Faces
Photography and The Art of
Portraiture
by Paul Fuqua and Steven Biver
Photography and portraiture : Lighting, lighting, lighting!
FACES: PHOTOGRAPHY AND
THE ART OF PORTRAITURE introduces the subject of portraiture with a few
pages of large plates, mostly portraits of celebrities by contemporary
photographers. A brief section highlights photographs from the
past while defining several different approaches and historical trends
in portraits. The largest and most useful section, "Making
Portraits," includes 48 portraits with detailed explanations of the
set-up, mostly focusing on the lighting. Shorter chapters skim
over tips on street shooting, preparations made a head of time, and a
chapter on modifying light that defines and illustrates some of the
most common lighting devices used in studios and on cameras. The
book concludes with some parting words on the art and craft of
portraiture and a few additional tips on such matters as converting
color images to BW, reading histograms and working with lighting ratios.
The authors include a selection of past photographs, none of which are
ones most easily recognized by students of the history of photography
and therefore refreshing. Most of the photographs, however, are
examples of their own work. Although the lighting scenarios
emphasize studio lighting, the authors give a good balance between tips
on modifying natural lighting as well. FACES:
PHOTOGRAPHY AND THE ART OF PORTRAITURE is an excellent resource for
tips to try new lighting techniques from the beginner to the more
advanced photographer. The authors do not bog the reader down
with excessive technical information and yet, the lighting scenarios
are detailed enough to give ideas to more intermediate-advanced
photographers wanting to expand the range of their portrait-making or
include more portraiture in their repertoire. Only brief mention
is made of digital or film techniques although the authors do use a
combination of cameras from point-and-shoots, to digital SLR, to medium
and large format film cameras. Although most of the examples use higher
end studio lighting, the authors also give ideas for more spontaneous
and lower end help such as wearing a white shirt as a reflector.
Most of all, FACES: PHOTOGRAPHY AND THE ART OF PORTRAITURE
is a good resource for those wanting to experiment with different
lighting techniques.
Publisher: Focal
Press (February 10, 2010)
Reviewed by Merrimon,
Merrimon Book Reviews
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