Automated Lighting, Second Edition: The Art and Science of Moving Light in Theatre, Live Performance, and Entertainment

5 Comments

1. 

   Scott FS / November 5, 2010

   Review by Scott FS for Automated Lighting, Second Edition: The Art and Science of Moving Light in Theatre, Live Performance, and Entertainment
   Rating:
   ‘Automated Lighting’ appealed to me because although I like to shoot video (interviews, documentaries, cats playing with the keyboard) I don’t know enough about lighting other than what three-point lighting arrangement is. I thought I might gain some solid knowledge about video and film lighting in this book.

   Well, I got that, but this book more; it is chock full of information that is particular to the professional lighting person. The picture on the cover of the book kind of tells it all: it shows a rock band hitting a crescendo, with pyrotechnics, mad guitar playing, and a ceiling full of lights.

   Well, gosh, I have about as much chance at being hired to do the lighting at Kiss’ next concert as Tiger Woods has at getting a marriage counseling gig. There are chapters entitled ‘DMX512 and DMX512-A’, and ‘V-Rated Tools’. Er, no, I don’t think so. But wait! There it is! Chapter 22! ‘Three-Point Lighting’!

   This book isn’t useless for totally ignorant (about lighting) people such as me. It’s just WAY more than that. There are chapters on the physics of lighting, electromechanical systems, overcurrent protection, electricity and magnetism and the like. So it is a hugely in-depth look at lighting for pretty much all venues, live, theater, and film and video.

   I don’t need to know how to find the capacitive reactance of a load (p 108), but some people do; those would be the professional whose business it is to light up large, or small, performances in a safe, effective way.

   And yes, I did learn more about what I was interested in, the lighting of video productions. But that’s a small part of the book.

   This is a wonderful and hugely valuable book for those in the trade. For them, I’d give this a solid ’5′. For those of us who pick it up hoping to learn a bit more about effective lighting techniques on a small scale, it’s a ’4′. Recommended.

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2. 

   Erica J. Dymond / November 5, 2010

   Review by Erica J. Dymond for Automated Lighting, Second Edition: The Art and Science of Moving Light in Theatre, Live Performance, and Entertainment
   Rating:
   This is exactly what I expect from Focal Press (well-known for its superior film/entertainment-industry texts) … a genuinely thoughtful text with helpful, aesthetically appealing illustrations/charts/examples.

   Yes, the price is a bit intimidating, but know that this is an essential text for those in the entertainment industrial. It literally contains everything you could possibly need or want to know. It is (without hyperbole) all-encompassing. In fact, I would not hesitate to say that Cadena’s text could easily replace the three texts I currently use as references.

   What’s more: this is a sturdy book. The covers are created from exceptional thick stock. Likewise, the actual pages are printed on glossy, sturdy stock. Does this matter? Absolutely! This book will be around for years and years. (And it will endure endless exploration and abuse).

   If you’re looking at this review (or page), you need this text! Buy it!

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3. 

   eric melzer / November 5, 2010

   Review by eric melzer for Automated Lighting, Second Edition: The Art and Science of Moving Light in Theatre, Live Performance, and Entertainment
   Rating:
   This book is great. I work for a church that is just starting to get into automated lighting technology, and this book really helped to give a lot of knowledge for what is available and also different techniques that various professionals use to achieve different looks. This is not only a great book to have if you are getting into the world of automated lighting, but a great reference for the future, as it gives a lot of background on lighting technology and concepts that will always be needed by lighting professionals.

   It is amazing how important proper lighting is on a stage, and automated lighting has really opened the door to a whole world of new possibilities. This book helps you understand how to take advantage of that world.

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4. 

   James T. Cote / November 5, 2010

   Review by James T. Cote for Automated Lighting, Second Edition: The Art and Science of Moving Light in Theatre, Live Performance, and Entertainment
   Rating:
   This is a great book for people wanting to learn more about Automated Lighting. The book covers tons of material from the history of automated lighting, through power requirements (including a detailed section on what power is and all of the different standards), through programming and so on. It is very easy to understand even for someone who has never touched a moving light.

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5. 

   Alyssa A. Lappen / November 5, 2010

   Review by Alyssa A. Lappen for Automated Lighting, Second Edition: The Art and Science of Moving Light in Theatre, Live Performance, and Entertainment
   Rating:
   This is an unbelievably complete and up-to-date review of the 21st Century technology and techniques available for lighting and set designers working today. Whether you attended theater design and/or lighting school in the 1970s, 1980s or 1990s, this book has new information that you most likely did not learn with the fullest data imaginable on where to acquire equipment, how to use it, and how to achieve the best effects for the least expense. No set or lighting designer will be sorry to have purchased this volume.

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