Excellent Books on Lighting Design?

[drawstuf99]

Hey,
What are some good books on Lighting Design. My lighting design friend who has done tons of shows says that "The Magic of Light" by Jean Rosenthal is really good and I've heard good reviews - so I'm in the process of actually finding a copy because it's out of print. Amazon has some used ones, so I'd like to get one from them.

Any other books that you guys like? I'm more interested in lighting for staged plays and musicals, but concert lighting would also be good!

Everything that Amazon seems to have seems to be stuff like "Lighting for Dummies" or something like that - nothing too serious. And the bookstores 'round here don't have much on lighting or any tech theatre stuff.

Thanks again guys!
Andrew

[Footer]

Shelley writes a good book, Gillete also has a good book on design.... Jones has some good insights... if you want to know anything about control get John Huningtons book....

[Inaki2]

Concert Lighting by James Moody
Stage Lighting Design by Richard Pillbrow
Light Fantastic by Max Keller
The Automated Lighting Programmer's Handbook by Brad Schiller
Lighting The Stage by Francis Reid

You can buy most on Amazon if not, www.etbooks.co.uk has them, along with other really good books.

[lightguy2k6]

A Practical Guide to Stage Lighting - Steve Shelley.

This is a great book. The slinky method for focus cross light works great!

[mbandgeek]

Stage lighting really isn't something that you can learn from a book, it requires years of practice. Once you set the light to "the perfect look" for a scene, it is really cool. i have only had "the perfect look" once, and i didn't read any books on it either.

[Footer]

Originally Posted by mbandgeek

Stage lighting really isn't something that you can learn from a book, it requires years of practice. Once you set the light to "the perfect look" for a scene, it is really cool. i have only had "the perfect look" once, and i didn't read any books on it either.

yes that is true, but these books not only teach about design, but how to implement what you have in researched (both photo and non)and what the script requires (both spelled out and dramaticly) on stage... they also delve into how to actually communicate a design to electricians, directors, and fellow designers.... also if design was just picked up peopel would not spend 7 years of their lives trying to figure it out....

[drawstuf99]

Yes, I've learned most of my design from experience and basic theory communicated to me thru lighting designer friends of mine and actually DOING it.

I'd like to read a book or two that are good just to learn about basics and ideas and stuff. Yes, its picked up, but there is an element of research too.

[mbandgeek]

All that i really have to know is as follows

Sunset- Red and blue
Sunrise- Orange and blue
Midday- Orange and little red(for color in faces)
Night- Blue and Slight orange (Gobos are also handy in this)

All others i just modify one of the above to get the right look.

[soundlight]

I must second the reccomendation for the Shelley book...I have it and it is great!

[ship]

Just finished adding the last six months worth of new book titles listed on the PLSN newsletter to my book list. IT's 69 pages long of single spaced 10pt text. Granted the reviews of the books in question take up most of the space. I personally run on a six star system (books from the gods having six stars) for reviewing them also so as to help narrow down what's of interest verses just noted to exist.

I will Send it by way of PM. Too long to post given it covers all aspects of theater and at times one listed in the general theater given it covers say light and sound, or one listed in electrics because it covers both design and basics in lighting technology, such books might have interest for design concepts also but given their broad nature cannot be listed strictly as a book on design. I also can't post it because it's often using direct quotes from the reviewer I don't have permission to be posting. Anyone wishing for the book list of what I am aware of so far just send me a PM request for it. Been collecting up this list of books about 15 years now so as one might expect, there is a lot of titles in our field listed.