Speedliter's Handbook: Learning to Craft Light With Canon Speedlites

by Syl Arena

For those new to flash photography—or for anyone who has previously given up out of frustration— Speedliter’s Handbook, Second Edition , is a revelation. Follow along as photographer Syl Arena takes you on a journey that begins with an exploration of light and color, moves through a comprehensive discussion of the Canon Speedlite family and all of the accessories and equipment available to the Speedliter, and finally, explores crafting great light in one photo shoot after another. Whether you want to make a classic portrait, photograph a group, capture an important event, or create dramatic color effects in your images, Speedliter’s Handbook shows you how.
In this fully updated second edition, Syl includes all of the newest Canon gear—including the radio-enabled 600EX-RT Speedlite and ST-E3 Transmitter—to ensure that you are completely up to date on all of the components in the Speedlite system. He also includes a downloadable online supplement on the brand-new 430EX III-RT Speedlite. Plus, he covers his newest best practices and workflows so you can make the most of your Canon gear.
In this new edition, you’ll learn how

Genres: Photography, Nonfiction, Reference, Crafts

437 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2011

Reviews

[Luke Burrage · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really great introduction to small strobe photography, with a very specific focus on Canon Speedlites. This is exactly what I need to find my way around this new (to me) area of photography. While there is a lot of equipment covered, most of the examples and lessons focus on how to do things cheaply and quickly. I'm glad about this, as I don't want to spend too much more money on photography just yet.

While the lessons are good, and the information imparted invaluable, many of the photographs used as examples are quite pedestrian. Most are taken as examples, I guess.

Thankfully, if I want perfection and inspiration, I have a copy of The Moment It Clicks by Joe McNally. These two books complement each other really well, I think. Syl Arena fleshes out the know-how behind Joe McNally's artistry, but with Canons not Nikons in mind.

[Jeroen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Schitterend boek. Steengoede introductie en vervolmakingscursus in het werken met (off-body) flitsen. Gaat uit van Canon camera's en flitsen, maar inhoudelijk zeker ook voor Nikon/Fuji/andere bruikbaar.
Geeft algemene uitleg over werking van de curtains, flitstijden, sensoren, scherpte-diepte, en gaat dan over naar diverse benaderingen. Syl plaatst bij de voorbeeldfoto's altijd een schetsje over de opstelling van de camera en flits(en), zodat je effect beter leert begrijpen.
Zeer praktische leidraad voor mensen die eens iets ander willen proberen dan een camera op de auto-modus (het groene knopje) en de ingebouwde flis.

[William C. Montgomery · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have mixed impressions of the book. I like Syl Arena. He incorporates his hometown and his family, namely his three teenage sons, in his business and features them in the book. The book has much good information, including a few nuggets that were new to me. The book was comprehensive, specific to the Canon equipment that I currently own or hope to own in the near future, easily understandable, and Syl’s writing style is engaging.

So what is not to like? As well done as Speedliter’s Handbook is, as I read the book I’m continually finding problems with it: illustrations/photos that do not clearly demonstrate the concept being taught, text that invokes terminology that has not been defined, poor analogies, etc. I guess I have done enough writing that these kinds of things stand out to me.

I guess my biggest complaint is that his image stock seems recycled. There were few photos in the book that I haven’t already seen on his website and in the seminar videos available online. To his credit, many of these photos were taken for the purpose of demonstrating photographic techniques including step-by-step illustrations of how each photo was made. But again, the downside to this is that the reader doesn’t see any of his actual commercial work. Few of the photos look really finished. And he comes off as though he doesn’t get very much work. Maybe he doesn’t. (I doubt that.) So I am left unfulfilled by the book.

[Jim Driscoll · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this book as a present from my brother (Hi Jerry!) after it languished on my wishlist for a couple years. I really wish I'd gotten it sooner.

This book is amazing. It covers everything, and I mean pretty much everything, about Canon Speedlites. And a fair bit more on flash photography besides.

Do you know what high speed sync means for Canon flashes? Were you aware that you can make your 430EX strobe multiple times a second in slave mode? And how do you use that "C" group?

Or, if all of that sounds to esoteric, do you know how to use two flashes together for best effect? Want to know what $10 piece of wire to get if you have one single flash but want your pictures to look tons better?

Seriously good book. Well written. More knowledge than I knew I needed. Can't recommend enough.

[Deanna Roy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great basic book on using TTL Speedlites. Besides specific information on the Canon line, there are many chapters devoted to general lighting topics such as modifiers, lighting setups, basics on the inverse square law and cross-lighting, as well as many fun tips along the way.

The photos in the book are not inspiring (and some were downright awful--surely we aren't working toward THAT!) But I did get a lot out of the book. I'm a 12-year pro photographer wanting to get a better handle on the TTL end of it as I've been shooting with manual-only flash all these years. And I'm using my speedlite in manual. :)

[Páll Á Gudmundsson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I bought this book to help me understand all the features on my Speedlite 580EXII But it turned out to be a much more than that. It is more of a thorough textbook on photo lightning in general than merely a handbook. Syl divides the book in 4 parts: Part 1 Before Speedlites there was light. Part2 Speedlites fundamentally. Part3 Gear for Speedliting. Part4 Speedliting in Action.

Syl has personal and fun writing style without trying to hard to be funny. I really recommend this book fore anyone interested in photography and not only "Canonistas" but Nikon users as well since a large part of the book applies to lighting in general.

Highly recommended.

[Babak · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent practical introduction to flash photography. Very pedagogic text that made me understand what the different buttons on my Canon speedlites are. Some parts of it become too generic and can be found in other lightning books (some of which are much better than this). But the parts that explain Canon speedlites are indispensable.

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

brilliant book on how to i) understand light ii) then deeper into how to interact light with Canon flash iii) outdoor situation iv) indoor situation v) gadgets that help to create special effects, or light controls both outdoor/indoors) vi) examples and cases. Must have and must read, and will help. A marvel.

[Andrea · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a very detailed and comprehensive manual about using Canon speedlites. The author does a great job of explaining different things that you can do with speedlites. I loved all of the pictures that helped demonstrate how the same shot can look completely different just by changing the settings on the camera and the speedlites.

[Felipe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good book if you are just starting in the Speedlight world. I cant recommend enough this book, the only "complain" is the photos used in the examples, sometimes, get the feeling are just half-done, still think they reflect the idea, just not as elaborate as you will expect.

[Meds · Rating 4 out of 5]

this book I can suggest it right now , instead of reading it page by page u can surf through it as u like and as what u want really I took too long time to finish it from cover to cover but it Worth's.

[Tammy · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book had some good information although the majority of it assumes you have either multiple spoedliter's or other external lighting that your working with. I wish there was more about using your flash singly or in different types of shoots like weddings, night shoots and sports mode.

[Mike Lewis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book on Canon flash. I just wish it was updated for the new 600ex Rt's. still, the concepts in here are solid. It's a great lighting book

[J.B. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Awesome book for learning to use Canon Speedlites. Some really good basic photography here as well. I learned a lot and realized I have a lot to learn.

[Matt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic comprehensive introduction to off-camera speedliting. It covers everything from shooting traditional portraits to light modifications to buying batteries.

[Howard · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you have a Canon speedlite and want to better familiarise yourself with its full range of capabilities, read this book and keep this book handy. An excellent reference guide.

[Andrew Naylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just phenomenal!

[Laura Madsen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good information. Even if you don't have a Speedlite (yet), there is good info on lighting and balancing ambient and flash.

[Tom Peterson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Helpful

[Rachael]

I became obsessed with and then quickly bored with the idea of mastering speed lights. Maybe some day I'll come back to this.