Picture Perfect Practice - A Self-Training Guide to Mastering the Challenges of Taking World-Class Photographs

Translating the chaos of the real world into a breathtakingly simple, beautiful photograph can seem like an impossible task. In Picture Perfect Practice: A Self-Training Guide to Mastering the Challenges of Taking World-Class Photographs, photographer Roberto Valenzuela breaks photography down into three key elements--locations, poses, and execution--that the student 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 small chapters that offer bite-size, daily exercises to strengthen their photographic abilities, students learn how to approach a scene, break it down, and see their way to a great photograph. The Location section features chapters that cover geometry, symmetry, balance, frames, converging lines, textures, and much more; the Posing section tackles all the poses one might need for a wedding (or other) shoot; and the Execution section features titles such as Lighting through Direction and Simplicity through Subtraction.

Finally, Picture Perfect Practice offers a Practice Techniques section, encouraging the student to dramatically improve their craft by not only reading the book, but by shooting through all of its exercises.

List 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
 
 

About the author

Roberto Valenzuela ist Fotograf in Beverly Hills, CA. Er entwickelte seinen einzigartigen Lehrstil, indem er genauso intensiv übte wie als professioneller Konzertgitarrist und Lehrer. Roberto glaubt fest daran, dass nicht nur Talent, sondern gewissenhaftes Üben die Grundlage für Können und Erfolg sind. Bei seinen Reisen in alle Winkel dieser Erde trainiert er Fotografen und motiviert sie, sich mit den Bestandteilen der Fotografie zu beschäftigen, um sie durch bewusste Zielsetzungen, Übung und Hingabe zu meistern. Roberto arbeitet als Juror für Fotowettbewerbe in Europa, Mexiko, Südamerika und die prestigeträchtige internationalen Fotowettbewerbe in den Vereinigten Staaten, die von der Wedding and Portrait Photographers International (WPPI) in Las Vegas, NV, organisiert werden. Roberto leitet private Workshops, Seminare und Vorlesungen bei den größten Foto-Conventions der Welt. Dreimal war er internationaler Preisträger und wurde von seinen Kollegen unter die zehn einflussreichsten Fotografen und Lehrer gewählt. Sein erstes Buch ist das weltweit meistverkaufte Foto-Lehrbuch.§§Außerhalb der Welt der Fotografie ist Roberto ein versierter Modellhubschrauberpilot, ein (leider nicht mehr so guter) klassischer Gitarrist und ein Tischtennisfanatiker. Außerdem ist er ein ausgesprochener Feinschmecker, immer auf der Suche nach einem fantastischen Rotwein und herzhaftem Käse.

Summary

The author presents his advice and practice routines for composing and capturing photographs of people, illustrated with examples from his own practice sessions and from his extensive work photographing weddings around the world.

Product details

• Authors: Roberto Valenzuela
• Publisher: Pearson Education
• Languages: English
• Product format: Paperback / Softback
• Released: 01.03.2017
• EAN: 9780321803535
• ISBN: 978-0-321-80353-5
• No. of pages: 312
• Dimensions: 204 mm x 253 mm x 14 mm
• Weight: 842 g
• Illustrations: w. ill.
• Series: Voices that matter; New Riders; Voices That Matter; New Riders
• Subjects: Guides > Hobby, home > Photography, filmmaking, video filmmaking; Fotografieren (Digitale Fotografie)