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FACES: Photography and the Art of Portraiture

  • 1st Edition - December 3, 2009
  • Latest edition
  • Authors: Steven Biver, Paul Fuqua
  • Language: English

There is so much detail to be captured in a face. Cicero (106-43 BC) said: "The face is a picture of the mind as the eyes are its interpreter." To capture a person's pe… Read more

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Description

There is so much detail to be captured in a face. Cicero (106-43 BC) said: "The face is a picture of the mind as the eyes are its interpreter." To capture a person's personality, there are many things to keep in mind, and the authors of FACES show us how to match up a personality with lighting, posing, and composition. Portraiture is truly an art, and this book dives deep into the details so that you end up with a gorgeous portrait that both you and your subject love.

Not only is this book the most comprehensive title available on portraiture, but it contains stunning images. Each image is paired with a lighting diagram, a description of why the type of image was chosen, and then takes you through postproduction to put the finishing touches on. The authors also showcase a gallery of portraits by renowned photographers.

Key features

*Written by Paul Fuqua and Steven Biver, two of the authors of Light-Science and Magic
* gallery of celebrity photographs by Nadav Kander, Joyce Tenneson, Sandro Miller, George Holz, Brent Stirton, and Dan Winters showcases both the studio and photojounalistic styles of portraiture
* wide breadth of portraits -- from street shots to studio shots, with a lighting diagram to accompany most of these
* the most gorgeous book for one of the most sought after photographic genres - people and portraits

Readership

* serious amateur photographers
* pro photographers who want to move from another area into portraiture
* photography students

Table of contents

Table of Contents

The Opening Gallery

A collection of twelve portraits by six of the most admired contemporary masters of portraiture.

Dedications

And whom do we appreciate.

Introduction to Book

Opening thoughts about portrait making.

Acknowledgements

And whom do we appreciate, once again -- but differently.

How To Use this Book

The importance of picking your way through the portraits in this book the same way you would through a bowl of delicious fruit.

Portraits From the Past

A collection of thirty-six portraits -- some happy, some terrible -- made from the beginning of photography through the 1960s.

Making Portraits

A collection of TCL portraits and detailed explanations of how we made them. Most are accompanied by full-perspective diagrams.

Street Shooting

A series of suggestions and tips that have helped us during the many years we’ve spent making street portraits.

Getting Ready

Suggestions on how to prepare for portrait sessions, both big and small.

Modifying Light

Information about the many devices we use to modify, or control, light while making portraits.

And Finally

Some parting words on what the "art and craft" of portraiture means to us.

Appendix – Some Tools and Techniques

A look at four tips and techniques that we have found helpful -- compositing, black and white conversions, reading histograms and working with lighting ratios.

Product details

  • Edition: 1
  • Latest edition
  • Published: December 3, 2009
  • Language: English

About the authors

Steven Biver

Author
Steven Biver, Virginia, USA, Commercial photographer, former clients include Adobe, Mobil, Newsweek, Black and Decker
Affiliations and expertise
Commercial photographer, former clients include Adobe, Mobil, Newsweek, Black and Decker.

Paul Fuqua

Author
Paul Fuqua, Virginia, USA, started his own audiovisual production company in 1970. Dedicated to teaching through visuals, he has written and produced educational and training material in a variety of fields, including law, science, and nature. His photography takes him all over the world, but he makes his home in Arlington, VA.
Affiliations and expertise
Professional Editorial writer and photographer

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