Great portraits go beyond a mere record of a face. They reveal one of the millions of intimate human moments that make up a life. In Beyond Portraiture, renowned photographer Bryan Peterson shows how to spot those “ah-ha!” moments and capture them forever. A teary child...old people laughing together...a smiling girl with big, big hair. Everyone remember pictures like these, usually taken by a mother, a father, a friend holding a camera, forever preserving small yet revealing vignettes of our personal histories. But we always relied on pure luck and chance to catch those moments. Peterson’s approach explains what makes a photo memorable, how to spot the universal themes that everyone can identify with, and how to use lighting, setting, and exposure to reveal the wonder and the joy of everyday moments. Beyond Portraiture makes it easy to create indelible memories with light and shadow.
Beyond Portraiture
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About the Author
Bryan Peterson is a well-known photographer, writer, and teacher. In addition to his many books for Amphoto, he writes a column that appears in Popular Photography and contributes to prominent magazines. His workshops and online photo course at PPSOP.com are invariably sold out. He divides his time between Seattle, WA and Lyon, France, and New York City.
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More About the Author
Bryan Peterson is a professional photographer, internationally known instructor, and founder of www.PPSOP.com, The Perfect PIcture School of Photography. He is also the best-selling author of Understanding Exposure, Learning to See Creatively,Understanding Shutter Speed, Understanding Close-Up Photography, Understanding Digital Photography, Beyond Portraiture, and, most recently, Bryan Peterson's Understanding Photography Field Guide. His easy-to-understand writing and teaching style breaks down the complex and often confusing aspects of photography, translating them into what his students routinely describe as "aha" moments. In addition, he has been a commercial photographer for over 30 years, shooting annual reports for many Fortune 500 companies, and his trademark use of color and strong, graphic composition have garnered him many photographic awards, including the New York Art Director's Gold Award and honors from Communication Arts and Print magazine. He currently splits his time between Chicago and France.
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
82 of 83 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
Many years ago I was a budding photographer with no formal training, never really interested in photographing people. Yet people were always getting in the way of most of my shots. Many years later, I discovered that people can add interest to my images by adding scale, a sense of place, or adding to the image's story. Today I enjoy sports photography and I look for ways to include people when composing an image. As a serious hobby photographer with no formal training, this book helped me get more creative when photographing people.
Beyond Portraiture is a straight forward book explaining the many aspects of creative people photography. The book is broken down into five main sections. UNDERSTANDING PEOPLE explains a bit of psychology, approaching people, and how to get people to agree to be photographed. WORKING WITH PEOPLE discusses the types of people you should "cast" for your intended images, and how to maintain a comfortable and respectful relationship of varying types of people you may want to photograph. LIGHT details differing types of light and how they affect your images. COMPOSING POWERFUL PORTRAITS offers basic composition rules, backgrounds, movement, camera settings and lens options. PHOTO-EDITING TECHNIQUES is a series of lessons in Photoshop to help perfect your images.
It is assumed the reader already has a solid grasp on exposure. If this is not the case, read Brian Peterson's Understanding Exposure prior to reading this book. There are short sections discussing shutter speed and aperture, but they are not in-depth enough to form the solid foundation of exposure settings every serious photographer should have. Brian refers to these settings, as he should, in most of the topics.
If you shoot in fully automatic mode, you will get something out of this book, but may lack the ability to duplicate the results except by luck. Chances are a camera in fully automatic mode will determine a correct exposure; however the camera can be fooled into setting an incorrect exposure. Plus there is more than one "correct exposure" setting for a scene, but which setting creatively results in the image you want?
While the technical details that I have read in this book are commonly known among serious hobbyist, it is Brian Peterson's perspective and experiences that make this book worth reading. His simple writing style is conducive to learning and interesting, opening my eyes to even more possibilities. Even though I look for ways to include people in my pictures, this book will take me to the next level.
If you have mastered the subject, this book is not for you. However, if you are a beginner with an aversion to photographing people, or are not satisfied with your portraits and candid shots get this easy to understand book. If you have a general understanding but have room for improvement, this book will help fill in the missing pieces.
PROS
Straight forward easy to understand book
Full of valuable information
Includes mention of film and digital cameras where applicable.
Full of inspiring images
CONS
With the discussion of the importance of model releases, a template should have been included.
Beyond Portraiture is a straight forward book explaining the many aspects of creative people photography. The book is broken down into five main sections. UNDERSTANDING PEOPLE explains a bit of psychology, approaching people, and how to get people to agree to be photographed. WORKING WITH PEOPLE discusses the types of people you should "cast" for your intended images, and how to maintain a comfortable and respectful relationship of varying types of people you may want to photograph. LIGHT details differing types of light and how they affect your images. COMPOSING POWERFUL PORTRAITS offers basic composition rules, backgrounds, movement, camera settings and lens options. PHOTO-EDITING TECHNIQUES is a series of lessons in Photoshop to help perfect your images.
It is assumed the reader already has a solid grasp on exposure. If this is not the case, read Brian Peterson's Understanding Exposure prior to reading this book. There are short sections discussing shutter speed and aperture, but they are not in-depth enough to form the solid foundation of exposure settings every serious photographer should have. Brian refers to these settings, as he should, in most of the topics.
If you shoot in fully automatic mode, you will get something out of this book, but may lack the ability to duplicate the results except by luck. Chances are a camera in fully automatic mode will determine a correct exposure; however the camera can be fooled into setting an incorrect exposure. Plus there is more than one "correct exposure" setting for a scene, but which setting creatively results in the image you want?
While the technical details that I have read in this book are commonly known among serious hobbyist, it is Brian Peterson's perspective and experiences that make this book worth reading. His simple writing style is conducive to learning and interesting, opening my eyes to even more possibilities. Even though I look for ways to include people in my pictures, this book will take me to the next level.
If you have mastered the subject, this book is not for you. However, if you are a beginner with an aversion to photographing people, or are not satisfied with your portraits and candid shots get this easy to understand book. If you have a general understanding but have room for improvement, this book will help fill in the missing pieces.
PROS
Straight forward easy to understand book
Full of valuable information
Includes mention of film and digital cameras where applicable.
Full of inspiring images
CONS
With the discussion of the importance of model releases, a template should have been included.
58 of 59 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
First off, let me advise Bryan Peterson fans that "Beyond Portraiture" is not a totally new book, but a revision of his 1993 book "People in Focus" with some digital photos, hints and a Photoshop chapter added. A lot of the text is word-for-word from "People in Focus", complete with gramatical errors and typos that have not been changed. Many of the pictures are the same. So, if you already own "People in Focus" and you're shooting film, or you are into digital but already have a good knowledge of your photo editing system, you may be greatly disappointed to find you are reading a lot of he same text and seeing a lot of the same pictures. In fact, I think many of his photos in the earlier book are better than a lot of those he's replaced them with.
That said, I'd highly recommend this book to people who are interested in improving their people photography outside the studio. The strong point to this book - as it was in "People in Focus" - remains the section on how to approach people at home and abroard and get them to let you take their photograph; and in overcoming one's own shyness about interacting with potential photo subjects. And, Peterson's writing is always entertaining.
That said, I'd highly recommend this book to people who are interested in improving their people photography outside the studio. The strong point to this book - as it was in "People in Focus" - remains the section on how to approach people at home and abroard and get them to let you take their photograph; and in overcoming one's own shyness about interacting with potential photo subjects. And, Peterson's writing is always entertaining.
41 of 42 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Bryan Peterson's best books are the ones that allow photographers (beginning and professional) to confront their fears in becoming better photographers. This is, hands down, one of his best. A great distillation of his years of experience as a top working photographer, teacher, instructor and writer.
If his seminal book 'Understanding Exposure' clearly and conscisely breaks down the process of setting exposure in a non-theoretical way, 'Beyond Portraiture' breaks down the process of dealing with PEOPLE in real and practical terms. From showing how to ask people to take their pictures, to the psychology of putting people at ease, co-operating with you, getting them to sign model releases, working with models etc etc, this book defuses the fears keeping us from taking more pictures of people.
Once he helps you to overcome those fears that prevent us from taking the pictures we really want to take, he then tells you how to *enjoy* the process of going out and taking people's pictures because you CAN.
Also included are sections on optimising your images, stock photography and travel photography, also well worth the price of the book.
Unlike most, he does not dwell on the minutae of equipment and technique, even though he discusses these things also, which is welcome.
He is the epitome of a good teacher. He allows you to discover what is in you and brings you to understanding. And by allowing you to face what is stopping you from taking the pictures you want, he helps you to become the photographer you want to be.
After 'Understanding Exposure' (which should be read before going through this book), 'Beyond Portraiture: Creative People Photography' is probably one of the best photography books ever written.
Highly recomended.
If his seminal book 'Understanding Exposure' clearly and conscisely breaks down the process of setting exposure in a non-theoretical way, 'Beyond Portraiture' breaks down the process of dealing with PEOPLE in real and practical terms. From showing how to ask people to take their pictures, to the psychology of putting people at ease, co-operating with you, getting them to sign model releases, working with models etc etc, this book defuses the fears keeping us from taking more pictures of people.
Once he helps you to overcome those fears that prevent us from taking the pictures we really want to take, he then tells you how to *enjoy* the process of going out and taking people's pictures because you CAN.
Also included are sections on optimising your images, stock photography and travel photography, also well worth the price of the book.
Unlike most, he does not dwell on the minutae of equipment and technique, even though he discusses these things also, which is welcome.
He is the epitome of a good teacher. He allows you to discover what is in you and brings you to understanding. And by allowing you to face what is stopping you from taking the pictures you want, he helps you to become the photographer you want to be.
After 'Understanding Exposure' (which should be read before going through this book), 'Beyond Portraiture: Creative People Photography' is probably one of the best photography books ever written.
Highly recomended.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
This should be called "how to Approch People"
I ordered 4 books from this author and this was the first to arrive, was really happy to see the book but after going through the book i couldn't find what i was looking for! Read more
Published 12 months ago by Nalin Fernando
a good go for sure
A great book with many ideas in it. It would not be for a top professional, but an aspiring beginning or intermediate level photographer looking for ways to get better. Read more
Published 17 months ago by Stephen Pellerine
Well done Bryan
I read ''Beyond Portraiture''after reading ''Understanding Exposure'',and ,once again Bryan has come up with the goods. Read more
Published 19 months ago by david r sharpe
Understanding Exposure
This is definitely the best photography book that I have ever read. It is easy to understand, has a huge volume of amazing photos with details of how they were shot. Read more
Published on November 11, 2009 by Sue Gardiner
Portraits in their natural environment
This is the kind of portraits that you would like to take as an amateur. There is nothing about studio shots in the book. Read more
Published on November 8, 2009 by Jackal
Great, Very Readable Book
I recently received my very first DSLR camera (an Olympus E520 which I LOVE but that's another review :-) and wanted to learn not just how to use it but how to use it effectively. Read more
Published on July 20, 2009 by Tisza Major
A treasure trove of ideas paired with photo example results
Any interested in taking pictures of people or improving the quality of their photos will find this a fine guide from a noted photographer and 'people person'. Read more
Published on May 17, 2009 by Midwest Book Review
Highly inspirational and lots of ideas
I like the book for three reasons:
1. It answers several questions I had (espesially, approaching strangers for street photography and finding that fine line between a... Read more
1. It answers several questions I had (espesially, approaching strangers for street photography and finding that fine line between a... Read more
Published on May 9, 2009 by Olga Ivanova
Loved the book
I loved this book. The images are fabulous, and I now have a better understanding of portraiture.
Published on April 30, 2009 by Emilian Toba
Good book especially for the price.
As another bestseller from Bryan Peterson, the book contains a variety of information centered loosely around "portrait". Read more
Published on April 14, 2009 by Bulent Celasun
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First Sentence:
Lucky is the photographer who has a sound understanding of human psychology and the patterns of human behavior. Read the first page Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
aperture priority, new adjustment layer, lasso tool, layer style, extract tool, right aperture, priority mode, lens choice, aperture set, marching ants, correct exposure, shutter speed Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
Unsharp Mask, Rule of Thirds, Gaussian Blur, United States, Blending Options, Middle East, Hong Kong, Lab Color, New York, Healing Brush Tool, Flatten Image New!
Books on Related Topics | Concordance | Text Stats Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Index | Surprise Me!
Lucky is the photographer who has a sound understanding of human psychology and the patterns of human behavior. Read the first page Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
aperture priority, new adjustment layer, lasso tool, layer style, extract tool, right aperture, priority mode, lens choice, aperture set, marching ants, correct exposure, shutter speed Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
Unsharp Mask, Rule of Thirds, Gaussian Blur, United States, Blending Options, Middle East, Hong Kong, Lab Color, New York, Healing Brush Tool, Flatten Image New!
Books on Related Topics | Concordance | Text Stats Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Index | Surprise Me!
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