Without light, there is no photograph. As almost every photographer knows, the word “photograph” has its roots in two Greek words that, together, mean “drawing with light.” But what is less commonly acknowledged and understood is the role that shadow plays in creating striking, expressive imagery, especially in portraiture. It is through deft, nuanced use of both light and shadow that you can move beyond shooting simply ordinary, competent headshots into the realm of creating dramatic portraiture that can so powerfully convey a subject’s inner essence, communicate a personal narrative, and express your photographic vision.

In The Dramatic Portrait: The Art of Crafting Light and Shadow, Chris Knight addresses portraiture with a unique approach to both light and shadow that allows you to improve and elevate your own portraiture. He begins with the history of portraiture, from the early work of Egyptians and Greeks to the sublime treatment of light and subject by artists such as Caravaggio, Rembrandt, and Vermeer. Chris then dives into a deep, hands-on exploration of light, shadow, and portraiture, offering numerous lessons and takeaways. He covers:

• The qualities of light: hard, soft, and the spectrum in between

• The relationships between light, subject, and background, and how to control them

• Lighting patterns such as Paramount, Rembrandt, loop, and split

• Lighting ratios and how they affect contrast in your image

• Equipment: from big and small modifiers to grids, snoots, barn doors, flags, and gels

• Multiple setups for portrait shoots, including those that utilize one, two, and three lights

• How color contributes to drama and mood, eliciting an emotional response from the viewer

• How to approach styling your portrait, from wardrobe to background

• The post-processing workflow, including developing the RAW file, maximizing contrast, color grading, retouching, and dodging and burning for heightened drama and effect

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• How all of these elements culminate to help you define your personal style and create your own narrative

This book includes information on the fourth and latest version of this extremely popular software program--just released this very season.

Joe Farace is an award-winning photographer with more than 30 books and 1,600 articles to his credit. So there’s no one better to take monochrome into the digital age. Whether you’re shooting digital black and white from your camera or converting color photographs to monochrome on the computer, you’ll discover an array of unique, innovative, and inspirational techniques suitable for shutterbugs of every level. Farace explains what kinds of software programs are best, and how to use them to manipulate your photos in diverse ways. He also discusses various in-camera effects including toning and soft focus. The detailed information and instruction cover everything from creating traditional looking black-and-white or sepia images, to adding color selectively for a one-of-a-kind, fine-art approach.

ENRICH, ENHANCE, AND TRANSFORM YOUR ART WITH THE MAGIC OF PHOTOSHOP® For artists, Adobe® Photoshopâ offers an exciting entry into a new world of limitless color, textures, and effects that can be applied with just the touch of a keyboard or click of a mouse. Intended for serious artists -- painters, photographers, and printmakers ‑- Photoshop for Artists provides a comprehensive series of detailed tutorials, cataloging the various tools, techniques, and methods for producing an infinite variety of creative imagery with Photoshop. With thirty tutorials divided into sections for fine artists, photographers, and printmakers, this book contains easy-to-follow step-by-step examples that include all the information serious professional artists need to master the digital art techniques of Photoshop. Each tutorial features screenshots and detailed directions, so artists can see exactly how the specific effects are achieved and applied to artwork. Featuring stunning and dramatic imagery produced by the author and other accomplished artists, Photoshop for Artists is essential reading for artists looking to take their work to the next digital level.

Covers the entire compositing process to create a variety of realistic photographs, with details on such topics as lighting, camera setup, background color, shadowing, and special effects.

"A "cookbook" for creating dramatic and sometimes surreal effects using Adobe Photoshop, including methods to create entirely new composite images or simply improve existing images"--

"Clear, concise, lively, well-organized and opinionated."--Popular Photography and Imaging

The ability to create an effective portrait is probably the single most important skill any aspiring photographer must master. Few professional photographers, whatever their area of specialization, can hope to have a successful career without ever being called upon to create a likeness of another person. The Portrait Photography Course is designed to build a student photographer's experience and get him or her started on a rewarding career. Detailed tutorials cover every aspect of studio and location work, from composition and psychology to complex lighting schemes, equipment options, and digital retouching. Portfolios of exemplary images showcase individual photographers' work and demonstrate techniques explored in the tutorials, while interviews with top portrait photographers shed insight into their methodologies and philosophies. Presented and written by a leading portrait photographer, this book is an indispensable guide to taking professional pictures.¿

Go beyond the basic rules of photography to capture stunning portraits Portrait photography is a vital topic for photographers of every level of experience, from amateur to professional. Written by renowned photographer Harold Davis, this inspirational book encourages you to define our own photographic style and capture stunning, creative, and unique portraits. You'll discover tips and techniques for "breaking the rules" of basic digital photography so that you can go beyond the fundamentals such as composition, lighting, and exposure in order to create memorable and incomparable portraits. Explores the most common subject of most photographers-people-and explains when, why, and how to forgo the fundamentals to capture memorable portraits Encourages you to define your own unique photographic style and offers information and inspiration to help you do so Delves into a variety of creative techniques that you can use when exploring ways to take lively and stunning portraits Illustrated with Harold Davis's striking portrait photography, Creative Portraits will both inform and inspire you.

Capture the incredible sights of Oregon’s majestic seaside Rick and Susan Sammon are back to share their seasoned photography and travel wisdom, this time guiding the reader through the remarkable landscapes and cultural treasures of the Oregon Coast, from Cannon Beach to Bandon Beach. Whether toting professional gear or just smartphones, travelers will find practical tips and expert knowledge on taking the best photos of the coast’s shorelines, rock faces, lighthouses, and more. When the journey is over, The Oregon Coast Photo Road Trip offers photo editing advice for everything from industry-leading software to a smartphone’s default camera app, so the memories can be relived and preserved. More than just guides to the practice of photography, Rick and Susan also cover all of the best places to lodge, dine, and shop, providing a detailed and tailored itinerary and map so travelers can make the most of every mile of coast.