Lighting

Article: The "Tricycle Terror" Shoot.A Web Photo School presentation

Check out Los Angeles photographer Brian McCarty's techniques as he creates....THE TRICYCLE TERROR!

Article: Stunning fashion photos on a shoestring budget.How to do anything photographic on a shoestring budget, Episode 1

Ahh the economy. It has driven many of us insane trying to figure out how to do more with less. Clients constantly approach us asking for miracles with shoestring budgets. A fine example is shooting anything fashion related. Editorial work these days pays almost nothing if you are lucky or nothing at all for the most part.

Article: Creating Dramatic Backlight With A Single Flash.A better angle on lighting leaves

Over and over you hear me talk about taking advantage of the angle of light to emphasize texture, pattern, and form out in the world.

Article: Recreating 1920's Portrait Lighting.A digital riff on a classic look

In this lesson, commercial photographer Mark Rockwood walks us through his portrait-making process and discusses his approach to modern and classic lighting techniques.

Article: How to Photograph Flat Artwork.It's all about camera and light placement

With the right equipment, photographing paintings, lithographs, or other fine-art is fairly straightforward—or is it? Here's a look at how to use studio lights and a tripod to make a successful reproduction.

Article: Man of Steel—Shooting on Location.A Web Photo School presentation

Learn how to set up a four lighting setup and arrange a two-person portrait on location.

Article: Lens Flare Sci-Fi Poster—AdoramaTV.Digital Photography 1 on 1

In this episode Mark Wallace walks us through the entire process of shooting and editing a science fiction movie poster.

Article: Exploring Lighting Options With Indoor Portraits.

Take your portraits to the next level by harnessing natural light, as described in this simple guide.

Article: Location Assignment: Firehouse Portraits.A Web Photo School presentation

In this lesson, New York photographer Ian Spanier walks you through his prep work and setup while demonstrating how he handled the inevitable roadblocks that always seem to pop up while shooting on location.

Article: Understanding How Soft Boxes Work.A WebPhotoSchool Lesson

Jeffery Luhn demonstrates how to get a fresh look at the world's favorite lighting accessory, the soft box. Some facts will confirm your assumptions, and others may surprise you, but all the information will be helpful.

Article: Ring Flash Effects with the OctoDome: extra small.A WebPhotoSchool lesson

How to create the ring flash look without a ring flash.

Article: Portrait of a Makeup Artist.A WebPhotoSchool Lesson

Noted editorial photographer Ian Spanier takes photos that tell a story. Whether he’s shooting images of celebrities, fitness models or doing a portrait, he crafts the shot so that we can learn something about the subject.

Article: The Kitchen Table Studio: Part 2.A lesson produced by WebPhotoSchool®

If you're ready to take on product photography, let's take a look at seasoned pro John Beckett's techniques on how to do it right and on a budget!

Article: Manual Flash Exposure Basics.Based on a new course at the Perfect Picture School of Photography

How to compensate for existing light you can't control with artificial light that you can control.

Article: Group Shots—AdoramaTV .Digital Photography 1 on 1

Adorama TV presents how to set up lighting for Group Shots.

Article: The Kitchen Table Studio.John Becket clears off dinner...and gets his creative juices flowing

People starting out in photography sometimes say, "If only I had a better camera..." or "If only I had a better lighting system...". They often blame their results on the fact they don't have a studio. It's not the camera, lights or the studio that matter so much as how well you use your imagination.

Article: Product Review: Lighting in Layers by David Hobby.More than just the ultimate instructional Strobist DVD

FlashBus Tour Workshop presenter David Hobby’s just-released 7-disc DVD set will change the way you think about flash photography—and the business of being a photographer.

Article: Speedlights vs. Studio Strobes—AdoramaTV .Digital Photography 1 on 1

Adorama Photography TV presents: In this episode Mark will compare the differences between speedlights and studio strobes.

Article: Portrait on Location: Accentuating Natural Light.WebPhotoSchool Lighting Lesson

Because of my interest in photography, there is a motto I tend to live by (and I even have a bumper sticker on my truck with this phrase on it): "I stop for photographs."

Article: Soft Light in the Middle of the Day.A lesson produced by PhotoFlex and the Adorama Learning Center

Many photographers prefer to shoot outdoor portraits either at dawn or at dusk to take advantage of the "magic light" that occurs during those times. But what if your schedule (or your subject's schedule) doesn't permit you to shoot then? Can you still capture your subjects in soft, beautiful lighting conditions?

Article: Mobile Lighting for Outdoor Portraits.A lesson produced by Webphotoschool for Adorama

So you want to take dynamic portraits outdoors but you don't want it to be a huge production with a lot of lighting gear, assistants, etc. Not a problem.

Article: Shooting Beach Portraits at Dawn.A lesson produced by PhotoFlex and the Adorama Learning Center

When it comes to creating spectacular outdoor portraits, early morning sunlight alone is often not enough to generate the "magic" you envision. That's when you need a little help.

Article: Enhancing Dusk Light in Outdoor Portraiture.A lesson produced by PhotoFlex and the Adorama Learning Center

Photographers all know that the most magical time of day to shoot anything outdoors is either dawn or dusk. The sun sits low in the sky, which makes for warm tones, lower contrast and colorful skies and backgrounds.

Article: Improving Action Shots with Portable Lighting.A lesson co-produced by Adorama and Photoflex

When you think of sports photography, lighting equipment most likely doesn't enter the picture, does it? After all, most photographers that work with lighting equipment use it to shoot formal portraits or indoor studio work, right? Well, that used to be the case.

Article: Simple Portable Lighting On Location.A lesson co-produced by Adorama and Photoflex

For most people, the term "photographic lighting equipment" tends to conjure up visions of complicated setups involving light stands, sand bags, electrical cables, etc. And while lighting can get quite involved, it doesn't always have to be. In fact, it can be downright simple and easy to use.

Article: Basic 3 Light Setup—AdoramaTV.Digital Photography 1 on 1

Adorama Photography TV presents: In this episode Mark goes over a very basic 3 light setup for those who are looking to buy their first portrait light kit.

Article: Celebrity Photographer, Ab Sesay - AdoramaTV.How'd They Do That?

Adorama Photography TV presents "How'd They Do That?" featuring Ab Sesay. In this episode, Ab Sesay explains how he uses hard light in his portraits. He also talks about capturing unplanned moments behind the scenes.

Article: Multifaceted Reflectors Have Many Uses.Lighting accessories

Reflectors are available in many forms but my favorite is the circular, collapsible types that are easy to carry.

Article: Flash Modifiers — Adorama Photography TV .Product Reviews

This week we take a look at the HonlPhoto Speed Snoot and the Gary Fong Lightsphere collapsible. Both products help you get better results from your speedlights.

Article: Environmental Portraits: Jason Wallis — Adorama Photography TV.How'd They Do That?

In this episode Jason Wallis tells us how he shoots amazing environmental portraits. Jason also gives us some tips for traveling to foreign countries with a lightweight studio lighting pack.

Article: Setting up simple studio lighting – Adorama TV.Behind The Scenes Video

In this episode, Mark explains a very simple lighting setup for shooting portraits.

Article: Assembling A Small Location Lighting Kit .Wireless flash makes it easy to set up a studio on the go

Let's put together a complete location/studio lighting kit that will fit in a carry-on bag

Article: Wireless flash backlighting basics.Supercharge your studio and location shots

Wireless flash allows you to move your flash anywhere. Try moving it behind your subject for dynamic, creative results.

Article: Portable Flash Light Modifiers.A guide to the best ways to diffuse and shape the light

Just about every portable flash unit that you mount on a camera via a hot shoe projects light the same way: a rectangle, horizontally oriented to roughly match the shape of the image you’re shooting.

Article: eBay auction product photography tips.Shooting to sell? Better photos may lead to higher bids.

Do you sell stuff via Internet auction web sites such as eBay? Studies show that products get more bids and sell for higher closing prices when they’re photographed well.

Article: Product Profile: Gary Fong Lightsphere-2 Pro System.A popular light modifying system among pro shooters.

One of the classic ways to produce more natural lighting from a single flash is to use a bare bulb. That means there’s no reflector behind the flash tube.

Article: Product profile: Professor Kobre's Lightscoop.Modify, control, and shape the light that comes out of your portable flash

Many a photojournalist started out with a dog-eared edition of Professor Ken Kobre's classic tome, Photojournalism: The Professional's Approach. Now, any on-the-go photographer can benefit from Professor Kobre's latest project, the Lightscoop.

Article: Product Profile: Flashpoint Flash Diffuser.Simple but effective flash modifier

Simplicity is often the best way to go. The Flashpoint Flash Diffuser, which is virtually the same as the Sto-Fen Omni Boucne (but costs a bit less), is a simple plastic box that fits over specific flash units.

Article: Too much color saturation? Not a good thing..Don't be a super soaker saturater

Congress should pass legislation against those who super saturate. Photoshop's saturation control is like the volume control for color, and pictures are being pumped up like everybody is deaf.

Article: The Myth of ISO Exposed.High speed to capture action? Naaah!

Most of those fleeting moments you want to photograph can be captured at shutter speeds that are well within your reach--even when you use ISO 100.

Article: The substitution metering method.A useful exposure tweak

When using the substitution method, you replace an object within the scene with an object of known reflectance, such as a Kodak Gray Card and take a reflected-light meter reading from this object.

Article: Metering for Brightness Range.Tweak your reading at the time of capture

Even with today's sophisticated DSLRs and many compact digital cameras, the ability to tweak the exposure at the moment of capture--and recognizing what tweaks you need to apply--can make or break your image's quality and content.

Article: Use shadows to your photographic advantage.Lighten up your photographic sensibilities

When the sun shines, shadows come out to play, giving you a chance to create some unconventional photographs. So pick up your camera and catch a few before they flee at the approach of clouds.

Article: How to photograph a silhouette at the window.A way to simplify a composition

Silhouettes are a great way to simplify a photo: They reduce an image to dramatic areas of light and dark, lines, and not much color. One of the best places to shoot a silhouette is against a window.There are several ways to expose a silhouette; here are two:

Article: Beware of Lens Flare.How to keep your scenes clear of errant light

Lens flare happens when non-image-forming light enters a lens and falls on thefilm or sensor. If the light is well diffused it lowers the contrast of the image.

Article: How to drag the shutter.Create "ghosts" in your camera

When little gouls and goblins come knocking tonight, be prepared with a photographic treat that you can enjoy all year long. Grab ghostly shots of your subjects by using flash and long exposure.

Article: Diffusing your Flash.Learn how to bounce

If you've ever seen lighting in a pro studio, you'll have noticed that thelight sources are large, with either the flash being bounced from an umbrella or inside alarge softbox. The reason for this is that the larger the light source, the softer yourshadows will be.

Article: Hand-Held Photos in Low Light.A simple shutter speed formula

If you're shooting handheld images in low light, there's a simple formula to know.

Article: What is Bracketing?.Exposure basics quick tip

Whether shooting with a film or digital camera, one factor remains important: Correct exposure is critical and may be even more so for digital than film.

Article: Soften Direct Flash.Get rid of the Coal Miner look

On-camera flash accessory flash light needs to be softened if you are shooting portraits indoors. Unaltered flash creates harsh, unflattering light and deep shadows which will make even the most beautiful subject look awful.

Article: What are Continuous Lighting Sources?.Studio Lighting Basics, Part III

When photographing people I've never been 100 percent comfortable using studio flash units. They are a necessary evil for making portraits when available light isn't available. An alternative is hot lights, or continuous lighting.

Article: What are AC and DC Packs and Heads?.Studio Lighting Basics, Part II

Some photographers think studio lighting equipment is too complicated and too expensive but it can be neither. Part of this misunderstanding is created by seemingly bewildering array of product types and their associated buzzwords. Here's a look at AC & DC Power Packs and heads

Article: Bare-tube flash revival.Let's take a new look at an updated, classic lighting tool

A bare-tube flash is just like any other flash--except that it has no reflector behind the flash tube. It sends light relatively evenly in all directions (except directly down).

Article: Be my (radio-controlled) slave.A very effective way to control off-camera flash

Here’s why pros prefer radio slaves, and how you can choose between the top two systems on the market.

Article: Pinpoint closeup lighting.Here's a nifty way to get professional-looking images of small-scale-subjects

Sometimes, modeling (a lighting effect caused by placing the light to the side of your subject) isn't the best way to light your shot. Here's how to get flat lighting--the opposite of modeling.

Article: Using Bank Lights.Banks arent just for keeping your pennies safe!

First off, some bank light basics: Unlike umbrellas, bank lights are bulky (even when collapsed!), a pain to set-up, and equally frustrating to break down!