More lighting how-to's

[cenelson]

Michael Grecco - http://www.digitaljournalist.org/issue0701/grecco.html

This Grecco article has illustrations of his lighting set-ups under each shot. Really cool find.

C.

[Dean Williams]

An excellent reference, Craig.  Thank you for the link.

[Major Black]

Michael Grecco - http://www.digitaljournalist.org/issue0701/grecco.html

This Grecco article has illustrations of his lighting set-ups under each shot. Really cool find.

C.

The following is my professional opinion.

He made Selma look like hell!  Whatever he did- don't do it!

When you are lighting a model/actress the VERY MOST IMPORTANT thing is to make them look beautiful. He certainly failed in that.

If you want to look at lighting, he's not the man. Go look at Irving Penn.

Be careful who you take advice from.

[Kin Lau]

hmm...are you sure we're looking at the same pic of Selma?

Grecco does a lot of "location" type shots instead of straight studio type shots. His trademark is also that of a "dramatic"portrait, not a safe one.

I was able to find his book in the library, and was surprised to see so many well known portraits were shot by him.

[Major Black]

Ultimately, it's like music, down to personal taste.

She looks tired, out of focus and sloppily lit.

His work looks low class and like someone who hasn't matured yet. If he thinks he's "there" he may never mature.

Please note: the preceeding is my professional opinion. I've shot a few supermodels and celebs in my day. I am very particular about lighting.

[cenelson]

Mark, I didn't post the thread as a model of perfect lighting, merely another resource for folks like myself curious about diagrams for lighting set-ups. It's interesting to me, at least, to see how the equipment is configured.

Irving Penn's work is gorgeous, and I don't think any would argue the point. Please accept this thread as a link to reference for the curious, naught more.

C.

[Madrigal]

The way I like to learn is I find lots of different methods, then narrow down what I actually find works for me.
I appreciate Mark's input/opinions tremendously, especially since I love his work.
I also happen to agree with him here.
Grecco's style doesn't work for me, either.

[cenelson]

I'm too blame for the static. My subject line was hyperbole, in hindsight, and sounded like I perhaps found the Rosetta Stone. My bad.

[Madrigal]

Hey, you know, it really does boil down to opinion.
I've been asked to do protraits lately, based on my outdoor work (what are these people thinking!). Doesn't seem to phase them when I say I don't have any proper lighting, and no experience whatsoever in portraiture.
I'm keeping my eye on these threads because it comes up and I may just have to figure out what I want to do about it.

[jake]

Selma Haywhatever looks a bit stiff. Or should I say stuffed. Not natural. Dunno about the lighting, just the pose.

When I grow up, I wanna marry Marcia Gay Harden.

And be a fireman.

[rippo]

i appreciate the reference, as someone who's new to portrait photography. his pictures might not be the best, but they're better than *i'm* currently doing. and he shows how he does it, which is really helpful. it's going to take me awhile to digest it all. now to find some supermodels...

[cenelson]

now to find some supermodels...

:2yippee::Dance:

Remember - sharing is caring!

C.

[Kin Lau]

Interesting to see the difference of opinions.

I know that Strobist.com is very big on Grecco, especially for not playing it safe, and not being another "run of the mill" type.

I've noticed that there does seem to be 2 camps, the "beautifully OOF background, studio lit" and the "hard and edgey". Grecco does a fair bit of both, but seems to be better known for the later.

I'm not surprised Craig likes Grecco's style. Some of his shots are very effective, like the NYPD Blue (from the book & here http://www.digitaljournalist.org/issue0701/grecco17.html) shot.

Like Mark says, it's personal taste. Hanging out at RFF where you have a lot of street photogs, I frequently see people moan about Ansel Adams. A lot of people on pnet didn't get Sam Liu's stuff either (I suspect many here don't either, but are just very polite about it ). It took me a while to figure out Winogrand, but my wife loved it.

In the meantime, I'll just try to learn a little bit from everyone.

[TravisM]

:twocents:  Kind of hard for me to say if I like it or not I try to refrain form being too critical viewing web shots until I see in print as it was intended. I have 3 monitors and she looks very different in all 3.  The best redition was my monitor at work which I hate. Too dark needs to be replaced. But she actually looks very good and the light is not quite as whatever..... Much more appealing. So whithout knowing what was intended I can only say so much...  As a whole not for me..... But at work good.

Craig in my quest to learn about lighting ,more so the portrait side. (I know absolutly nothing by the way.)   I like good old Monte Zucker. He has many books and videos available and steps you through every aspect of his lighting setups and why. Kind of traditional and some folks think boring but there is a reason he is as popular as he is with many photographers. might give him a looksie......  Saw an article on lighting nudes. Might check that one out

[grizzz]

Great to have another link. . I like it when people have differing opinions on a certain thing. Makes for good discussion. I think it's a good ligting resource and book marked it even though I really don't like the pic of Selma. I don't think it's the lighting I don't like though but more the pose. Kinda hard to put a beutifull woman in a bad pose though so who knows.

I also agree with Travis on Monte's work. A good freind of mines brother was his partner for many years and sent me a box full of Monte's videos. They are a little slow but the info is good.