OneLight Field Guide from Zack Arias REVIEW

The OneLight Field Guide from Zack Arias

From his blog; (ZARIAS.COM)

The guide showcases more than 50 images ranging from bands to models to brides. Mostly bands and models. For the first half of the guide I explain the gear and the settings used to create the image. For the second half I showcase images using the same gear and approximate settings. You’ll find tips and tricks throughout the guide that go beyond the scope of apertures, shutter speeds, and modifiers. I walk you through single light sources and then introduce you to multiple lights and how to deal with that. It’s made for folks who would like to keep a cookbook of scenarios on hand while out shooting.

Everything is straightforward and easy to grasp. It is made to complement the OneLight DVD and/or workshop so it isn’t supposed to be a step by step by step guide on how to use flash. That’s covered at length in the DVD and workshop. If you are comfortable with the basic principles of off camera lighting, but you have not been to a OneLight workshop or have not seen the OneLight DVD, then you will still enjoy this guide.

My review;

Well there it is on my desk messy kitchen table, 88 pages from Zack in a magazine size booklet. The color and page quality is excellent, good choice to use MagCloud.com. The first thing that threw me off was the abbreviation HSF on page…. Oh wait we do not have page numbers. But HSF means Hot Shoe Flash. First I thought that must be Hot Sensible Female….. Nope wrong assumption. I have to admit that English is not my native language but I doubts that this was the reason. All the photo’s show a good exposure and he explains how he did it with the lighting. In the first half he explains settings using a diagram. The second half he invites you to “see” the modifiers he used by looking at the catch-light and shadows. The text is his, no doubt about it, it is like he is talking to you personally. If you attended his workshop or seen the web cast from CreativeLife you will recognize it. Its funny as heck sometimes. Great work Zack to bad you did not use the aquarium photo from your CreativeLife sessions. I had to put something negative in here and that’s all I could think off. Oh and I liked the comments about the inverse square law throughout the pages, something that we forget easy because its a confusing rule for most of us (unless you attended one of his workshops).

But is it a field guide? Yes and No The size is to big to fit comfortable in a camera bag unless you have one where you can fit a laptop in. But the information is great to glans over if you are not sure how to tackle a problem. And thank you so much there is no advertisement or other corporate crap.

In conclusion I would say it is inspirational to see how he solved the lighting challenges and it is a showcase of his works with his signature. It will not replace the DVD or workshop and if you do not know anything about off camera flash this book/magazine is still for you and makes you want to learn this craft!

Highly recommended

Buy it here http://www.magcloud.com for $24.60 plus S&H

8.25″  10.75″
88 pages
Perfect-bound