THESE PDF COPIES ARE FREE COURTESY LIGHTING ESSENTIALS AND THE TALENTED PHOTOGRAPHERS FEATURED INSIDE.
Dispatch: Seattle. (2008 Workshop)
Seattle's workshop was a blast. I wanted to share some images that the folks did there. We will update this page as long as I see fresh images. I arrived in Seattle to a wonderful 74 degree afternoon. Yeah, coming from 107 it was really refreshing. Got all in line for...
“Make the Shot.” A Pool Player in a Rainstorm
In keeping with this months major tutorial on using speedlights to their maximum, I thought I would take apart a shot that Briana and I did in Florida during a terrific thunderstorm. We were hot and it was very humid, but we decided to make the best of the down time...
Using Your Small Strobes for Professional Results: Part One
As we begin to start to find some ways to use our speedlights - or small hotshoe style strobes - for advantage, we need to learn all about them. (Welcome Strobist Readers... thanks David.) I'm not talking about the RTM stuff. Where to put the batteries and such. This...
Our August Desktops are Something to Dance About
Well in the tradition of the last 3 months... can we call that a tradition? Anyway, in the tradition of the last three months we present our August desktops. One features a morning scene we all can identify with and the other has nine tiny Briana's dancing their way...
Speedlights: Unleash Their Creative Power: Introduction
Unleash your Creativity with Small Strobes This begins our series on small strobes and location work. August will feature 4 large-scale articles on using speedlights in the field. Published on Monday of each week, they will include video, diagrams and assignments for...
On Location with Small Strobes and a Model Who Can Fly?
Let's look at a way to create some interesting, and somewhat 'ethereal' light on location without taking 200 pounds of lighting gear with us. We are going to use two strobes to 'sculpt' the subject and a bit of careful angling to get the image we want. Backgrounds...
Recent Workshop Attendees Show Off Some Great Work
Photograph by Yolanda Pucinski One of the coolest things I think can happen is when I see some work from a workshop attendee that is really getting great. We can open eyes in a workshop, and teach some skills as well as some solid technique, but it is the student that...
Performance and Posing, Part Two
Briana is back with Part Two of the Posing and Performance Column. Be sure to read her first columns and be looking for more as she helps photographers and models work together to create exciting imagery. Also be sure to check out the Lighting Essentials Magazine for...
Our Big Trip: Part One, Houston, Chicago and Boston
Our trip to the East was a really fun experience. I want to share a few of the images we made on the trip and discuss them as far as lighting and generally what we were doing. This trip took us on planes, trains, automobiles and boats. Every mode of transportation......
Using the Sun for A Hairlight: Some Variations
The sun is a wonderful light source as we all know. It provides hard, direct light, diffused light, bounce light... heck, it's an allover lighting machine. There are many ways to use the sun for main light and fill, but today we are going to look at a few ways to use...
Make Your Own Reality to Add Drama
There are times when the light you have doesn't match the light you want. The drama of moody skies are rendered useless if they are overexposed and the muddy, dark skin tones of heavily overcast days can make the most competent Photoshop Guru moan in agony. What to...
Shooting Food On Location – With a Twist
My client called and needed a job turned around right away. Her client needed their entire menu shot for some collateral and web materials and the previous shooter had not been able to do what they needed. The images had to be attractive enough for menu use, arty...
Performance Over Posing: Part One
It’s Second Nature: Now, for me, performance is second nature. It’s at the roots of my craft and my nature. Now, it’s not always a good performance. Sometimes it’s downright cheesy, but… it’s often different than what others expect. (A few photogs out...
Using Lighting and Posing to Create the Effect You Want
Light can be the most important part of a photograph, but the model and her pose aren't far behind. You all recognize my friend Briana. We went on a shoot a few weeks ago to show some different posing ideas for her upcoming DVD and some lighting things for mine....
Lighting Essentials July Desktop Calendars
Here are two new desktop calendars for you. A sporting model out to set the land speed record, and Briana in the tropics on a mysteriously dark evening. Either one you choose, your July calendars are more fun with Lighting Essentials. More content to follow quickly,...
Muse or Inspiration: The Model’s Role (Pt2)
Muse in the Studio - A Brief “How to†Guide:(part two of two parts) Okay, enough philosophy, let’s make this simple. Here are a few things I “feel†when I’m modeling. Yes, “feel.†I don’t go and think about these steps when I’m modeling… I just...
Muse and Inspiration: The Model’s Role
A Two Part Article By Briana Shaker Part I What is a muse? The romantic poets knew. The ancient Greeks did as well. Now it's time for models and photographers alike to learn. Quite simply, the muse is she (or he) for whom the artist creates or in whom the artist finds...
The Rigorous World of Macro Beauty Shots
Coming in this close can be a nightmare for the unsuspecting. Makeup must be perfect, hair perfect, every nuance of light has to fall to give the feeling of fresh and natural. And the skills in the toolset must be honed very tightly. It goes without saying that...
Hey, We Got Freebies Too!
Yes... we got free stuff. Who can't use a great desktop calendar? And when it features a lovely model like Briana, you can't go wrong. We have two June, 2008 calendars available in many desktop sizes. I will also give a lighting tutorial for each of the images after...
Natural Light Headshots: Keeping it Simple
In Mexico we had wonderful white Casitas to stay in courtesy of the Las Palmas Resort. They provided some remarkable shooting areas as well as natural light bouncing off all the white walls and railings. I personally love natural light for all kinds of portraiture,...
Dramatic Backlight on a Sunny Day
At the Mexico workshop we decided to do some morning shots on the Beach. Precilla and Jazmin wanted to do this hat shot and I thought it would be fun to use the dramatic sky as a compositional element. I had left my meter back at the casa and didn't want to walk back...
Even If the Sun Don’t Shine…
We were out the door fairly early, and the sky was slightly overcast. Briana had wanted to do this shot for the entire Florida trip and here it was the last day. I really wanted to get it for her. The sun didn't have any plans on cooperating though. I wanted the...
Using Light to Create Drama On Location
Briana and I were stuck in a small, hot and very mundane room while the thunderstorm unleashed lightning and torrential rain all over Anna Maria, Florida. She playfully challenged me to do a shot in the space that was, well, simply awful. I looked at the set she...
Manipulating Natural Light with Simple Tools
There are times when the natural light is simply so gorgeous you have to shoot it. And there are times when the natural light is very nice, but something can be done to make it a bit more, well, perfect. We are going to look at 4 examples of using modifiers to create...
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