Comments on: Books On Stage Lighting – 5 Of The Best

By: Michael

Michael — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 15:28:51 +0000

I am currently a student in my final year of A-Levels. I am studying performing arts and film studies. Thought performing arts i have had the chance to use the school lighting equipment. It has always been something i have been interested in. I would like to get a carer as a lighting technician but have no idea of how to go about learning it or getting experience. Any advice would be very helpful.

Thank you

By: Reza

Reza — Sun, 30 Oct 2011 23:42:21 +0000

I’m looking for PDF version of “The Magic of Light – Jean Rosenthal”! anyone can help me?

By: Reza

Reza — Sun, 30 Oct 2011 23:40:52 +0000

+ The Lighting Art: The Aesthetics of Stage Lighting Design
by: Richard H. Palmer

By: Adrian

Adrian — Sun, 03 Apr 2011 07:03:08 +0000

Hi
I was hoping you could give me some advise please, I help at my childrens dance school, two shows ago I took over the lighting well say took over I am the first person to take it on, I have to admit I have really got the bug and love doing the lighting only problem is I am learning through mistakes and getting realy frustrated, we have got 8 par 64 cans and three 2000w lights (sorry dont know what they are called) to control them all I use a basic foot controller for the par cans and turn on the 2000w on on and off by the plug which is a nightmare.

Do you know of any courses I could do to learn what equipment I need to buy to learn how to improve our lighting and to be able to fade each light rather than just turn on and off.

many thanks

By: Rob Sayer

Rob Sayer — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 06:20:01 +0000

Thanks for you suggestions, Carlos. While Neil Frasers book is fairly basic, the whole Phaidon Theatre Manual series is a great intro to all the disciplines. I even had the Costume and Wardrobe book and enjoyed reading all of them. I was probably about 12 years old, though. The book is still a good jump off point for young people IMO. I reviewed the Richard Pilbrow book a little while ago when it became available in the UK as a paperback edition.

By: Carlos

Carlos — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 00:40:02 +0000

while I do not recommend Neil Fraser’s Light and sound (too basic and often boring) here is my top5

Light Fantastic – Max Keller
The Magic of Light – Jean Rosenthal
Stage Lighting Design – Richard Pillbrow
A Practical Guide to Stage Lighting – Steven Louis Shelley
Automated Lighting – Richard Cadena

I am also waiting for Cadena’s Electricity for Entertainment Electrician & Technician (we should find this a nickname) Reference and the 3rd edition of James Moody’s Concert Lighting

By: Yeroen

Yeroen — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 10:19:53 +0000

I would like to recommend another book. It’s Max Keller’s LIGHT Fantastic, 1999, ISBN 3.7913.2162.5. The best allround book, with the best photographs I’ve ever seen in a book, scenes and equipment. It might look outdated, but it is certainly not.
Just try to find it and have a look.
Regards Yeroen
PS. Like the site, just found it a few weeks ago. Keep it up.

By: Rob Sayer

Rob Sayer — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 17:15:05 +0000

Thanks for your suggestion, Jerry. That book is highly spoken of, although I haven’t read it myself. One of those that you will soon only be able to find in the secondhand bookshops, I expect.
Cheers,

By: Jerry

Jerry — Fri, 02 Jan 2009 19:19:19 +0000

I’d recommend one book … its outdated technically, but not artisically and describes the craft for an outsider (you can explain to your mom and your girfriend/boyfriend/wife/husband/whatever what it is you do) The Magic of Light by Jean Rosenthal .. a great Broadway designer of the 60′s

By: Kat Lanphear

Kat Lanphear — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 01:03:48 +0000

Hi Rob,

Thanks so much for linking me to this page! Glad to see we have a favorite in common. =) I am going to get my hands on The Automated Lighting Programmer’s Handbook with my next paycheck. Thanks for the recommendation!