Introduction
When making photographs, never forget the “Gasp Factor.”
—Dick Stolley, former Time-Life managing editor
When learning and refi ning their skills, most photographers
progress through three distinct phases. The fi rst stage occurs
immediately after they get their fi rst “good” camera and begin
discovering the potential of the medium. During this time, novice
shooters photographically explore their world with a high level
of enthusiasm. Every new batch of images they examine con-
tains photographs that look much better than the photographer
ever imagined they could. Unfortunately, this blissful period
doesn’t last long and is quickly replaced by the next period.
In phase two, the shooter’s level of enthusiasm is still high,
but is diminished when reviewing his or her newest captures
only to discover that they are much worse than expected. As
photographers continue to improve their skills by reading pub-
lications such as Digital Photographer and Shutterbug, attend-
ing workshops and seminars, and practicing their art, they
eventually reach the fi nal phase.
At this level, the image that photographers see in their camera’s
viewfi nder is exactly the same thing that appears on the camera’s
LCD screen or computer monitor. Although reaching this phase
can be fulfi lling, some of the magic is gone. If you would like
to experience some of the same thrill of discovery that occurred
during the fi rst phase of your photographic education, we would
like to suggest that you photograph when the available light may
not be so available.The “Gasp Factor”
When you turn the pages of magazines, books, and newspapers,
do you ever notice how some images just grab you? These great
photographs are unique; they are different. They literally force
you to stop and take a second look at them. When confronted
by this kind of photograph, do you sometimes wonder, “How
was that taken?” Perhaps you just think, “I wish I could do that.”
The goal of this book is to answer both the question and the
wish. We will take you behind the scenes and show you how
many different kinds of available light photographs were made