Best book for on-camera flash for beginners

I am buying a Canon Speedlite 430EX II as a Christmas present for my adult daughter. She has a T2i that we gave her for Christmas a couple of years ago. She is a complete novice in using on-camera flash, and this will be her first actual flash beyond the built-in pop up flash.

What book to you folks recommend for a beginner learning to use on-camera flash?

Remember, this is for a beginner who does want to take better flash photos than the "blast from the front" look. She, though a beginner, mostly shoots in manual mode, never on green box, but mostly gets her results from trial and error rather than any understanding of photo technique. (I'm also getting her Peterson's Understanding Exposure.)

From the on-line reviews, these books are strongly recommended and (what gives me pause) strongly criticized by thoughtful reviewers.

Neil van Niekerk's On-Camera Flash Techniques for Digital Wedding and Portrait Photography

Syl Arena's Speedliter's Handbook: Learning to Craft Light with Canon Speedlites

Bryan Peterson's Understanding Flash Photography: How to Shoot Great Photographs Using Electronic Flash

I'll be getting her the Kindle edition, if that matters.

At this point, I'm leaning toward the "Speedliter's Handbook"

Neil van Niekerk presents a lot of good information on his blog, I'm not certain that you need a book. The Syl Arena book deals specifically with canon speedlites, but its a lot of information to digest. The others will less centered on the controls, and more on the techniques.

The Syl Arena book as mentioned in an above post is the best one. I bought it and it is worth every penny. I still refer to it sometimes.

Out of the bunch I would highly recommend Neil's book followed by Syl's. Bryan has great beginner photography books but his book on flash is not one of them IMO.

The Syl Arena book is a very good read for speedlighters. It is somewhat specific to Canon so it would be my first choice. In my situation it was money well spent.

Regards,

110yd

I vote Neil. In my opinion, his book is much much better than the others for what shes after.

JakAHearts wrote in post #16503960
I vote Neil. In my opinion, his book is much much better than the others for what shes after.

Agreed.

Scatterbrained wrote in post #16503975
Agreed.

Of course you do. Im never wrong.

I have the first two books you linked, and both are excellent. Neil van Niekirk's is probably better for how to use on-camera flash specifically for portrait photography (his off-camera flash book is also excellent), while Syl Arena's book is more comprehensive for all aspects of using Canon Speedlites. As gonzogolf mentions above, Neil van Niekirk's blog is a great source of information, with the flash photography techniques section as the best starting place -http://neilvn.com …h-photography-techniques/. The Strobist Lighting 101 tutorial is another excellent online resource - http://strobist.blogsp​ot.com/2006/03/lightin​g-101.html.

JakAHearts wrote in post #16503960
I vote Neil. In my opinion, his book is much much better than the others for what shes after.

Agreed as well. Neil's on camera book is a great book (as is his off camera flash book)

stsva wrote in post #16504117
Neil van Niekirk's blog is a great source of information, with the flash photography techniques section as the best starting place -http://neilvn.com …h-photography-techniques/. The Strobist Lighting 101 tutorial is another excellent online resource - http://strobist.blogsp​ot.com/2006/03/lightin​g-101.html.

Two of the best link for anyone getting started with flash!!

Another vote for Neil's blog and strobist. Start with those two, and if you're just looki g to get good results with a single flash, they ought to get you where you need to go. If you move on to multiple speedlights, then I'd consider Syl's book. But for a newbie, I feel the Speedlighter's handbook leapfrogs the initial information a bit too much and is more of an "advanced" user's manual.

JakAHearts wrote in post #16503960
I vote Neil. In my opinion, his book is much much better than the others for what shes after.

Agree. Lot of info on his web site. Don't need a book. My local library had one and it was just same info as on the web site for free.

Another vote for Neil.

Hi, I have both Neil"s and Sly"s books,,which are great for learning, also there are video"s on utube ( I think through B&H OR Adorama"s store websites) with both these teachers going through their books and explaining their concepts .

Besides the flash and book, a piece of black foam or felt and a rubber band, nicely wrapped in a separate small box with a bow. She'll be wondering about that for awhile ...

http://neilvn.com …s/the-black-foamie-thing/