The case studies presented in Kirk Tuck's "Minimalist Lighting: Professional Techniques for Location Photography" get right to the meat of the matter quickly. With lighting diagrams presented right next to the explanations as to why those positions are important are invaluable to someone who's having trouble getting from visualization to imaging.

While some of the equipment references have become mildly dated since the initial print, they're not so bad that one cannot immediately find updated material (for example, the Nikon SB-800 is referred to as the "...current top-of-the-line flash in the Nikon system," having been replaced by the SB-900 only last year.

For beginner-to-intermediate photographers, I think the "Minimalist Lighting" series is a must-have. Even many long-time professional photographers have mentioned to me that they've learned something from it, too.

Kirk Tuck's writing style is warm and friendly, just like sitting down over a cup of coffee with a buddy. He explains, often through stories of previous shoots, how he came to look for an alternative and more modern way to light his photographs. Many photographers of experience are trapped by their own inability to change with the times, but Mr. Tuck is not one of those professionals. He describes in detail the why, how and where to use small strobes. More often that not, with today's technologically advanced cameras, these small strobes easily handle the tasks that used to require large, heavy and expensive studio lights. This book is a great place for any beginner to start but certainly doesn't leave out the more seasoned photographer. I've been shooting professionally for 23 years and really enjoyed this book, even learned a few things!

Kirk does an excellent job of guiding people through the changing landscape of lighting and photography. As a photographer who has had his fair share of back breaking packing sessions and shoots, it's a refreshing mantra hearing that you don't always need the biggest hammer as long as you have the right one for the job.

The early chapters discuss lighting and the reasons to take a minimalist approach, followed by a gradual introduction to tools that will help get the job done. The later chapters concentrate on application, and the case studies with examples at the end are especially useful to see how things all come together.

New photographers taking advantage of falling financial barriers will benefit the most and to them this book comes highly recommended, but even old timers will find useful information.

There are many books about lighting on the market, however, Kirk Tuck's Minimalist Lighting: Professional Techniques for Location Photography covers a lot of bases as well as providing a unique slant. With the rising popularity of small flash photography, Tuck has created an outstanding resource that not only shows the flexibility of the small units but demonstrates solid lighting information. You'll find information about light modifiers; umbrellas, soft boxes and silks. Info about efficiently powering your strobes, balancing light color etc. To tie it all together, Tuck includes a handful of varied "case studies", including thorough descriptions and diagrams of his lighting set-ups. More importantly, Tuck explains why he makes the choices he makes, an element missing in many other texts. The writing style is very accesible and often times humorous. Minimalist Lighting: Professional Techniques for Location Photography really provides all you need to know to get started, plus a trove of valuable tips and concepts that exemplify Tuck's 30-year career as a professional photographer.

This book is the real deal.

If you have an off-camera flash... or plan to get one (and you should) and you want to take great location shots...

this well written book should be in your library, period.

Kirk Tuck's book strikes a resounding note in the blossoming arena of photography books emerging after the digital photography boom. Rather than being a simple "this is a camera, this is a lens" beginner's level photography introduction, Professional Techniques for Location Photography draws out detailed information on the techniques used by a working professional photographer.

Rather than give a summary of the book's contents, I'll simply point out the good and the bad. Kirk Tuck's book delivers the goods in meaty text; this is not a glossy magazine to devour in ten minutes while looking at the pretty pictures, there's detailed information and advice on how to use the techniques described within. People accustomed to books such as Michael Grecco's Art of the Dramatic Portrait might need time to adjust, as the book is text-heavy. The images provide a concrete, visual explanation of the information written; it's not a paint by the numbers.

I wish that I had had this as a textbook at school, as it's got lots of practical advice in an easy to read format. While I wouldn't say you can devour it in an hour, it's a book to peruse again whenever you have need of a particular section. The details are all there in an easy to read format.