In researching photography I found a site featuring some of the best photography on the web. This image is well worth checking out.
Best Photography on the WebI had a very wonderful review from a reader and follower on Twitter from Munich, Germany and I want to also share his
review. Thank you Bruno!
“10 Ways to Use One Light Source”
Recently I’ve been spending quite some time with the work of Matthew Jordan Smith. Apart from a boatload of breathtaking images, Matthew’s also got a voice at least as soothing as Bob Ross’… Don’t believe me? Check out this video of Matthew talking about his favorite paper:
I digress. Sorry about that. Anyway, Matthew has also made a couple of instructional presentations on how he made some of his images. I rarely buy instructional videos and the like, mainly because I’ve found that few are actually worth the money. In Matthew’s case I gladly made an exception though. Matthew offers several videos / presentations on his website, each selling for $12,95. I decided to start out with “10 Ways to Use One Light Source”.
“10 Ways to Use One Light Source” is a 20-minute presentation taking the viewer through 10 images shot with one light. Each shot is presented along with a lighting diagram and Matthew talking you through the setup step by step. While 20 minutes may not sound like much, it’s 20 minutes packed with actual information free of unnecessary junk or other distractions. This may disappoint the armchair photographers who prefer talking about photography instead of actually doing it, but it’s perfect for those of us who actually want to apply the things they learn.
Here’s a short clip from another one of Matthew’s presentations so you can get an idea what they are like:
“Just” One Light
As a photographer, one easily gets into this more light equals better light mindset. It’s not so much about the look, it’s more about the feeling of security you get from putting up a truckload of lights, thinking “Guys, I’m trying to make a masterpiece here, this can’t be simple.”
There are actually two things wrong with this mindset. First, a great shot can definitely be simple. And second, lighting an image with just one light can be anything but.
Deconstructing other people’s images is something I do every day, trying to figure out the way an image was shot, the number and position of lights and other important elements. I have to admit that I was often quite surprised that all these images were actually done with “only” one light.
Assisting for other photographers is possibly the best way to learn your craft. You’re able to see the shot being put together from scratch, learn about the way the photographer thinks and -if you pay attention- you can pick up some of those little tricks good photographers use constantly. While no video or book or presentation can teach you as much as a day spent assisting for a good photographer, Matthew’s presentation goes a long way in putting you in that spot.
It’s not so much about the general setup. If you look at a photo, you can usually tell by the reflections in the subject’s eyes and the shadows on their face, where the light is coming from. What you don’t see, however, is the little things that shape the final image from a raw shot into a brilliant one. Here’s where things like reflectors, v-flats and mirrors come into play. It’s also where you find out that “just” one light can be surprisingly complex and versatile.
I learned a lot from this presentation and -more importantly- I’ll be coming back to it for reference whenever I’m about to do something in this style. At $12,95 you shouldn’t be hesitating.
Link to actual review:
Bruno Axhausen
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