Bryan Peterson, a professional photographer, is the author of "Understanding Exposure, Beyond Portraiture, Learning to See Creatively," and "Understanding Digital Photography." A well-known instructor, he is the founder of the online school The Perfect Picture School of Photography (www.ppsop.com). He lives in Chicago.

Flash is a necessary and immensely creative tool that dramatically increases the opportunities of any amateur photographer. However, many amateurs find flash intimidating, unsure of where to begin. Instead, they continue limiting themselves to shooting only available light. Understanding Flash Photography is a guide to off-camera flash, helping free photographers from "auto" to get the images they want when natural light isn't enough. If you've been afraid to venture past natural light, here is the book that will finally help you explore the exciting possibilities of artificial light.

Author Bryan Peterson starts by breaking down how flash works, then dispels the widely held myth that automatic "TTL" flash exposure is easier, explaining how to quickly master manual flash exposure to control the quality, shape, and direction of light.

For the hundreds of thousands who found Understanding Exposure an exciting tool in moving past "auto" exposure in available light, Understanding Flash Photography is the essential companion to mastering the often challenging exposure puzzle.