Gerd Ludwig, a National Geographic veteran known for his many photo essays, is one of the leading documentary photographers of our time. As a photographer focusing on diverse cultural and
environmental stories, Ludwig is often confronted with a wide range of low-light situations—from classic street photography to portraiture, from scenes in bustling night clubs to intimate
moments in churches—many of which require additional lighting that must be created quickly and effectively. Over 20 years ago, Ludwig began incorporating small handheld flashes into his
photography with the aim of creating an evenly balanced look in the final photograph. At the same time, he wanted to avoid burdening himself with heavy equipment so he could be flexible and
inconspicuous when moving around in the field. Over the years, he has refined his use of small flash by adding a few simple, handmade devices to his lighting kit that hone his technique even
further. His use of flash appears so subtle in the final image that it is easily mistaken for natural light—an invisible flash. Recently, in his fine-art and documentary work in interior or
night settings, Ludwig began making long exposures by combining a flash on a tripod with a series of flashes fired from a single hand-held unit. Ludwig is recognized as a master of combining
available light with handheld flash, perfecting a technique where the flash is an essential, yet nearly invisible, element in the photograph. For both amateurs and professionals, this subtle
but powerful use of flash can be a challenge to master. Indeed, even some of Ludwig’s esteemed National Geographic colleagues have turned to him for advice. In the past, Ludwig has shared his
tricks of the trade in lectures and workshops. Now, for the first time, Ludwig makes his approach available in a book so that all photographers—amateurs, enthusiasts, and professionals
alike—can understand and learn his unique lighting method. In Minus 2/3—The Invisible Flash: Crafting Light for Photographers in Field, Ludwig takes us behind the scenes of many of his most
iconic images to reveal his lighting techniques in easy-to-understand terms. In Minus 2/3—The Invisible Flash, you’ll learn Ludwig’s shooting method, including how to: • Determine exposure in a
low-light situation • Introduce flash into the scene in a subtle way that more powerfully draws the viewer’s eye to the subject • Seamlessly balance the color of flash with the color of the
natural light in the scene • Incorporate light into a scene when working alone or with an assistant • Create long exposures with multiple firings of the flash
