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The Dramatic Portrait

The Art of Crafting Light and Shadow

Chris Knight

Ebook, Lighting, Photography, Popular Techniques, Portrait, Print, Print and digital bundle

(1 customer review)

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

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

Print and eBook Bundle: $54.99
Print Book: $44.95
eBook: $40.99

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Product ID: 1119348 SKU: 1091 Categories: Ebook, Lighting, Photography, Popular Techniques, Portrait, Print, Print and digital bundle Tags: chris knight, dramatic portrait, portait photography, portrait, Portrait Photography Book, shooting portraits

BOOK AUTHOR	Chris Knight
PAGE COUNT	240 pages
TRIM SIZE	8 x 10in
COVER	Soft Cover- without flaps
ISBN	9781681982144
PUBLISH DATE	07/2017

THE DRAMATIC PORTRAIT
Table of Contents
Introduction
Chapter 1: A History of Portraiture: More Fun Than It Sounds
Chapter 2: Technical Lighting: The Tools to Control Light
Chapter 3: Taking Shape: Shaping the Light, Mood, and Face
Chapter 4: How Many Lights: Using One, Two, and Three Lights to Further the Purpose
Chapter 5: Color: Directing the Eye and Influencing People
Chapter 6: Styling: Making Good Visual Choices
Chapter 7: Post-Production: Adding the Polish
Chapter 8: Personal Style: You Do You
Final Thoughts

1 review for The Dramatic Portrait

Nikifor March 22, 2020

Easily one of my favorite photographic books!
– The theoretical part features very well captured, clean illustrations that are clear to interpret. In addition, the posing model maintains the same position, face expression in each series of images, which makes comparisons between different light sources demonstrated a breeze!
– Page design is clean and beautiful. Images are stunning.
– The level of detail is spot-on!
– Print quality is amazing!

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The Dramatic Portrait

The Art of Crafting Light and Shadow

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