Master Lighting Techniques for Outdoor and Location Digital Portrait Photography [Paperback]

Stephen A. Dantzig (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 28, 2006

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.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"A how-to on controlling the effects of natural light to create top-quality portraits of any subject."  —Studio Photography

About the Author

Stephen A. Dantzig has written for Professional Photographer, Rangefinder, and Studio Photography & Design. He is the author of Lighting Techniques for Fashion and Glamour Photography. He lives in Honolulu, Hawaii.

Product Details

• Paperback: 128 pages
• Publisher: Amherst Media, Inc. (June 28, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1584281855
• ISBN-13: 978-1584281856
• Product Dimensions: 11 x 8.5 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,228,665 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

I am a dreamer with a sound foundation. I love photography and I enjoy writing about it and teaching it. I am happiest when working behind a camera. My friends would describe me as a very caring person who is not afraid to get to the heart of a problem. I take risks when needed and have a drive to succeed. I have a physical disability--cerebral palsy, and I use two canes to get around. However, this has never held me back and my accomplishments have surprised many people. I have rolled around on snow covered slopes [I'm not really sure you would call it "skiing!"] and explored the seas with a scuba tank strapped on. I have dragged many pounds of camera gear down ridiculous cliffs and stairs just to get "the shot." I have written five books [one in psychology and four on photography]. I have a great deal of passion about the things that are important to me. My interests outside of photography and education involve a study of Hawaiian and Polynesian culture. I was born and raised in New York, and while I love being a "New Yorker," Polynesia presents such a fascinating and beautiful contrast. I am truly relaxed watching a young lady tell her story through the hula.

Official Bio: Stephen Dantzig is a nationally renowned lighting expert and author of Lighting Techniques for Fashion and Glamour Photography for Film and Digital Photographers, Mastering Lighting Techniques for Outdoor and Location Digital Portrait Photography and Softbox Lighting Techniques for Professional Photographers (Amherst Media). His fourth book for Amherst Media, Portrait Lighting for Digital Photographers: The Basics and Beyond is set for a November 2009 release. He has written more than sixty articles and lessons on photographic lighting and ethics. He is a frequent contributor to RANGEFINDER Magazine and his lessons have appeared in Professional Photographer Magazine, PC Photo Magazine, Studio Photography and Design, ProPhoto West, ShootSmarter.com, ProPhotoResource.com, the Photoflex Web Photo School. His work has appeared on more than 22 magazine covers including local, regional and national markets. Some of his published works have appeared in the Amherst Media's Portrait Photographer's Handbook, Group Portrait Photography Handbook, The Best of Portraiture, The Best of Photographic Lighting (First and Second Editions), Lighting and Posing Techniques for Photographing Women, Professional Portrait Lighting Techniques and Images from Master Photographers, 500 Poses for Photographing Women, and Rangefinder's Professional Photography This Week Magazine (Hawaii), Pleasant Hawaii Magazine, Doll Reader, Metropolitan Home, Studio City Lifestyles Magazine, Santa Clarita Valley Living, and The Los Angeles Times. Stephen is a twenty-one time Award of Merit recipient from the Professional Photographers of Los Angeles County and has received two Awards of Merit from The Professional Photographers of Hawaii. His specialties include fashion, beauty and corporate photography. Commercial clients in Hawaii include: United Cerebral Palsy Association of Hawaii; Mr. Brickwood Galuteria; Miss Raeceen Woolford (Miss Hawaii 2009), Mrs. Alicia Jones (Miss Hawaii USA 2003); several past and current Miss Hawaii and Miss Hawaii USA preliminary title holders and Miss Hawaii Teen/Miss Hawaii Teen USA preliminary title and title holders. Stephen also holds a Doctor of Psychology degree from the Rutgers University Graduate School of Applied and Professional Psychology. He now works, teaches and resides in Honolulu, HI.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

19 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent book!, July 17, 2006

By 

kel3at - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Master Lighting Techniques for Outdoor and Location Digital Portrait Photography (Paperback)

This book is packed with very useful and helpful info about outdoor portrait photography. One of the better photo books I have read in a while. Most books that I have read lately seem to have lots of pretty pictures but lack useful content. This book has lots of useful info, I actually marked my book up with a highlighter, I haven't done that since college.

One unique aspect of this book is that it not only shows great photographs but it also shows bad ones and the author explains what he did wrong and how he fixed the problems when reshooting. Its very helpful seeing a bad photo(like many of my shots) and a good one right next to it under the same situation.

Another thing I like about this book is that it jumps fully into digital and explains outdoor photography as it relates to digital, especially as it relates to the limited dynamic range of digital capture. I think it would be very helpful for someone just coming into digital or someone who is having a tough transition from film.

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Best Photographic Book of 2006, August 18, 2006

By 

Rebel POW (Chicago, IL) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Master Lighting Techniques for Outdoor and Location Digital Portrait Photography (Paperback)

Master Lighting Techniques

Stephen A. Dantzig

Stephen Dantzig wrote one of the definitive books on studio lighting, "Lighting Techniques for Fashion and Glamour Photography" back in 2005. Now he takes his considerable educational and writing talents and tackles the specific lighting needs of outdoor and location photographers.

Reading a Stephen Dantzig book on photographic lighting is a pleasure to be savored slowly. There is so much to learn and so many thought provoking views on the subject that it's a crime to rush though the book. The man knows his subject and tackles it in an unconventional and effective way.

Just as he did in his book, "Lighting Techniques for Fashion and Glamour Photography" Dantzig challenges the reader right from the beginning. There is no waste or filler in his books. He discusses different lighting needs for portrait photographers vs. beauty and fashion photographers. He explains why shooting digital is more akin to shooting chrome than film, and the implications on more precise lighting measurements.

Most photographic authors show portfolio grade images exclusively. However in this book Dantzig shows successful as well as lighting failure examples... then he dissects the failures. The reader often learns more from the `failure' examples than from the typical successful images. This is a very effective technique that more photographic authors should use.

As is typical with Danzig's books are the excellent image diagrams they help the user to visualize the shooting conditions. Not just the placement of strobe lights, but the location and condition of the sun. Another thing I like about Danzig's book is the way that he masterfully blends camera / lighting techniques with Photoshop techniques, helping the reader all along the way, not an easy thing to do.

With "Master Lighting Techniques" Danzig delivers the best photographic book of 2006, just as he did last year with "Lighting Techniques for Fashion and Glamour Photography".

Put it this way, if I were to teach a college level class on photographic lighting, Danzig's two books would be the required texts.

They're that good.

14 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Not good, October 12, 2006

By 

Andrew Baerst (Dana Point, CA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Master Lighting Techniques for Outdoor and Location Digital Portrait Photography (Paperback)

I'm not sure if I was reading the same book as the other reviewers because I can't understand how they could give it five stars. I couldn't get past the fact that all of the pictures were boring, poorly composed, amateurish in quality, and all set in the same environment. I usually don't return books, but I returned this one right away. Do yourself a favor and check out Bryan Peterson's "Photographing People - Beyond Portraiture" if you are looking for a first class book that is leagues beyond this offering. If you are looking for a book that contains the same kind of diagrams as this book does, then check out "Master Lighting Guide for Portrait Photographers" by Christopher Grey. Yes, it's specific to studio portraits, but the concepts of lighting are the same. Indoors or outdoors, all photographers are ultimately trying to shape and model light. Some tools are better suited to the studio and others outdoors, but the concept of direction, tone, composition, and modifiers are essentially the same.