as the "Inverse Square Law" (when did Congress pass that one anyway?). Joe starts with the basics: gear, the fundamentals of digital photography and simple flash. He moves on to talk about one light shots. And two light shots. And lots-a-lights shots. He talks about where to put the lights and what to put between the lights and the subject. He shares a lifetime of stories. He inspires and encourages. Like I said, "pure McNally." As with his first book, ' The Moment It Clicks ', Joe fills the covers of 'HSD' with amazing and beautiful photos. These are the heart of 'HSD.' It's one thing to talk about flash photography. It's entirely another to demonstrate it again and again with stunning images. [Thanks also to the book designer who ran a good number of photos as double-trucks, aka: two-page spreads.] 'HSD' is for photographers of all levels - novice to expert. If you read 'Clicks' and were among the few disappointed because it wasn't a "how-to" book with lighting diagrams and such, 'HSD' is the book you were looking for. Plan on reading it again and again. I guarantee that every time you do, you'll pick up something new. SPECIAL NOTE To Non-Nikon Shooters - 'HSD' Is Non-Denominational It's no secret that Joe is a Nikon guy. Nikon terminology is used throughout the book. If you shoot something other than Nikon, think of it like an American talking to a Brit [if "elevator" = "lift", then "Auto FP" = "High-Speed Sync" and "Rear Curtain" = "2nd Curtain"]. Does this mean that 'HSD' is Nikon-specific? Absolutely not. As a lifelong Canon shooter, I've no hesitation in recommending this book to shooters of all denominations. The ideas and illustrations are universal.

short version of the review: This book is the real deal. Just buy it. Long Version: This book is awsome. As much as I liked The Moment It Clicks, I thought that it lacked some consistency due to the fact that most of the images were old and Joe had to reverse engineer how the photo was done and remember how he took them. It was more of a coffee table book and an inspirational book. This book on the other hand is much more consistent. First of all, it is dedicated to using small flashes only which is practical and affordable for most of us. Second, the book inherits and improves on the good formating that the first book had. Third, most of the photos use one or two flashes, so we can try to replicate the setups ourselves. Fourth, unlike the previous book, almost all of the subjects in this books are just regular people like us and not celeberties. So there is no excuse for us to say that Joe's photos has to look good cause he shoots this model and that actress. Fifth, if you like the stuff on Joe's blog then you will like the book since it has many of the entries and assignments on his blog. I've always wished that Joe would put that stuff in the book cause it is very helpful to have all that inspirational stuff handy. Plus its organized better than the blog. You can really tell from the way it was written that Joe didnt reverse engineer the shots in this book. He definitly had the vision of the book before he undertook these assignments and that's why he does a better job at explaining how the shots were taken. Sixth, if you follow the strobist blog then you probably have this book in your hands by now. David Hobby's finger prints are all over the book and Joe mentions that in the book. Last but not least, you can check sample pages of the book on Joe's Blog and there is also a sample PDF excerpt on the strobist blog. Enjoy the book and I hope to see a followup of this book soon with all the recent stuff from Joe's workshops.

Let's start with what this book is not: * It's not for camera newbies * It's not a cookbook or pictorial guide * It's not for the humor impaired * It won't work for those locked into using studio lights or who insist on using only the camera's built in flash It is, however the most entertaining and enlightening book on small flash photography I can imagine. McNally, an extraordinarily gifted artist and technician, divides the book into short sections (hence the idea of a "diary") that describe how he has optimized his resultant photographic results with the image that begins in his mind. The situations he relates are what every committed photographer is certain to encounter: poor available light, mixed lighting, pre-occupied subjects, etc. He is able to overcome obstacles and avoid mediocrity using a modicum of equipment, often a single flash or two. He is sufficiently honest to admit that bringing home something is better than leaving the photograph behind, and sometimes the most he can hope for. His writing style is occasionally overbearing when he tries a bit too hard to get a laugh or be one of the guys, but he is so sincere and earnest I can easily forgive the lapses. Every section, most just a few pages, contains gems to retain and apply. He may not diagram exactly where he places his flashes, diffusers, and reflectors, but he certainly provides enough information to get started. McNally is a strong believer in thinking through what one wants to achieve and then experimenting in a logical fashion to achieve it. Once one buys into his philosophy, the book becomes indispensable. I may be biased because I use Nikon equipment and McNally is a strong proponent of the Creative Lighting System, but I understand that all the principals he suggests can be applied to the competition. My nephew has never steered me wrong. Purchasing the book is a no brainer.

I've read a lot of photo books. Well, in truth I read the pertinent parts, and skimmed over as much of most of them as I possibly could while still getting to the meat of the matter...but this one is an exception. I read it cover to cover, and found it not only readable, but very amusing and thought-provoking, and I learned a lot of things, and probably most important, I gained new insights and perspectives, and am rethinking my approach to all things related to lighting - not many books will do that for me. No mere rehash in this book. The one thing that people might want to be aware of is that the author is very Nikon-oriented, primarily the D2X and D3 camera bodies and the SB-800 and SB-900 speedlights, and many of his comments are concerning proprietary goods, so don't just start reading it and then complain that he's Nikon-fixated, because I'm warning you in advance, and besides pro photographers are almost always Nikon devotees. But don't let it stop you from getting this book, because it's full of information, thought processes, ideas that did - and didn't - work, and some very entertaining schematics that illustrate via hand drawn cartoons just how he set up some of his shots. And, if you're like me, and shoot primarily with Canon equipment (most of his details translate fairly readily to other brands of DSLRs) then you might, like me, begin to consider swapping out for Nikon goods. The cherry on top, though, is that this book is so entertaining and funny. He's a very talented and experienced photographer, sharing info gleaned from years in the field, and he's humble enough to laugh at himself. I'd buy it just for his attitude and for sheer entertainment value, but that's just how I am. Good book!

I have mixed feelings about this book. For anyone who has had some experience with mixed lighting, color management, etc., it is written in a very "easy to understand" sort of style, and contains great food for thought. For a newer shooter, you will drown in this technically. My three problems with it are that it is completely Nikon centric and he advocates using TTL or some form of it in every situation. That may work for Nikon gear, but I have found Canon's flash exposures to be all over the place when left in "Auto" mode. You need to be aware that there is little to no guidance or advice other than that in this book. It is all about Nikon electronics and which buttons to push. If you are looking for advice on using speedlight flash manually, it's not here. I actually wondered as I was reading it whether Nikon sponsored the book. Way too much emphasis on Nikon gear and specific settings. As a result, it is less about small flash and more about about Nikon small flash and "CLS". That should have been part of the book's title I think. And to be clear, this is not about Nikon vs Canon and who is better. It is irrelevant. I just think that to do a book like this, it should not rely so heavily on one manufacturer's technical exposure system. The second thing is that there are not enough scene diagrams. Joe describes the set-ups, but it would have been better to show more sketches as he did in just a few examples. Diagrams help to visualize the distances involved; whether he was working alone using stands for the remote flash, or having assistants moving and holding them, among other issues. Lastly, he mentions issues repeatedly about remote speedlights not being able to see the signals, and methods he uses to solve it using extension cables on his "control" unit. He is using flashes that cost $400-500 each. What about Pocket Wizards? He hardly mentions them. Yes, they are expensive, but you can buy a set of three for what he spent on one flash and buy several manual flashes to go with them. If this book is supposed to be applicable to all photographers, I think that is an oversight that does not serve those photographers well. If you have some location experience with mixed lighting, and if you can get past the fact that this is all about Nikon and letting the Nikon system determine your exposures, then by all means get the book.

Aunque el libro está clarísimamemte orientado a usuarios de sistemas Nikon, da muy buenas ideas sobre iluminación con flashes de bolsillo, independientemente de la marca o modelo que sean. Muy recomendable.

Nikon based but no complaints about that! This is easily the most readable "how to" photography book I've had and is very useful indeed. This will change how you view small flashes and get the most out of the SB900 but will also lead you into buying more kit - flashes, Lumiquest and Lastolite stuff, light stands and even assistants! Stunningly well written. Cheers Graham A UK

Joe McNally's beschreibt in diesem Buch an Hand vieler Bildbeispiele wie er die jeweilige Szene künstlerisch und technisch umgesetzt hat. Der Schwerpunkt liegt dabei auf dem Einsatz von kleinen Blitzlichtern statt großer und teuerer Studiobeleuchtung (wobei bis zu 20 Nikon Systemblitze auch nicht gerade billig sind). Besonders gefallen hat mir, dass Joe neben einer detaillierten Beschreibung der technischen Aspekte eines Bildes immer auch sein künstlerisches Ziel beschreibt und damit auch die Gründe warum er das Bild so und nicht anders umgesetzt hat. Das finde ich sehr spannend, denn so kommt zu der technischen auch eine künstlerische Auseinandersetzung mit der Materie, was mich letztlich als Photograph weiter bringt. McNally verwendet und beschreibt ausschließlich Ausrüstung von Nikon. Ich verwende Canon und hatte keine Probleme seine Anleitungen umzusetzen. Die Systeme sind ähnlich und die Beschreibung genau genug, dass die Transferleistung leicht zu erbringen ist. Zuletzt noch ein Hinweis: McNally nimmt sich selbst nicht ganz ernst und hat eines der kurzweiligsten und lustigsten Photobücher geschrieben, die ich kenne. So macht das Lesen doppelt Spaß! Ich kann dieses Buch jedem empfehlen, der die Anwendung von kleinen Blitzgeräten zur Ausleuchtung von (Personen-)Photos erlernen oder vertiefen möchte. Eine perfekte Ergänzung zu Strobist.

A lot of technical stuff, but with Joe's engaging and entertaining style of writing it doesn't feel like it. It's great to hear the stories, and the how's and why's, behind some of his greatest images.

It written like an adolescent blogging, full of region even local jargons and teenage lingo, oh my hey dudes. 50% of the book is about football that's played with hand and the rest 50% as expected is about baseball. Money fully wasted. One of the most painlessly written book and most painful to read ever. Malala with bullet in head wrote better.