Light and Shadow ─ Dynamic Lighting Design for Location Portrait Photography

Tony Corbell is a legend in portrait photography circleshe is the recipient of stacks of awards and hosts sold-out lectures to photographers from all over the world. He is a portrait artist who wields unparalleled control over light, producing portraits acclaimed by clients and judges alike. In this book, he teaches readers what it takes to understandand manipulatesunlight and its effects on image-making.

In the introduction to his book, Corbell states that there are only a small number of absolutes when it comes to controlling sunlight. He debunks the commonly held idea that the sun intensity varies throughout its entire arc across the sky and thereby immediately instills in readers the confidence that, in understanding basic rules and theories, they can take exacting control over the lighting effects they produce for their images.

Next, Corbell moves on to discuss light quantity, explaining that an ideal exposure is subject-and-scene dependentit is not always one that a light meter suggests is "right." Readers will learn how to use the three exposure controlsaperture, shutter speed, and ISOto allow the right amount of light to strike the sensor and produce an image with a full range of tones, from highlight to shadow. The backbone of every good image is an appropriate exposureone in which detail is preserved in the skin, eyes, and clothing. With highlights and shadows, plus apparent detail, a subject is rendered dimensional and lifelike; this realism, of course, is the photographer's objective in creating a salable, finely wrought portrait.

Light quality is the next topic at hand. Light is characterized as "hard" or "soft" and ranges in color from cool to warm tones. Corbell's text and illustrations address this topic in full, showing readers how to use the quality of light to create images with a mood or feel that suits the portrait's intended purpose. In this section, he also addresses the role that highlights, shadows, and contrast range play in sculpting the client for a flattering effect.

With the basis laid out, Corbell shifts his attention to identifying the quantity and quality of natural light on the scene and harnessing its power. He shows readers simple techniques for making the light softer or harder, diminishing the intensity of the light on the subject or scene, and adding light via flash and reflectors to produce perfect portraits in any natural-light scenario, indoors or out.

For more than twenty years, Tony Corbell has educated and inspired photographers throughout the world. His sold-out lectures and workshops have been seen in twenty-four countries and forty-nine U.S. states.

Tony has photographed three U.S. presidents, 185 world leaders and heads of state, more than 400 brides and grooms, and innumerable other recognizable faces. He has spoken at over 600 seminars and workshops nationally and internationally.