Authoritative and easy to follow, this practical photography book sets out everything you need to know about taking photographs in a studio setting. The ability to control artificial light and use it to get the shot you want is what turns an average photographer into a competent one. In the minds of many amateurs, however, its arcane technical jargon and an unspoken fear that you need a degree in electrical engineering to master the intricacies of tungsten lighting imbue the subject with an air of mystique. This guide sets out to show how anyone can master the art and techniques of studio photography. The first section of the book deals with the technicalities - what you need to set up a studio, the relative merits of different types of lighting and how to use those lights to create the effect you want and ideas for using backgrounds and props. Part two deals with the full spectrum of studio subjects, from nudes to still lifes, through a series of carefully selected case studies. By the end of the book, readers should have acquired a thorough grounding in producing studio shots that are both technically competent and aesthetically pleasing.