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Picture Perfect Practice: A Self-Training Guide to Mastering the Challenges of Taking World-Class Photographs
- By Roberto Valenzuela
- Published Feb 14, 2012 by New Riders. Part of the Voices That Matter series.
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Description
- Copyright 2012
- Dimensions: 8" x 10"
- Pages: 312
- Edition: 1st
- eBook
- ISBN-10: 0-13-285293-4
- ISBN-13: 978-0-13-285293-7
Foreword by Skip Cohen
Translating the chaos of the real world into a breathtakingly simple, beautiful photograph can often seem like an impossible task. With busy, cluttered backgrounds and subjects who don’t know how to pose, how can you take control and get a great shot no matter the situation? In Picture Perfect Practice, photographer Roberto Valenzuela breaks down the craft of photography into three key elements–locations, poses, and execution–that you can use to unlock the photographic opportunities lying beneath every challenging situation.
Valenzuela stresses the need for photographers to actively practice their craft every day–just like you would practice a musical instrument–in order to master the art of making great images. With chapters that offer practice exercises to strengthen your photographic abilities, you’ll learn how to approach a scene, break it down, and see your way to a great photograph. The Location section features chapters that cover symmetry, balance, framing, color elements, textures, and much more. The Posing section includes the Five Key Posing Techniques that Valenzuela uses every time he’s shooting people, as well as a complete list of poses and how to achieve, customize, and perfect them. The Execution portion, with sections like “Lighting through Direction” and “Simplicity through Subtraction,” reveals Valenzuela’s overall approach to getting the shot. The book also includes an inspiring and helpful chapter on deliberate practice techniques, where Valenzuela describes his system for practicing and analyzing his work, which leads to constant improvement as a photographer.
If you’ve been frustrated and overwhelmed by the challenges of real-world locations, posing your subjects, or executing a great image–or if you simply want to become a better shooter but don’t know where to start–Picture Perfect Practice gives you the tools and information you need to finally become the kind of photographer you’ve always wanted to be: the kind who can confidently walk into any location, under any lighting condition, with any subject, and know that you can create astonishing photographs that have a timeless impact.
Sample Content
Table of Contents
Contents
Foreword xi
Introduction xiii
How to Read This Book xiv
The Location, Posing, and Execution Charts xvi
Part 1: locations
1 Geometry 3
Geometry for Framing 5
Geometry in the Environment 7
Geometry for Balance 9
Putting It All Together 10
2 Balance 11
Balancing with People 12
Balancing with Objects 12
Five Key Questions for Choosing a Balance Point 12
Balancing with Space 15
3 Parallel Lines 21
Working with Horizontal Lines 22
Working with Vertical Lines 24
4 Symmetry 27
Combining Vertical Symmetry with People 29
Combining Horizontal Symmetry with People 31
Seeing Symmetry Everywhere 32
5 Color Elements 35
Keep Contrasting Colors to a Minimum 36
Find an Area Where the Colors Are Part of the Same Family 36
The Three-Color Limit 38
6 Depth 43
Depth and the Environment 44
Depth with Context 44
Depth for Mood 45
Depth with Movement 49
Shadows 53
The Bright Side of Shadows. 54
Using Dark Rooms Outside to Create Striking Portraits with Shadows 54
1: Shooting from the Shadow Side 55
2: Shooting in the Middle Between the Bright and Shadow Sides 56
3: Shooting from the Bright Side 57
Navigate by the Shadows on the Ground 59
Casting Shadows from Objects to Create Graphical Interest
on a Portrait 61
Using an Off-Camera Flash or Video Light to Force Shadows to
Appear Where Desired 63
8 Silhouettes 67
Vital Components of Silhouettes .68
A Very Bright Background to Create Contrast 68
Subjects or Objects Should Have Little or No Light Falling on Them 68
No On-Camera Flash 68
Clear and Recognizable Shapes 68
Correct Exposure 68
Creating the Opportunity for Silhouettes 69
Partial Silhouettes 70
Posing Silhouettes 72
Creating Contrasting Silhouettes 74
9 Reflections 77
Reflections Using a Single Mirror 78
Two Sides of the Same Person 78
Capturing Expressions and Relationships through a Mirror 79
Telling Multiple Stories through a Single Mirror 80
Creating Balance with a Single Mirror 81
Reflections Using Two Mirrors 83
Using Beveled Mirrors 84
Reflections from Water 86
Finding Reflections in Unlikely Places 88
10 Patterns and Repetitions 93
Incorporating Patterns into Photography 94
Breaking a Pattern to Isolate a Subject 94
Combining Patterns with Geometry 95
Using a Flash to Bring Out the Pattern 98
Combining Patterns with Geometry and Symmetry 99
Working with Repetitions 100
Positioning Subjects Within or Near the Repetition 100
Positioning Subjects to Become Part of the Repetition 101
11 Framing 103
Creating Action Inside a Frame 104
Creating Frames 105
Natural Frames 107
Double Frames 110
ABSTRACT FRAMES 111
Framing with People 112
Framing with Meaning 113
12 Paintings and Artwork 115
Choosing the Right Artwork 116
Removing Context 116
Composition with Paintings and Artwork 118
Technical and Lighting Tips 121
13 Contrasts 125
Old and New 126
Big and Small 128
Bright and Dark 129
Contrasting Expressions 131
Age Contrast 132
Contrasting Colors. 135
Breaking the Status Quo 136
14 Lens Flare 139
The Benefits of Lens Flare 140
Everything in Moderation 140
Moving Halos Away from the Body 140
Block and Crop 142
Setting Priorities 144
Advanced Lens Flare Techniques 145
15 Walls, Translucent Surfaces, and Textures 147
Walls and Shade 148
Proximity to the Sun 149
Reflecting a Patch of Sunlight 151
Reflecting Window Light in Front of Walls 152
Using an External Flash on Walls 153
Using Walls as Reflectors 154
Think Like a Photographer 157
Using Natural Walls 158
Superimposing Designs on Walls 159
Wall Textures 160
Making Texture Work for You 161
Using Contrasting Textures 163
Translucent Materials 165
Part 2: POSES
16 Five Key Posing Techniques 171
My Posing System 172
Technique 1: Systematically Sculpting the Body 172
Distributing Weight for Natural Posing 172
Symmetrical Posing 175
Technique 2: Posing the Hands 177
Posing Hands in Large Groups 179
Technique 3: Posing the Face 180
The “X” Factor 180
Technique 4: Injecting Expression and Balancing Energies 182
Clichés Don’t Work! 182
Eyes Must Be Posed 183
Technique 5: Give Specific Directions 186
17 Posing Chart 187
Getting the Most Out of This Chapter 188
Traditional 188
Him Behind Her 192
Her Behind Him 194
Walking 197
Kissing 201
Playful, Action, Movement 206
Holding Hands 210
Sitting 213
Together Side by Side 216
Interpretive 219
Distance Apart 224
Hugging 227
Foreground/Background 230
Facing Each Other 234
Kiss Anticipation 238
Featuring Him 239
Featuring Her 240
T-Pose 242
Part 3: EXECUTION
18 Execution 247
Lighting through Direction 248
Simplicity through Subtractio 250
Beauty through Angles 252
The Tourist Test 254
Bird’s Perspective 254
Dog’s Perspective 257
Perspective through Lenses 259
Part 4: DELIBERATE PRACTICE
19 Deliberate Practice 263
Perform 264
Discover 265
Technical Problems 265
Location Problems 266
Lighting Problems 266
Pose/Expression Problems 266
Approach Problems 267
Artistic/Creative Problems 267
Breaking It Down 267
Analyze 268
Step-by-Step Practice Session 269
Situation 269
Breakdown Exercise Log 270
Integrating the Location Chart and Previous Practice Sessions 270
Practice Session Photos and Analysis of Results 271
Real-Life Application of New Skill Set 275
Final Practice Examples 277
Weeds or Plants 277
Narrow Hallways 278
Foreground/Background and Silhouettes 281
Ruffled Dress 283
Final Words 287
Index 289