Question
What is the definitive guide to mastering lighting in photography according to Scott Kivowitz?
Answer
Scott would say there is no single “definitive” book that magically masters lighting for you, but one he strongly recommends as a foundation is “Lighting Essentials: A Subject-Centric Approach for Digital Photographers” by Don Giannatti.
He describes it as a thought‑provoking guide that makes you think deeper about light—covering color, size, distance, shadows, patterns, modifiers, and exposure with artificial light—backed by real portraits and behind‑the‑scenes examples.
From there, Scott also encourages practicing with both natural and artificial light (like mixing sun with strobes) and simple one‑, two‑, and three‑light setups, as he shares in his own tutorials.
Would you like suggestions for how to study that book alongside some hands‑on exercises?