Good Book on Portrait Photography?
Don Cohen
I'm trying to get better at Portrait Photography (not
professional/full-time), using a Canon D30, with dual 550EX flashes, each
with a stand/umbrella, using the ST-E2 for remote wireless triggering.
Photek PeoplePopper background system.
But I really need to get better versed on some fundamentals on basic
lighting and portrait techniques.
I learned a great deal on outdoor photography from John Shaw's Nature
Photography Field Guide. Can somebody give me a title or two that would
deal in a similar, comprehensive, basic fashion in the area of portrait
photography?
Thanks in advance.
--
Don
Photo Website at:
http://www.dlcphotography.net
Hassel Weems
http://www.zuga.net/zuga/contributors/zeltsman/morejoe.htm
Hassel
--
Hassel Weems
Plugged In Design
Web Sites • Graphic Design • Photography
http://www.pluggedindesign.com
--
Tony Spadaro
Manifesto. THese are books I've actually read, and think are good. There is
no amazon link. I figure that if I made a commission off recommending
books - I might be tempted to recommend a LOT of books.
--
Tony Spadaro
Chapel Hill artist Tony Spadaro
The Camera-ist's Manifesto
http://home.nc.rr.com/tspadaro/
Dark Alley Photography
http://www.homeusers.prestel.co.uk/magor/tony
a Radical approach to photography
"Don Cohen" <donc...@nc.prestige.net> wrote in message
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Don Cohen
definitely helpful.
Thanks!
--
Don
Photo Website at:
http://www.dlcphotography.net
"Hassel Weems" <has...@pluggedindesign.com> wrote in message
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> Web Sites . Graphic Design . Photography
> http://www.pluggedindesign.com
>
> --
Don Cohen
Looks like "Learning to Light" and/or "50 Portrait Lighting Techniques"
might be helpful.
As I delve into this, I have a mixed reaction to some of the techniques -
the relatively rigid/structured approach to posing and lighting puts me off
some, as I would tend to prefer spontaneity. But I still need to understand
the basics of lighting to have any chance at getting pleasing results, even
in a spontaneous context.
But learning is half the fun, so thanks again.
--
Don
Photo Website at:
http://www.dlcphotography.net
"Tony Spadaro" <tspa...@ncmaps.rr.com> wrote in message
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Tony Spadaro
light, which burns a lot of film and someimes gets zilch, but hey, if it
weren't a challange would it still be fun?
--
Tony Spadaro
Chapel Hill artist Tony Spadaro
The Camera-ist's Manifesto
http://home.nc.rr.com/tspadaro/
Dark Alley Photography
http://www.homeusers.prestel.co.uk/magor/tony
a Radical approach to photography
"Don Cohen" <donc...@nc.prestige.net> wrote in message
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Paul Ferrara
Techniques for Studio Photography." Check it out on amazon.com. He has a
new one coming out this fall on location photography.
If you want to see some shots I took using virtually the same setup as
yours, check the web site below.
Paul
www.columbusoft.com/photos/gallery.htm
Don Cohen <donc...@nc.prestige.net> wrote in message
news:hOUt6.4817$%N.2...@skycache.prestige.net...
Don Cohen
I had already gone to Amazon last night and did some searching, and found
this book there. It sounded like what I was looking for. As I read the
reviews, I saw one by a Paul Ferrara, and I thought that must be the same
Paul Ferrara that posts here!
The only somewhat negative comment in the reviews suggested that the
lighting diagrams were off-scale, and not as numerous or useful as they
could be. Does this criticism seem valid to you? One of the main things
I'm looking for is detailed illustrations (or better yet, photographs) of
actual light setup and placement (the equipment itself), and the effects
they produce (that is, the final picture).
The site zuga.net site Hassel pointed me to was very helpful, but had only
verbal descriptions of how/where to place lights, which I find not as
helpful/precise as a few well-drawn diagrams, or even photos of the setups.
Thanks.
--
Don
Photo Website at:
http://www.dlcphotography.net
"Paul Ferrara" <pa...@nospam.columbusoft.com> wrote in message
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Bob Hickey
type; umbrellas or softboxes. Get this months Vanity Fair and look
closely at the eyes in the ads. If they havn't been air brushed out,
you'll be able to "see" the setup.
Bob Hickey
Steve King
Don, I recently bought the JJ Allen book, myself, being
extremely interested in portrait photography.
: The only somewhat negative comment in the reviews suggested that the
: lighting diagrams were off-scale, and not as numerous or useful as they
: could be. Does this criticism seem valid to you? One of the main things
: I'm looking for is detailed illustrations (or better yet, photographs) of
: actual light setup and placement (the equipment itself), and the effects
: they produce (that is, the final picture).
I would certainly agree, but there's a lot of good stuff in
there, as well. Probably like you, I like lots of exact sketches,
placement information -- *details*, which JJ doesn't really
bother with. The author says, "don't worry about brand/type
of flash equipment," but then the portraits will be lighted
with a freakin' Larson Starfish something-or-other, etc.
The book is very much geared to a starting professional,
I feel, but is still a good resource.
: The site zuga.net site Hassel pointed me to was very helpful, but had only
: verbal descriptions of how/where to place lights.
No, no -- look again. There's *lots* in there. Bernstein has a
"sketchbook", or something, with hand-drawn notes and sketches,
of various shoots.
Tony Spadaro
awful lot of information would be lost in a single photograph and the use of
some items would never be clear even using multiple photos of the set-up.
--
Tony Spadaro
Chapel Hill artist Tony Spadaro
The Camera-ist's Manifesto
http://home.nc.rr.com/tspadaro/
Dark Alley Photography
http://www.homeusers.prestel.co.uk/magor/tony
a Radical approach to photography
"Don Cohen" <donc...@nc.prestige.net> wrote in message
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Paul Ferrara
beginner. While some of it looks nice, it's not of much use to me learning
how to take good portraits of average people. I think the value of JJ's
book is that you can put his lessons into practice regardless of the level
of the equipment that you have to work with.
Paul
Steve King <stk...@duke.edu> wrote in message
news:99adhs$j0v$1...@news.duke.edu...
Paul Ferrara
contrary, I have another book purchased at the same time, titled
"Pro-Lighting Portraits," (it's one of a series). Glamorous shots, detailed
lighting diagrams for every one and while it's nice to look at, it's as far
from a learning tool as you can get. IMO, there's a ton of stuff to learn
about lighting AND posing that has nothing to do with how the lights are
positioned and all of that is covered in depth in JJ's book.
Paul
Don Cohen <donc...@nc.prestige.net> wrote in message
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Don Cohen
--
Don
Photo Website at:
http://www.dlcphotography.net
"Bob Hickey" <bobh...@webtv.net> wrote in message
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Don Cohen
> I would certainly agree, but there's a lot of good stuff in
> there, as well. Probably like you, I like lots of exact sketches,
> placement information -- *details*, which JJ doesn't really
> bother with. The author says, "don't worry about brand/type
> of flash equipment," but then the portraits will be lighted
> with a freakin' Larson Starfish something-or-other, etc.
>
> The book is very much geared to a starting professional,
> I feel, but is still a good resource.
I'll see if I can find it in a local bookstore, and check it out that way.
> : The site zuga.net site Hassel pointed me to was very helpful, but had
only
> : verbal descriptions of how/where to place lights.
>
> No, no -- look again. There's *lots* in there. Bernstein has a
> "sketchbook", or something, with hand-drawn notes and sketches,
> of various shoots.
Thanks - I'll go have another look. It was a big site, and I certainly
didn't get it all first time through.
Regards
Bob Hickey
in some books is, it's sometimes hard to tell where the talent lies,
with the lighting or make-up, or it's just an attractive model. Or some
people just don't look good even with the best talent. How many women I
see are knockouts sitting there, but they look like chiropractic cases
just trying to make it across the room. And the opposite is true too;
average women who become very graceful when they move around. Maybe
that's why there aren't that many top portrait guys.
Bob Hickey
Hassel Weems
business & Style" has a very good chapter on posing.
Hassel
Don Cohen wrote:
>
> Just took a quick look through it - Chapter 14 on Portrait Lighting is
> definitely helpful.
>
> Thanks!
>
--
Hassel Weems
Plugged In Design
Don Cohen
> As Yogi said: "You can see a lot just by looking".
Great quote!
Don