Light on the Subject: Stage Lighting for Directors and Actors and the Rest of Us

Rating:
Summary: Great for students and professionals alike!!
Review: As a theatre lighting proffesional I found this book to be very enjoyable and the antidotes were lively and easily related to. A general good book with very little technical jargon and stories that you'll tell to a hysterically laughing crew at cue to cue's!!! A must for designers and the rest of the industry!

Rating:
Summary: Neither flesh nor fish
Review: I'm guy who likes the technical. This book leaps right into the technical with hopes that you'll swallow it whole. That is not a non-technical approach. Far from it. It overwhelmed even me, who was ready to get into the nitty-gritty. A few more diagrams and a little more patience would have made the first part of the book better.

The second part of the book, which concentrates on theory, is more fun, mostly because of the anecdotes. I wish Mr. Hays had been more generous with the anecdotes, because they are informative as well as interesting. What comes across loud and clear is the artistry of not only lighting designers, but the entire tech crew.

I have not read any other books on theater lighting, but this book was certainly more informative than classes I have taken. I can't endorse it fully, since most left-hand pages are nearly blank-- Hays puts short quotes by novelists in that describe light in terms of emotion. The quotes would be better in their own section. And it is not as "non-technical" as advertised. However, all this is probably compensated by, for most theater people, the handy glossary which includes pictures of different kinds of lights-- invaluable!

I hate to give anything a mixed review, but hopefully you can determine from the description above whether this is the book you are looking for.

Rating:
Summary: Neither flesh nor fish
Review: I'm guy who likes the technical. This book leaps right into the technical with hopes that you'll swallow it whole. That is not a non-technical approach. Far from it. It overwhelmed even me, who was ready to get into the nitty-gritty. A few more diagrams and a little more patience would have made the first part of the book better.

The second part of the book, which concentrates on theory, is more fun, mostly because of the anecdotes. I wish Mr. Hays had been more generous with the anecdotes, because they are informative as well as interesting. What comes across loud and clear is the artistry of not only lighting designers, but the entire tech crew.

I have not read any other books on theater lighting, but this book was certainly more informative than classes I have taken. I can't endorse it fully, since most left-hand pages are nearly blank-- Hays puts short quotes by novelists in that describe light in terms of emotion. The quotes would be better in their own section. And it is not as "non-technical" as advertised. However, all this is probably compensated by, for most theater people, the handy glossary which includes pictures of different kinds of lights-- invaluable!

I hate to give anything a mixed review, but hopefully you can determine from the description above whether this is the book you are looking for.

Rating:
Summary: Great Primer for Non Lighting Designers
Review: This is an excellent introduction to the world of Lighting Design for the non designer. It is an enjoyable quick read as well. Its a great way for someone in the theatre to understand what Lighting Designers and technicians auctually do.