Lighting 101

Overview

Watch now – this video will only be available on The Great Courses Plus until November 7th. Let an expert photographer guide you through the basics and intricacies of lighting in this helpful, engaging course delivered like a creative workshop. Photography expert Pye Jirsa guides you through the lessons and virtual workshops that make up Lighting 101, which are designed to cover all the fundamentals of lighting, including:

• How your camera’s flash can help when you’re going for natural-type images
• How to balance flash with ambient lighting to capture a subject’s motion
• Real-world applications and principles of the inverse square law of light
• The most important lighting gear for your camera—and when to use it
• Shooting in setups involving multiple bounce points for camera flash
• The easy-to-learn art of coloring light for corrective effect in your photographs
• How flash modifiers can help shape light and create different looks for a single shot

After you’ve built a fantastic foundation in lighting, flash, and flash modification, you’ll spend several lessons at the end of Lighting 101 focusing on specific case studies in lighting. You’ll learn the step-by-step strategies and techniques a master photographer uses to arrive at breathtaking shots of desert sunsets, family portraits, and more.

Developing a photographer’s eye and intuition are key parts of this course as much as lighting is. More than just training you how to shoot like a photographer, the in-depth case studies will train you how to think like one, too. Ultimately, the best way to learn the art and craft of lighting is to get out there and practice. Using the principles, tutorials, techniques, and insider tricks in Lighting 101, the next time you’re out in the world (or in a studio) with your camera, you’ll have the confidence to shoot like a professional.

Course Lessons

01: Chapter 1 Introduction

Chapter 1 Introduction
Duration: 1 min

02: Why Just One On-Camera Flash?

Why Just One On-Camera Flash?
Duration: 4 min

03: 5 Reasons to Use Flash

5 Reasons to Use Flash
Duration: 11 min

04: Common Flash Myths

Common Flash Myths
Duration: 7 min

05: What Makes Flash Challenging?

What Makes Flash Challenging?
Duration: 5 min

06: Chapter 2 Introduction

Chapter 2 Introduction
Duration: 2 min

07: Flash-Strobe vs. Ambient-Constant Light

Flash-Strobe vs. Ambient-Constant Light
Duration: 8 min

08: Flash vs. Ambient Light Exposure

Flash vs. Ambient Light Exposure
Duration: 3 min

09: Flash vs. Ambient Demo

Flash vs. Ambient Demo
Duration: 7 min

10: Flash and Ambient Balancing for Natural Effect

Flash and Ambient Balancing for Natural Effect
Duration: 7 min

11: Flash and Ambient Balancing for Dramatic Effect

Flash and Ambient Balancing for Dramatic Effect
Duration: 4 min

12: Flash and Ambient Balancing for Creative Effect

Flash and Ambient Balancing for Creative Effect
Duration: 7 min

13: Understanding Flash Duration

Understanding Flash Duration
Duration: 9 min

14: Chapter 3 Introduction

Chapter 3 Introduction
Duration: 2 min

15: 5 Common Key Light Patterns

5 Common Key Light Patterns
Duration: 9 min

16: 5 Common Key Light Patterns with Diffusion & Fill

5 Common Key Light Patterns with Diffusion & Fill
Duration: 8 min

17: 5 Common Secondary Light Patterns

5 Common Secondary Light Patterns
Duration: 8 min

18: 3 Primary Subject Patterns

3 Primary Subject Patterns
Duration: 5 min

19: Light Qualities

Light Qualities
Duration: 10 min

20: The Inverse Square Law

The Inverse Square Law
Duration: 8 min

21: Inverse Square Law in Practice

Inverse Square Law in Practice
Duration: 8 min

22: Corrective White Balance

Corrective White Balance
Duration: 10 min

23: Creative White Balance

Creative White Balance
Duration: 6 min

24: Chapter 4 Introduction

Chapter 4 Introduction
Duration: 2 min

25: On-Board vs. Hot Shoe Flash

On-Board vs. Hot Shoe Flash
Duration: 6 min

26: Full-Feature vs. Manual Flashes

Full-Feature vs. Manual Flashes
Duration: 9 min

27: TTL vs. Manual Control

TTL vs. Manual Control
Duration: 8 min

28: TTL vs. Manual Recycle Times

TTL vs. Manual Recycle Times
Duration: 5 min

29: Flash Power & Zoom

Flash Power & Zoom
Duration: 9 min

30: HSS vs. ND Filters

HSS vs. ND Filters
Duration: 12 min

31: FCS vs. RCS

FCS vs. RCS
Duration: 7 min

32: Chapter 5 Introduction

Chapter 5 Introduction
Duration: 2 min

33: 4 Tips When You Must Use Direct Flash

4 Tips When You Must Use Direct Flash
Duration: 6 min

34: Bare Bulbing Done Right

Bare Bulbing Done Right
Duration: 12 min

35: Grid Snoot + Direct Flash

Grid Snoot + Direct Flash
Duration: 7 min

36: Mini Beauty + Direct Flash

Mini Beauty + Direct Flash
Duration: 6 min

37: Ring + Direct Flash

Ring + Direct Flash
Duration: 8 min

38: Understanding Modifiers

Understanding Modifiers
Duration: 9 min

39: Direct Flash + Shutter Flash

Direct Flash + Shutter Flash
Duration: 9 min

40: Chapter 6 Introduction

Chapter 6 Introduction
Duration: 2 min

41: Ambient vs. Direct Flash vs. Bounce Flash

Ambient vs. Direct Flash vs. Bounce Flash
Duration: 14 min

42: Silver Bounce

Silver Bounce
Duration: 14 min

43: More Light Silver

More Light Silver
Duration: 11 min

44: Soft White Bounce

Soft White Bounce
Duration: 16 min

45: Overhead Bounce

Overhead Bounce
Duration: 12 min

46: Overhead Bounce + Fill

Overhead Bounce + Fill
Duration: 10 min

47: Event Bounce

Event Bounce
Duration: 13 min

48: Chapter 7 Introduction

Chapter 7 Introduction
Duration: 2 min

49: Natural vs. Dramatic Light

Natural vs. Dramatic Light
Duration: 18 min

50: Filling and Refining Existing Light

Filling and Refining Existing Light
Duration: 9 min

51: Coloring Light for Corrective Effect

Coloring Light for Corrective Effect
Duration: 14 min

52: Coloring Light for Creative Effect

Coloring Light for Creative Effect
Duration: 10 min

53: Chapter 8 Introduction

Chapter 8 Introduction
Duration: 1 min

54: Case Study 1: Dramatic Sunset

Case Study 1: Dramatic Sunset
Duration: 10 min

55: Case Study 2: Desert Sunset

Case Study 2: Desert Sunset
Duration: 10 min

56: Case Study 3: Sinister Headshot

Case Study 3: Sinister Headshot
Duration: 10 min

57: Case Study 4: Family Portrait

Case Study 4: Family Portrait
Duration: 8 min

58: Case Study 5: Athlete Portraits

Case Study 5: Athlete Portraits
Duration: 11 min

59: Case Study 6: Working Angles

Case Study 6: Working Angles
Duration: 7 min

60: Case Study 7: Drag + Composite

Case Study 7: Drag + Composite
Duration: 8 min

61: Case Study 8: Less Is More

Case Study 8: Less Is More
Duration: 7 min

62: The Good Karma Jar

The Good Karma Jar
Duration: 2 min

63: Favorite Feature Flashes

Favorite Feature Flashes
Duration: 6 min

64: Favorite Manual Flashes

Favorite Manual Flashes
Duration: 22 min

65: Favorite On-Camera Flash Modifiers

Favorite On-Camera Flash Modifiers
Duration: 21 min