Customer Reviews

Lighting and the Dramatic Portrait: The Art of Celebrity and Editorial Photography

5 star:		(19)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(9)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Make no mistake about it. Michael Grecco is a brilliant portrait photographer and the pictures presented in this book are top-notch and edgy. Yet, as I read this book, I at first felt that this was another example of how-to-itis. That's the case where a publisher feels that a book will sell better if it's an instructional manual than if it's a portfolio.

I felt this even more strongly as I read the first few pages, where I encountered pictures that documented the use of equipment and techniques that I knew nothing about. Then as I read further, I found that the discussions of general principles followed the pictures rather than preceding them. I found this a strange editorial technique that left me mystified as I looked at pictures and then had me flipping back to them after the discussion. I was also glad I knew a little bit about portrait photography so that I could understand the skeletal descriptions of the technical aspects of what Grecco was doing

Grecco has sections on cameras, illumination, the medium, creativity and conceptualization, the subject/ photographer connection and case studies. In this last section he presents pictures grouped by subject matter and then explains how he came to pose the pictures and light them. Throughout, he used this show and then tell approach. Once I got used to it, I didn't find it so off-putting.

You may wonder who the audience for this book is. For example, when he describes the army of assistants involved in a shoot, including make-up artists, prop builders, location scouts and so forth, the average photographer will feel out of his league. One of the lights that Grecco uses may cost more than all of the equipment some serious photographers may own. The author does not teach fundamental lighting techniques, and in fact says that one of his guiding principles is to always break the rules of lighting. At first it might appear that Grecco is speaking just to the other members of the clique of celebrity photographers.

Most of us will never be able to get actor Jet Li to leap four or five feet into the air in an alley filled with smoke from a fog machine in front of a setup of five strong strobe lights. On the other hand, I thought that rather then photographing that young ballerina in a graceful plie, I could have gotten a more exciting picture if I had asked her to do jetes. And I was inspired to research the rental of a fog machine which turned out to be quite inexpensive. And even though I might never be able to get Martin Landau to pose in back of an iron weave railing in Café La Boheme, I could pose Uncle George behind the wrought-iron railing in Aunt Jane's place.

So, for the portrait photographer who feels that he or she has to push out of the box of conventional lighting and posing techniques, this book may be a source of ideas. For other photographers, it may be fascinating to find out how one big-time portrait photographer does it, and admire his work, even if we never apply any of his techniques.

This book is another artsy treatment of lighting that talks more about the art of lighting. He assumes you know how to do most of the technical lighting stuff.
While he does show a 'wire drawing' of some setups it does not go very deep into the technical at all. I was hoping for a bit more 'hands on' or 'how to set up' information. If you want to be inspired, maybe this is your book. If you are looking for instruction, look elsewhere. My copy will be up in the used book section.

Don't read it cover-to-cover. Just flip though this book and stop at the first picture that grabs you. Grecco is that rare photographer who can actually put into words the creative process behind his images. He is smart, honest, funny, and frank about what it takes to make the beautiful, unique, and skillfully executed portraits that lavishly illustrate this book. There is a wealth of detailed, specific information about how the photographs were created (lighting diagrams, actual cameras, lenses, and lights used, etc.), however, most valuable is his emphasis on WHY he made his various creative and technical decisions. This volume would be worthwhile for the pictures alone, or for the diagrams, the behind-the-scenes anecdotes, or just for the insights into the technical, practical, strategic, interpersonal, and financial components that contribute to the successful outcome of what is typically thought of as a simply artistic endeavor. Rather than regarding it as a book of recipes to be rigorously replicated, he suggests using it as a jumping-off point; as an opportunity to facilitate and fine-tune your own creative process.

Obviously, Michael Grecco is an accomplished photographer, his body of work speaks for itself. On the dust jacket and in the introduction, Grecco says, "...Assistants and other photographers have asked why I would want to give away my secrets in a book..." After reading this book, I would like to assure Mr. Grecco's contemporaries that his secrets still lie safe with him.

Lots of allusions to celebrity and lots of high end equipment name dropping occur. There is very little discussion about development of the theme of an image. This is definitely a book for Grecco fans not for experienced photographers seeking additional insight. The title is deceptive, the chapter on Illumination is 44 pages, that's right, 44 pages.

Don't bother.

I don't follow celebrity photography closely, and I didn't know Michael Grecco's name before I purchased the book. But I was amazed to see how many photos I already recognized while flipping through its pages--"wow, that guy took all these shots!?!" Even though I specialize in photojournalism and natural light shooting it's a real pleasure to read how such carefully planned and staged shots can be made to appear so spontaneous.

This book is a real find. Almost any photographer should enjoy it. It has certainly encouraged me to think about new ways to shoot.

After reading about this book on the Strobist blog, I decided to order it and see for myself. I was not disappointed! It is full of tips and examples and how-to's, some using very elaborate equipment, some very simple one-light setups. He also shares some very clever ideas and tricks which can be adapted to many situations. Grecco is, moreover, a very pleasant teacher and the book is a very good read that gives the reader some views behind the scenes of Grecco Inc., or any major studio for that matter.
My only slight problem with this book is the introduction, which is not extensive enough for beginners and irrelevant to advanced and pro shooters. Probably not Grecco's choice, either.

You'll still have to come up with your own ideas and interpretations of the sitters and the images you want to bring home. But to get you technically up to speed, give you a number of widely usable ideas and give you a very stimulating read into the bargain, this is the book to look at.

This book is great for learning conventional and unconventional lighting methods. Most setups is explained-not only how the lights were positioned, but why, and the circumstances surrounding the choices. I would recommend it to anyone.

After first browsing through the book, I find the examples and illustrations are very simple to understand. If by just following whats are in the book, surely my photos will improve. However, with Mr. Grecco explanations why he was doing those lighting arrangement, it provokes my creative cells venturing into styles that are not typical in portrait lighting.
He really challenges me into doing something different from the norm, without foregoing the skills of basic lighting.
A very good technical book and also challenging to our creativity. If want want to shoot something out of the norm, this is a good book to begin. Enjoy...

For anyone interested in celebrity portraiture and what it takes to make the images you see in today's magazines, this book has it all! Grecco has taken highlights from his career as one of the top celebrity photographers in America and not only broken down the technical aspects into easy to understand terms (including concise lighting diagrams), but he has peppered the book with candid, behind-the-scenes anecdotes that show what it's like to make a truly inspired image and remain fresh in a very competitive photography market. That's what I like about it...this book is not simply a monograph of pretty pictures, but instead shows beautiful photography and the work involved in making it.

Wonderfull book with great pictures and first quality prints. In terms of didactic value it has easy to read diagrams for a portion of the photos and a writing more focused on what was important in the making of the picture rather than only technical jargon.