stephanie
surround yourself with the kind of images/ portraits / books and magazines
that have them, and look at them as much as you can.
i have a collection of portraits i scavange from junk stores
as well as volumes of my favorite olde-school portrait photographers.
the books, and images will help you see your-world differently - lighting, poses and composition.
have fun
john
Hi Stephanie,
Congratulations on becoming a "stay-at-home mom." REAL bonding with a child seems to be a rarity these days.
In addition to all the great suggestions, you might like to look into a book that John Sexton publishes. It's a soft cover book with a ring binding that has a white cover with one of John's images in the middle.
[I'm sorry I'm not at home at the moment and, therefore, can't give you the exact title. However, perhaps, someone here will know the book and post the title.]
I'll post the name of the book if someone else hasn't done it by the end of the day, ok?
Cheers
Life in the fast lane!
Light Science & Magic
Large Format Natrure Photography, Jack Dykinga
The Art of Photography, Bruce Barnbaum
View Camera Magazine
congratulations!
here's what i reccommend...
stay away from the how-to books, look for inspiration anywhere you can.
one absolute must have: Stephen Shore's The Nature of Photographs
magazines: aperture, silvershotz, zoom, communication arts, purple and any indie mags you find.
i seem to get the most out of movies, so check out greencine.com. they've got some of the most obscure stuff you'll never find anywhere else and it will all come to you. i also highly reccommend cinematography books: Masters of Light, Principal Photography, etc. the most amazing dp's talk about psychology of color, quality of light, framing and how it is used to support the narrative line and overall concept.
and last but not least...Walter Murch's In the Blink of an Eye
couldn't edit my entry when i realized it made no sense.
should read:
surround yourself with the kind of images/ portraits / books and magazines
that have images you like in them .....
thanks
john
A digital camera is a valuable aid in learning composition. It doesn't have to be more than an inexpensive P&S. Print quality is different. Whether you scan and print digitally or use a traditional darkroom, the difference between a fair print and a great one can be subtle. Any time you can see actual master prints, go for it. Some books have high enough quality in their reproduction to be valuable. Most merely give one a faint idea of what the print actually is like. Years ago Ansel Adams said the reproduction in his calendars came close to the actual prints.
I second the idea of a digital camera while developing your technique for composition and point of view. Costs nothing to shoot thousands of pix and and instant feedback can't be beat. Meanwhile learn what you need about lenses and mechanics for your 4x5, and start shooting film when you feel ready. Best of luck in your new adventure!
I'm not a digital person. I found that out a few years ago when I had a digital P&S. It doesn't work for me. Instant feedback is great, but I prefer to learn using traditional equipment. I had three P&S digitals, and got rid of all of them to get a Nikon FE. Now I've gotten rid of almost everything for a 4x5. It's almost like being born again.
Stephanie,
My apologies to you on the author of the book I was referring to... Ron has already alluded to the title.
It was written by Bruce Barnbaum and not John Sexton... and is called "The Art of Photography."
IMHO, a very good book.
Cheers
Life in the fast lane!
Stephanie
I agree Bruce Barnbaum's book is excellent. You can order it directly from Bruce at barnbaum.com. I don't think you can buy it elsewhere. He is a wonderful photographer and printer. He routinely places high values at Zone XII and higher. The book has an excellent sections on negative exposure and negative expansion and reduction by development.
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