This practical guide is designed for photographers who want to build a solid foundation in lighting—from beginners looking to move beyond trial-and-error, to professionals aiming to revisit core principles.
While the book centers on off-camera flash, its concepts and techniques apply broadly to both clip-on and studio strobes. Topics such as light positioning, shadow control, and lighting design are clearly explained through photographs and diagrams.
The content is based on workshops previously held at UNPLUGGED STUDIO Shibuya, and emphasizes a practical understanding of how light behaves, rather than relying on complicated gear or gimmicks.
Originally published in Japanese, this long-selling book is now available on Amazon Kindle. Even if you don’t read Japanese, the visual examples and lighting diagrams offer valuable insights.
To assist with understanding, we recommend using tools like Google Translate’s camera feature (on a second device), or OCR apps such as DeepL or Papago to translate pages as needed.
How to Read This Japanese Book in English
How to Read This Japanese Book in English
Even though this book is written in Japanese, many English-speaking readers can still benefit from its content thanks to clear visuals and translation tools. Here’s how:
Can I read it in English on Kindle?
The Kindle app or device itself doesn’t offer direct translation for Japanese-language books.
However, you can use the following workarounds:
Option 1: Use Google Translate’s Camera Feature
- Use a second device (like your smartphone)
- Open the Google Translate app
- Point the camera at your Kindle screen
- It will instantly overlay an English translation
- Great for reading short sections or captions
Option 2: Take Screenshots and Use OCR Translation Tools
- Use Kindle on Fire tablet, iPad, or PC and take a screenshot
- Upload the image to translation tools like:
- DeepL (with OCR)
- Papago
- Google Translate (image upload)
- These tools will extract and translate the text into English
Option 3: Focus on Visuals and Diagrams
Even without translation, this book features:
- Lighting diagrams
- Setup photos
- Before/after examples
- Step-by-step illustrations
These visuals alone can help you understand most of the techniques.
Tip:
For best results, combine translation tools with visual interpretation.
It’s not perfect, but many international readers have successfully used this method to learn from Japanese photography books.