Hollywood Glamour Photography | Darkmans Darkroom » On Photography

The Magic of Black and White – Andrew Gibson

Darkman — Fri, 23 Apr 2010 20:53:06 +0000

The Magic of Black and White – Andrew Gibson

An eBook about Black and White Photography

From the website of Craft & Vision:

“Black and white photographs are a different medium than colour and require an ability to see in monochrome. Becoming aware of the differences between black and white and colour images, in both how they are seen and what makes a great black and white image, is the first step to capturing images that will work powerfully in monochrome. “

“The first in a planned two-volume set, Part One discusses what makes a great black and white photograph, what to look for when learning to see in monochrome, elements of a black and white image, and potential subjects for black and white photographs. Part Two will examine the means of creating the black and white image in the digital darkroom.”

I bought a copy of this book a while back and been going through it slowly. The images in the eBook are incredible, as well as the topics of discussion and instruction. Topics include tonality, lighting, texture, lines, shape and form, negative space, contrast, shapes and patterns, soft light, hard light, back light, dramatic light, landscape photography, street photography, nudes and much much more.

I mean this book is jam packed with stuff that will definitely make you see things in a different light, no pun intended.

and…It’s only $5.

You just can’t beat that price.

CLICK HERE to Purchase your copy of:

The Magic of Black & White, Part One, is a 58 page downloadable PDF eBook

The Magic of Black and White by Andrew Gibson

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Hollywood Glamour Lighting Video and Diagrams

Darkman — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 06:25:40 +0000

Be sure to check out the Photography Lighting Diagrams for this shoot HERE

I have people wanting to know how I set my lights up and how I get some of the effects I do for Hollywood Glamour and Film Noir Lighting. Most times when I do Hollywood glamour photography I use Fresnel lights, the same type of lights they use in Hollywood on movie sets. In fact I use several very old lights that were probably used on a Hollywood lot somewhere. I have two lights that are from the 1950′s.

When I first started this type of photography I felt I should use the same exact lights to get the same type of effect. I still feel the same as when I started, however I have adapted several strobes to do a similar effect, but it’s still not quite the same. You can get strobe flashes fitted with Fresnel lenses to get the same focusing effect but to me it’s just not quite the same.

The main difference between a Fresnel Lens Hot Light and a strobe, IS the Lens. A Fresnel lens is the same lens used in lighthouses and that long focused beam. A Fresnel Lens has the ability to focus to a hot beam of spotlight or open up and spread out for a wide spray of illuminating fill light. You can also use the edge of the circle of light, called feathering as a fill light or an edge light.

The center of the circle of light is a hot spot, and the edge is a softer feather edge. The Fresnel gives a hard light but also has a creamy soft quality to it. It’s hard to describe but it is something you can see and experience when shooting. A strobe has a hard quality to it with no softness at all with the bare bulb, nor does it have any focusing ability or softness unless you use a modifier. Then even with a modifier it’s too soft, and can’t give a hard edge shadow as the Fresnel can give. The modifier, usually a softbox wraps the light around corners and spreads the light everywhere. You can’t get a good hard edge on the shadow needed for a good paramount lighting under the nose. I will give a couple comparison photos another time but below is a video of a shoot I did with the model Kristabelle. It shows the lighting diagrams and actual shoot we did with Fresnel lights and a shot with a strobe.

Enjoy…

Darkman.

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The Boyz…

Darkman — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 09:25:00 +0000

Da Boyz...

These are a couple of friends of mine I haven’t seen in a few years. I ran across this images as I was looking for work to submit to the “Art of Photography” show. I’ve been meaning to enter the show for a number of years and I am finally going to do it this year. I have several shots I will be entering, and of course I hope I win. Even if I don’t it will be fun.

This is a shot that only happened once, it was a shot that had to be just right as the bus only comes by once every half hour or so, and my friends were there at just the right time. I just looked at the time stamp on the lower right hand corner and it’s been 7 years almost 8 years since I took this photo. Wow, it’s been a long time that I’ve been taking photos.

My next great adventure is going to be getting a rangefinder type camera and start doing some street photography again. Black and white only. I am sure all of you have heard of Cartier-Bresson? The father of modern photojournalism? what a master, and gifted artist.

Enjoy.

Darkman.

Da Boyz...

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Desolate Metropolis – a Photographer

Darkman — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 20:05:37 +0000

On Photography

I usually don’t get excited over other peoples photography. Except the exceptional, and I mean that, I just don’t. Today I came upon a photographer who just wowed the hell out of me. This person does what I want to be able to do. a style of photography that I have always been interested in since I was a child, I just never really followed up on it.

The site is http://www.desolatemetropolis.com and I would recommend people to go check out this persons work. Seriously. I am always looking for people who catch my eye, as I feel my eye is very discerning, and anyone who can wow me can most likely wow anyone. If you get a chance to see this persons work tell them you heard about them from Darkmans Darkroom. I would appreciate it.

The photography of DM is of old architecture, deserted buildings and more. More of a long lost history and civilization even. Lost America, things we take for granted but changed the lived of millions of people. The lives of the people who built America and who are indirectly impacted by those who help to build what we take for granted today. The modern luxuries of simple things like automobiles and buildings. OK I am getting a bit philosophical but that’s only because I am so moved by this persons images.

Anyway, just go check it out…

Thanks,

Darkman…

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Lighting Techniques for Hollywood Glamour Photography

Darkman — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 18:52:13 +0000

Model: Kristabelle

Be sure to watch the Hollywood Glamour Photography Video for this shoot HERE

Photography Lighting Techniques are sometimes huge mysteries, at least to the beginning photographer. Sometimes to the seasoned pro too, only because maybe it was such a simple setup that it just couldn’t be that easy, right? I know I am that way sometimes when my friends tell me how they lit a set or how it was just one light or it was ambient light. Lighting has always fascinated me and when I decided that I wanted to take pictures like the people who’s photography I liked, that’s when things changed for me.

I had gone to New Orleans, just after Hurricane Katrina for Convergence, a gathering of Goths for the sole purpose of partying, music and having a great weekend, only much more. I had my Canon 20D and was taking pictures the whole weekend because NOLA is such a beautiful place and there’s so much to photo. One memorable part of my trip was the swamp tour in a boat; the swamp fascinates me, is beautiful and I will be back to photo the swamp again as I am drawn there.

Friends who know me say I sold my soul to the swamp witch we met, because this was the turning point in my photographic career. I had attended the fashion show for convergence and gathered the designers and models together to take some photos. When I got home to San Diego I made a gallery and put them up online. A few days later I looked at the gallery again and said “These suck!”. That is when I locked myself away for a year and studied nothing but lighting.

Nowadays people come to me and ask questions about lighting, I guess they say I am a go to guy when it comes to certain types of lighting, so I always share my knowledge of lighting with people when I can. Here are some lighting diagrams and techniques I used for a few images I shot a couple weeks ago with Model Kristabelle. I also have a video I will put online when I get it edited.

Model: Kristabelle, Black and White

I met Kristabelle at Ink n Iron 2009, as I contacted her for a shoot for the promoter as she was a finalist for the pinup pageant. I had also seen her on my friend Johnny Angel’s Myspace page which is where I originally seen her. Below is the lighting diagram for this shot. If you have any questions please make a comment and subscribe to the comment as I will answer your questions there.

Lighting Diagram for Model Kristabelle in Black and White

Model: Kristabelle in Color

I decided to show this image in color as I really like the tones and the scene, I like it so much that I am going to print a limited number and sell them here in case anyone is interested. Below is the lighting diagram for this set, it’s similar to the previous diagram with the placement of one light to camera right instead of left.

Model: Kristabelle in Color, Lighting Diagram

The previous two shots and lighting were done with Fresnel Focusing Lamps. They are a hot light and the same type used in the old movies of the 30′s, 40′s, and 50′s. They are what some of the great photographers used for their portrait sittings in the old days of the movie studios, and it is what I use in many of my photos, because I want a certain look and color tone.

Model: Kristabelle in Archway, Black and White

This shot was done in the archway of my studio where I hung a curtain in the archway to create a backdrop. I lit the model with 2 mini monolight strobes. The archway divides two rooms and I put one strobe above the curtain in one room, shining down on the model behind her. I put the second strobe with a modified softbox in the other room in front and to the side as you can see in the diagram.

Model: Kristabelle in Archway Lighting Diagram

The modified softbox is actually a Photoflex Litedome XS, the part that’s modified is the egg crate grid to control the lighting direction. They don’t make a grid for the XS, so I had to get the one for the next size larger and cut it to size and sew the Velcro back on. Actually I stapled it. I used this XS softbox with a grid, because I like the way it works. People might say the box is so small why use a grid on it, it’s because I like the way it causes the light to fall off around the edges and helps to create sculpted shadow and lighting.

I hope those diagrams made sense and they help someone. I know when I was first starting out things like this really helped me and I was glad someone would share something like this with me. If you have any questions please ask. I am more than happy to help.

Enjoy…

Darkman…

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Books and Videos Here

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Annie Leibovitz – Behind the scenes with Profoto Founder Conny Dufgran

Darkman — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 18:57:18 +0000

Annie Leibovitz is one of my favorite photographers. Her work is well known, spans several decades, and several magazines including Rolling Stone and Vogue. In this video she is photographing the founder of Profoto, Conny Dufgran, for a 40Th year anniversary head shot and celebration. Profoto is some of the finest equipment in the industry and I am guessing Annie uses it herself.

I always like watching behind the scenes shots and video, so I can learn and expand my vision. While looking on you tube for other stuff I also found a second video of Annie doing the Marie Antoinette shoot for Vogue, pretty cool stuff there.

Enjoy…

The Profoto Shoot:

The Annie Leibovitz/ Marie Antoinette shoot for Vogue

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Photographic Therapy – A Free Photography Book – by Rolando Gomez

Darkman — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 18:37:54 +0000

Photographic Therapy – a Free Photography Book – by Rolando Gomez

Photograhic Therapy

Rolando Gomez, well known author of several photography books, has a new site called Free Photography Books. Go there, sign up for his mailing list and you will be notified of more free photography books he puts out. His current free book is “Photographic Therapy–The Power of Photography to Help Build or Re-Build Self-Esteem“, and is available for download right now from this link.

After briefly going through it, I like what I see. There are tips for photography but the tips and the stories are more geared toward Photographic Therapy, and by that I mean therapy for the subject, through the means of photography. There are stories about women who’s husbands left them for the bridesmaid. Lame right? I think so, and this leaves the bride with a broken heart, and “emotional Baggage” that she’s going to have to deal with. What Rolando is saying here is to help people with the lens of your camera, and your lighting. Make people feel good about themselves, help them to move along in life with a better attitude about themselves and life.

In the book “Photographic Therapy”, Rolando tells some stories about people whom he has come across, and the images he has taken of them, and goes over some technique as well. He also tells about the after effects of certain photo sessions, both good and bad, and the results of how someone else can make a person feel(jealous or encouraging husband/boyfriend). Some of the techniques discussed are lighting and how you can light a person to slim them down, or to correct a physical challenge or hide a blemish.

I have always thought to myself of this as a viable way to help people, but have never seen anyone else talk about it. Until now. It’s nice to see someone put words to it and write a book about it. We as photographers have a responsibility to people to make them feel comfortable and good about themselves if we can. We have the power to make someone feel either: very self conscious and bad about themselves, or very comfortable and good about themselves. The camera, and what we represent as photographers, is a very powerful tool and for us as photographers to abuse this power is not cool.

The last sentence brings to mind the subject of GWC, or otherwise known as “Guy With Camera”. It’s a derogatory term for an amateur photographer or a person who bought a camera solely for the reason to get close to models or women. To use the persons trust as a “Photographer” to let them get close to them and take pictures. Usually Bad ones.

I want to say that the person who is the GWC isn’t necessarily a photographer, nor does the “woman” have to be a model. Usually the GWC will prey on unsuspecting women, so they can have access to nude or semi nude women. With this being said they are the people who might give photographers a bad name. So just be aware of the difference.

I had a girl who used to come shoot with me, and I think only me, who did modeling and burlesque show dancing to help herself come out of her shell. A shy girl who was soft spoken and styled hair for a living she, came to me with some ideas and wanted me to photo them for her. I did and had her come back a few more times. She eventually got married, retired the burlesque show dancing and I am not sure if she ever modeled ever again, but I am glad and lucky I was able to photo her. She was one of the best models I have ever worked with and she landed me a back cover on a well known fetish magazine called Secret Magazine. Those images I took with that model are some of my best, my favorite and most cherished images. So much so that I used them for my business cards and i always get compliments on the images.

I’m glad Rolando came out with his free book. It touches on a subject most people avoid, and it gave me the topic for this post. It reminds me of who I am and to remain humble and be careful of what I say to people.

Enjoy your week…

Darkman.

Lottie Da Lucks on the back cover of Secret Magazine

Lotti Da Lucks

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3 Facts about Pictures, Photography and the Law you may not know.

Darkman — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 08:09:10 +0000

3 Things about Pictures, Photography and the Law you may not know.

Copyright Law states “Copyright is a property right. Under the Federal Copyright Act of 1976 (effective January 1, 1978 and amended when the USA joined the Berne Convention in 1989), photographs are protected by copyright from the moment of creation.”

Did you know: You cannot take a photograph that was taken of you and get it reproduced?
That is unless the photographer gave you specific rights to do so? Did you know that even if you are in the photo, you have no rights to that photo whatsoever, unless the photographer stipulates that. It is protected under the federal copyright law and is the property of the photographer, even if the image is of you.

Copyright 2009 - Darkmans Darkroom
Did you know: A picture on the Internet is protected by copyright law too?
If I post some pictures on the Internet and someone takes them and uses them on a website, t-shirt or a magazine, and I find them, I can take them to court for copyright infringement. That means that even though I put my pictures on the Internet they are still protected by the same copyright laws that protects my printed material. It means if you take an image from a website and use it, it is called stealing.
Did you know: If you were photographed by photographer, the photographer can’t use that picture for anything without your permission?
Even if you gave your permission to be photographed they still cannot use your picture without a signed release from you. You have a right to privacy and even though it is the property of the photographer, they have to have you sign a release in order for them to be able to use the image.

When I went to my friendly neighborhood Walmart to pick up some photos that I had them print, they wouldn’t give me the photos, They said they were made by…”A Professional” “Duh” I thought to myself as I tossed my business card on the counter. They said I had to sign a photographers release stating that I was either the photographer that shot them or that I had permission to print them from the photographer who did. Huhmmm!

I had not had that happen before and when it happened to me, at first I was a little miffed. As I was standing there waiting for a manager to come and explain things to me, I actually started to get a little bit of gratitude. Why you ask? Because that means that when someone who scans the images that I took and tries to have them reprinted without my permission or without paying me for them, they won’t be able to. AHhhh! Nice!

Not all places are like that though, take your local drugstore, try taking in a photo and ask to scan it. Or ask them to reprint it. See what happens and come back and comment on here for me.

PPA, Professional Photographers of America, is one of the organizations responsible for having places like this made aware of this discrepancy by having them fined and legally reprimanded for such actions. It is also another reason why I am a member of PPA. They take care of the good guys, the photographers who make a living from taking other peoples pictures, for creating memories that last a lifetime, for creating that one in a million Kodak moment. OK gag. No but seriously, it’s for real and that is one of the reason I belong.

Have a great evening folks…

Darkman.

Larry L Clark
PPA Member #5154485

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Hollywood Glamour Photography | Darkmans Darkroom » On Photography

The Magic of Black and White – Andrew Gibson

Related Posts:

Hollywood Glamour Lighting Video and Diagrams

Related Posts:

The Boyz…

Related Posts:

Desolate Metropolis – a Photographer

Related Posts:

Lighting Techniques for Hollywood Glamour Photography

Related Posts:

Annie Leibovitz – Behind the scenes with Profoto Founder Conny Dufgran

Related Posts:

Photographic Therapy – A Free Photography Book – by Rolando Gomez

Random Posts:

3 Facts about Pictures, Photography and the Law you may not know.

Related Posts: