The moment it clicks : photography secrets from one of the world's top shooters

THE FIRST BOOK WITH ONE FOOT ON THE COFFEE TABLE, AND ONE FOOT IN THECLASSROOMJoe McNally, one of the world’s top pro digital photographers, whose celebrated work has graced the pages of Sports Illustrated, Time, and National Geographic (to name a few), breaks new ground by doing something no photography book has ever done—blending the rich, stunning images and elegant layout of a coffee-table book with the invaluable training, no-nonsense insights, and photography secrets usually found only in those rare, best-of-breed educational books. When Joe’s not on assignment for the biggest-name magazines and Fortune 500 clients, he’s in the classroom teaching location lighting, environmental portraiture, and how to “get the shot” at workshops around the world. These on-location workshops are usually reserved for a handful of photographers each year, but now you can learn the same techniques that Joe shares in his seminars and lectures in a book that brings Joe’s sessions to life. What makes the book so unique is the “triangle of learning” where (1) Joe distills the concept down to one brief sentence. It usually starts with something like, “An editor at National Geographic once told me...” and then he shares one of those hard-earned tricks of the trade that you only get from spending a lifetime behind the lens. Then, (2) on the facing page is one of Joe’s brilliant images that perfectly illustrates the technique (you’ll recognize many of his photos from magazine covers). And (3) you get the inside story of how that shot was taken, including which equipment he used (lens, f/stop, lighting, accessories, etc.), along with the challenges that type of project brings, and how to set up a shot like that of your own. This book also gives you something more. It inspires. It challenges. It informs. But perhaps most importantly, it will help you understand photography and the art of making great photos at a level you never thought possible. This book is packed with those “Ah ha!” moments—those clever insights that make it all come together for you. It brings you that wonderful moment when it suddenly all makes sense—that “moment it clicks.” Shoot What You Love......Page 2 Get Your Camera in a Different Place......Page 4 Turn Around!......Page 6 Persevere......Page 8 Pay Attention to the Small Pictures......Page 10 Get the Right Five Minutes......Page 12 Gradate the Light......Page 14 Don’t Pack Up Till You Leave......Page 16 Shoot It Now......Page 18 Keep Your Head on Straight......Page 20 Keep Asking Questions......Page 22 Take the Next Step......Page 24 Have Faith in Your Ideas......Page 26 Bring a Camera (Then Use It)!......Page 28 Nice Is Just...Nice......Page 30 Bullseye!......Page 32 Zoom with Your Feet......Page 34 Get Your Hands on Your Subjects......Page 36 Light, Color, Gesture......Page 38 Get Your Subjects Involved......Page 40 You Gotta Turn on a Dime......Page 42 Shoot What You Love......Page 44 Keep Your Eye in the Camera......Page 48 Dress the Part......Page 50 The Light in the Doorway......Page 52 Try Something Different......Page 54 Hold It Steady......Page 56 Get a Permit......Page 58 Glamour Light......Page 60 Taste the Light......Page 62 Remember, You’re Not Spider-Man......Page 64 Surprise Me......Page 66 Put the Light in an Unusual Place......Page 68 Filter!......Page 70 Keep Your Eye in the Camera......Page 72 Where Does the Light Come From?......Page 74 Make Your Day Longer......Page 76 Better to Ask for Forgiveness......Page 78 People Will Think You’re Crazy......Page 80 Use a Mime......Page 82 Carry a Bed Sheet......Page 84 Warm Is Better Than Cool......Page 86 Don’t Light All of It......Page 88 The Logic of Light......Page 92 Make Light Available......Page 94 I Like to Shoot Weddings—Ireland......Page 96 Baby Shoots Are Tough......Page 98 Make the Right Friends......Page 100 Check Out Their Hands......Page 102 Just Go Click......Page 104 Highlight the Subject......Page 106 The Subject Determines the Light......Page 108 Do Your Homework......Page 110 Get the Light Off the Camera......Page 112 Stay Close to the Candle......Page 114 Floor It!......Page 116 Never Let ‘em See Ya Sweat......Page 118 It Never Hurts to Look......Page 120 The Logic of Light......Page 122 It’s Good to Have Friends......Page 124 Don’t Leave......Page 126 Yanko Supremo......Page 128 Think Like a Comic Book......Page 130 Bring It All!......Page 132 Keep Looking When the Light’s All Gone......Page 134 There’s Always Something to Bounce Light Off Of......Page 138 Wing It......Page 140 Ring Light......Page 142 Bring a Chainsaw......Page 144 Get There Early......Page 146 Don’t Be So Darn Serious......Page 148 Tell ‘em Anything......Page 150 Be the Boss of the Light......Page 152 Push the Wide Lens......Page 154 Smile and Nod......Page 156 Stand in Front of More Interesting Stuff......Page 158 Play Catch......Page 160 Stick with Your Subjects......Page 162 Always Something to Bounce Light Off Of......Page 164 Soft Window Light Equals Studio......Page 166 Beware Straight Flash......Page 168 Pray for Bad Weather......Page 170 It’s Gotta Speak for Itself......Page 172 Remember: Light Picks Up Color......Page 174 Try Not to Be Too Self-Involved......Page 176 Keep Your Camera Ready......Page 178 Sometimes You Feel Bad......Page 180 Step Right Up!......Page 182 Joe’s Lighting Tips......Page 186 Joe’s Camera Bag......Page 194 Various Accessories......Page 195 Joe’s Grip and Lighting Gear......Page 198 The Barroom: The Bar Is Open......Page 202 Bad Days Can Make for Great Pictures......Page 204 It’s a Rocky Road to Freelanceville......Page 206 Be a Pest......Page 208 Never Live with a Model......Page 210 Dead Guys......Page 212 Just Go Make a Picture......Page 214 It Only Takes One.........Page 216 Think Romance!......Page 218 Eddie Being Eddie......Page 220 Not Everyone’s Gonna Love You......Page 222 A Little Terror Can Be Quite Helpful......Page 224 It’s Hard to Strike a Balance......Page 226 Ask the Tough Question......Page 228 The Pucker Factor......Page 230 In Space, No One Can Hear You Puke......Page 232 Choosing Is Never Easy......Page 234 It’s All About Your Attitude......Page 236 Listen to Your Assistant......Page 238 Get a Camera Where You Ain’t......Page 240 Take a Chance......Page 242 The Best Pictures Are Right Under Your Nose......Page 244 Learn from Those Around You......Page 246 My Most Important Piece of Equipment......Page 248 Know Who You’re Talking To......Page 250 Maybe One Day They’ll Think You’re Cool......Page 252 THE FIRST BOOK WITH ONE FOOT ON THE COFFEE TABLE, AND ONE FOOT IN THE CLASSROOM Joe McNally, one of the world’s top pro digital photographers, whose celebrated work has graced the pages of Sports Illustrated, Time, and National Geographic (to name a few), breaks new ground by doing something no photography book has ever done—blending the rich, stunning images and elegant layout of a coffee-table book with the invaluable training, no-nonsense insights, and photography secrets usually found only in those rare, best-of-breed educational books.

When Joe’s not on assignment for the biggest-name magazines and Fortune 500 clients, he’s in the classroom teaching location lighting, environmental portraiture, and how to “get the shot” at workshops around the world. These on-location workshops are usually reserved for a handful of photographers each year, but now you can learn the same techniques that Joe shares in his seminars and lectures in a book that brings Joe’s sessions to life.

What makes the book so unique is the “triangle of learning” where (1) Joe distills the concept down to one brief sentence. It usually starts with something like, “An editor at National Geographic once told me...” and then he shares one of those hard-earned tricks of the trade that you only get from spending a lifetime behind the lens. Then, (2) on the facing page is one of Joe’s brilliant images that perfectly illustrates the technique (you’ll recognize many of his photos from magazine covers). And (3) you get the inside story of how that shot was taken, including which equipment he used (lens, f/stop, lighting, accessories, etc.), along with the challenges that type of project brings, and how to set up a shot like that of your own.

This book also gives you something more. It inspires. It challenges. It informs. But perhaps most importantly, it will help you understand photography and the art of making great photos at a level you never thought possible. This book is packed with those “Ah ha!” moments—those clever insights that make it all come together for you. It brings you that wonderful moment when it suddenly all makes sense—that “moment it clicks.”

Provides Information On The Techniques And Equipment Necessary To Take Great Digital Photographs. Joe Mcnally. Includes Index.