Portraits

[MassJester]

Can anyone suggest a good book/information source on portrait photography?

 

[Gdad]

I have a real aversion to most studio-esque type portrait work and really prefer more 'real-world' life in action type pictures myself, just my personal preference. But I do see a lot of discussion/information on many of the photography boards about this. Most boards have a 'portrait' or 'people' section. You may try some of the following...

DP Review

The Strobist

Dgrin/People

Nikon Cafe/People-Portraits-Weddings

or if you are really brave...

ILP Shudder

Sorry I don't really know any books on the subject.

 

[extreme8]

Give this one a try, Master lighting guide for portrait photographers by Christopher Grey.

http://www.amazon.com/Master-Lighting-Guide-Portrait-Photographers/dp/1584281251

It is the one most often recommended in the various portrait photography boards on the 'net.
Lots of useful information.

 

[tinksdad]

Shoot Smarter.com has some great info on it. You have to register, but it's free. They do sell some books/DVD that are reportedly pretty good. Don't know from first hand experience.

Christopher Grey mentioned above is one of the principals on the Shoot Smarter site.

I got Michael Greccos "Lighting and the Dramatic Photo" for Christmas and it's really good.

 

[extreme8]

I had the opportunity to watch one of the ShootSmarter DVDs and found it to be a not much more than a long advertisement for the products they use and other videos/books they sell. Some useful info but the signal to noise ratio (useful info to fluff & filler) was really low.
Maybe the one I saw was an anomoly, but based on that experience I'm not at all inclined to purchase any of their other instructional material.
Their classes on the other hand seem fascinating.... If I could justify the cost of attending sessions in Chicago!

 

[tinksdad]

I had the opportunity to watch one of the ShootSmarter DVDs and found it to be a not much more than a long advertisement for the products they use and other videos/books they sell. Some useful info but the signal to noise ratio (useful info to fluff & filler) was really low.
Maybe the one I saw was an anomoly, but based on that experience I'm not at all inclined to purchase any of their other instructional material.
Their classes on the other hand seem fascinating.... If I could justify the cost of attending sessions in Chicago!

That's too bad. I've watched their quicktime videos on the site and have learned some good stuff. You'd think that the paid version would be more informative........ Thanks for the heads up!

 

[extreme8]

I agree that the clips on their site are very helpful.
Now imagine that clip streched out to an hour and include a bunch of info about how to use the wonderful Sekonic meters, and X brand strobes and Y brand softboxes, and by the way, if you purchase our other DVD on Subject Z it's full of great information.
As I said, maybe I just saw a lemon. It's possible the other titles are great, but I'm not willing to shell out the cash to find out.

One other quick source for classic portraits is
http://jzportraits.home.att.net/
The photots are really dated but the techniques are timeless.
I can't believe we actually wore clothes like that in the '70s!

 

[tinksdad]

I agree that the clips on their site are very helpful.
Now imagine that clip streched out to an hour and include a bunch of info about how to use the wonderful Sekonic meters, and X brand strobes and Y brand softboxes, and by the way, if you purchase our other DVD on Subject Z it's full of great information.
As I said, maybe I just saw a lemon. It's possible the other titles are great, but I'm not willing to shell out the cash to find out.

One other quick source for classic portraits is
http://jzportraits.home.att.net/
The photots are really dated but the techniques are timeless.
I can't believe we actually wore clothes like that in the '70s!

That's a nice site. Your right about the techniques. Heck, that's why Rembrandt lighting is still used. It WORKS!!

 

[jann1033]

so how do you really feel about those types of poses?( the 70's site) they seem really stiff and outdated to me but maybe that is still what people want? ..i loved doing set up shots ( more still life than portraits) with lighting yrs ago when i took a photo class( in high school so we are talking YeaRRRRRSSSSS ago) and i would like to do that again and really want to get into some dramatic lighting( rather than trying to do it in photoshop )but these types of portrait shots are just boring to me. once again i could be marching to that "offbeat" beat though, wouldn't be the first time

 

[DVC Jen]

Jann I agree with you. To me they look stiff and unnatural. I would much rather have a less formal more real to life look.

But then again I am not a fan of formal portraits really. They have their time and place - but I prefer something more natural - real. Something that shows the persons personality.