Bøger af Stephen Dantzig

Stephen and Joan Dantzig operate the Hawaii School of Photography and have been turning point-and-shoot photographers into photographic artists for more than five years. In this book, they put their wisdom to paper with a promise to help readers rise up and learn this powerful practice from the ground up. Photography is more popular than ever. We are inundated with images by the traditional media and now, increasingly, in social media. Every day, countless amateurs who've enjoyed using cell-phone cameras or simple, automatic-everything-point-and-shoot cameras decide to take the plunge and buy an SLR—a camera with all the bells and whistles that allows complete control over the way an image is recorded. Too often, those cameras collect dust because the users lack the necessary guidance. This book is designed to show readers the ropes of SLR photography. Beginning with a look at the components of SLRs and moving into the modes/options than come standard on today’s cameras, readers will learn to understand and use their cameras. With the basics under their belts, they’ll move on to understanding the basic tenets of photography—specifically, the art of capturing an accurate exposure. From there, readers will learn how to use their exposure controls to depict a subject or scene creatively—from determining how much of the scene should be in focus or obscured by a beautiful bokeh (desirable blur) for effect, to deciding whether to freeze motion or elicit the feeling of movement. Readers will learn what constitutes the “right” light for photography, and how to use highlight and shadow to create drama and add interest and a sense of dimension in their images. Information is presented on composition (the artful arrangement of the elements of the scene within the confines of the frame in a way that excites the viewer), adding artificial light, and much more. All concepts are reinforced by the introduction of 43 skill-building and concept-reinforcing self-assignments designed to heighten understanding and boost confidence. With lushly illustrated pages and concise, jargon-free, easy-access lessons, this book is an important resource for all beginning photographers.

The fundamentals of exposure and the essentials of lighting are explored in this photography reference that uses progressive images from portrait sessions as its basis of explanation. Starting with how light is perceived differently by the camera than the human eye, this resource clarifies the more complicated laws that govern light, breaking the rules down with clear, effective examples. Various light sources are investigated—from simple sunlight to advanced professional and studio systems—as well as the types of lighting units used at different times during the sessions. By adding or modifying one light at a time, a sequence of images shows how the desired effect was achieved, offering photographers step-by-step troubleshooting tips. Concise text paired with photo examples offer any portrait photographer the techniques needed to create perfectly lit images.

This handbook, written for the professional and the serious-amateur photographer, provides lively, easy-to-follow discussions of the physics of light and the means of recording it digitally. Step-by-step photographic sequences reveal the profound impact that even a basic grasp of outdoor light and lighting can have on one's photographic technique. Lessons on more specialized techniques provide options for applying specific effects or lighting in a particularly challenging setting. From dealing with common problems to modifying less-than-ideal lighting to create dazzling portraits, this guide helps ensure success on every shoot, with every client.