Portrait Photography Lighting Styles - Rembrandt Lighting

Learning from the old masters
The Dutch painter Rembrandt van Rijn used painting techniques suggesting ambient light rendering shadows and highlights which created the illusion of a three dimensional portrait. Filmmakers and photographers have picked up on this technique and applied it to portraiture and scene lighting.

A host of work to analyze
Examples of this can clearly be seen in Rembrandt van Rijn's work, which include his many self portraits, A Polish Nobleman, Atemisia, Portrait Of An Old Man In Red and a host of others.

Nothing without light
Once the new digital photographer has eventually got to grips with the plethora of equipment that add to the photographic experience, he or she can delve into the exiting world of portraiture and lighting. Photography does not exist without lighting. Rembrandt lighting has become infused as a lighting technique alongside broad portrait lighting, short portrait lighting, split portrait lighting and butterfly portrait lighting.

Similar Technique
Rembrandt lighting is similar to short or broad lighting where the key light is placed on the narrow or broad side of the face leaving one section of the face in shadow. Imagine your subject facing directly towards the camera with the key light placed right of the camera, more to the side of the subject and above the head. The subject turns towards the light creating a shadow on the other side of the face. The shadow can be placed on the opposite side by the subject turning away from the key light. This simple technique is enough to create some interest in the portrait and is generally a food starting point.

The essential difference
The difference between these lighting techniques and Rembrandt lighting is in the nose shadow. The key light must be placed in a critical position in relation to the subject and the camera so that the nose shadow connects with the large shadow on the same side of the face. This must result in a triangle of light under the eye, Rembrandt's signature in his portraits. The contrast created can be reduced using a fill light with the desired intensity placed on the shadow side of the face or on the camera axis towards the subject.

Dramatic results
This lighting style is linked to chiaroscuro lighting where shadow and light are used to sculpture the subject. The effect is dramatic and lends itself to rugged portraits mainly suited to men. Rembrandt implied natural ambient lighting which seemed to favor harsh sunlight or fire sourced light as used in The Night Watch painting. If extended to broader subjects showing location, the low key technique of Rembrandt and chiaroscuro produce dramatic results that have also been exploited by the film industry. This can be seen in old films like The Hunchback of Notre Dame. However, in modern photography and movies softer lighting sources are used while still maintaining the Rembrandt triangle under the eye.

Legacy
There is no doubt that Rembrandts legacy exists in the creative lighting techniques developed and employed by the modern photographer and filmmaker to create depth in these essentially flat mediums.

Why Not Use the RGB Color Wheel Theory And Super Brighten Your Paintings?

RGB color wheel theory -- and you thought it was just for color television! Not anymore! Would you like to know a secret on preventing Mud from creeping into your color mixes? Stick around for a few moments, I'll explain to you a secret to keep your paintings from looking like something the cat dragged in!

There are volumes of books written on this subject. But admittedly, most are based on science that was discovered in the writings of Leonardo da Vinci, and later, Leone Battista Alberti. Then a Moses Harris created what we believe was the first color wheel, then a Johannes Itten created a 12 point system that seemed to work out for painter mixing paints for a long time. This is the system that uses primary colors of Red, Yellow, Blue and is generally accepted as the "Mixing Color Wheel". Unfortunately, this theory is still taught in our schools, and I'm as guilty as the rest in that I still use it.

Then science figured out a few more tricks for us, like, color television, and the fact that our eyes are set up with Red, Green and Blue receptors. This is now known as the "Visual Color Wheel" and is based on primary colors being Red, Green and Blue light. Thus, the RGB Color Wheel was created.

This theory works great when thinking about light, but how does that apply to paint? We have to use the subtractive color theory to fully understand and apply this to paint mixing. Lets look at the printing and photography industry. Inks in your computer printer use Cyan, Magenta and Yellow. These are the subtractive primary's on the RGB color wheel.

In a nutshell, these colors lie exactly 1/3 around the RGB color wheel, and when say Red + Green lights are combined you get the Yellow. The Red + Blue = Magenta, and Blue + Green gives us Cyan.

The proof for me that the theory is sound is simply looking at an Epson Giclee Print. When using (in theory) all 3 colors, we should get black, but alas, it's difficult to create a perfect Magenta, Cyan, or Yellow pigment, so they add black.

So why not teach this color theory in schools? Most of your graphic design colleges are well ahead of the game, but it's simply gonna take time for it to filter down to our elementary school systems. In the mean time, experiment! The closest oil paint available today for matching these same pigments on the RGB wheel are,

o Yellow Cadmium Light = Yellow
o Phthalo Blue = Cyan
o Quinacridone magenta = Magenta

Most artists already have two of these colors on their palette! Phthalo Blue and Yellow Cadmium Light. If you have ever used these to mix your greens, you will find that they are an intense vivid green, so much so, I rarely use it in my own work (remember, I'm ol'school).

But don't let that stop you.

If you paint in an impressionistic or abstract style, these colors will be right up your alley. With the addition of the Quinacridone Magenta to this trio of colors, it is an amazing gamut of hues (colors) that can be created! And their intensity and brightness beats anything I can mix using the traditional RYB color wheel palette.

The reasons being there are less secondary color mixtures/fillers in the individual blends. They are simply truer to the ideal Yellow, Cyan and Magenta on the Visual RGB Color Wheel. Thus, using them in your mixtures will mean a brighter, less muddy painting!

Use Photo Corners When Framing Fine Artwork

If you are trying to frame your fine art photographs, you have several choices to make when it comes to mounting the artwork to the mount board. Although it is quick and easy to simply use an adhesive spray to glue the photo to the mount, it is not possible afterward to remove the photo from the mount board without damaging the print. Over time, the chemicals in adhesives can react with the surface of the photos as well, and cause discoloration. If you are looking for way way to mount your photos that is considered conservation quality and allows you the flexibility of removing the photo later on if you wish, then you will want to try using photo. Archival photo corners are an easy answer for securing your fine art photographs to mount board.

Photo corner can help to preserve your artwork in various ways. First, archival photo should be made of conservation quality materials, for this will help to prolong the life of the artwork in which they come into contact. Second, the use of photo corner mounts allows the photograph to expand and contract due to changes in temperature without the surface wrinkling, which is impossible if the artwork is permanently affixed to the mount board.

In order to hide the photo-corners so that they are not seen, you have a couple of choices. Clear photo corners can be used for this purpose. Another way to go is to select a wide enough mat board to place over the photograph being held in the photo corners, and the mat board will hide them. In all cases, photo work best with photographs that have a border edging them.

Photo-corner mounts are made from varying materials. For the best clear photo-corners that are also rated for archival purposes, you will want to look for acid-free polypropylene clear photo corners. Also look for products that are listed as "photo safe," so that they do not damage the delicate top surface of your photographs. The back of the photo-corners will be treated with a pressure-sensitive adhesive, so you simply pull the thin covering off the adhesive, place the corner mount where you wish and press it down. This makes them very quick and easy to use, and it also helps to preserve your photographs because the adhesive never comes in contact with the artwork.

You can buy photo corner mounts from better online fine art photography framing suppliers. It is an excellent idea to keep them on hand, especially if you do a lot of framing, so that you will have the supplies you need to frame your photographs inexpensively yourself.

Photo Framing Techniques

Framed art works make a beautiful addition to any home or office. It can change the entire effect of the interior decoration of a home. The framing techniques of picture have been changed radically in modern times. The main reason behind it is that interior decoration solutions have assigned a special place to picture framing. Framing solutions are very vital from an aesthetic point of view.. This visual techniques work from the outside to the inside.

The type of framing usually depends on the work one wants to frame. Different techniques are used for different kinds of art works. Here is a discussion about different frames for different pieces of art.

• Photos- Usually frames with glass frosts are used for photographs. The glass helps to protect the photo from dust and other damage. It is put into them or a mat can be added. The mat should complement the colour of the photo. One should purchase a mat larger size than what is needed for just the photo.


• Double matting can add a special dimension to the effect of the photograph. Two different colours of mat should be used when using double matting.


• Molding- Thicker art works, like puzzle, goes well with a homemade one.. One can make at home using moldings.


• Posters- the most common problem with posters is that it is often bigger than the most of the frames. Many movie posters are antique and collectibles. Frames for posters are easily available in market and they come in reasonable price too. But these picture frames wrap and crack with the change of the weather. One should get one that exactly suits the poster. It can also be made at home by using quarter- round molding and following the techniques exactly. It may be painted gloss black to show off the poster. One can use an acrylic sheet to cover the poster instead of glass.

Picture framing techniques are easy and pleasurable. It can make the wall come alive with its stylish presence.

5 Tips to Capture Beautiful Candid Photography and Keep Precious Life Memories

The best tips to master so you can capture life's most precious moments are: always carry your cameras, avoid using complicated lighting techniques, blend with the environment while taking photos, maximize the zooming capacity of the lens, capture the subject in action on black and white, and ask for permission when appropriate.

Candid photography focuses on what the subject is naturally doing and not on what the subject must be doing. It is a photo similar to that of a stolen shot. Most images taken in a candid photography are of people not looking directly at the camera. Read on to know some helpful tips to successful snap a candid photograph:

Always carry you camera

Bringing cameras along with you as you go about your everyday routine will help you take candid pictures. You must be alert to any situation and be very observant about what is happening in your immediate surrounding. Taking candid pictures is naturally easy, but you can't take a second picture that looks like the first one because everything is unique. So when you see an opportunity to take candid shots in a certain situation, focus on that and then click the shutter. Point and then shoot must be the initial reaction.

Avoid using complicated lighting techniques

Using complicated lighting techniques is not always advisable when taking candid photos. Always remember that having a great photo image is not really necessary. What is important is for the photo to capture real life, unscripted shots. Simply setting the Isolation or the ISO of the camera to "400" will help you take a quality image.

Blend with the environment while taking photos

Taking candid pictures require great discipline. This is because taking candid photos requires the photographer to blend with the environment. Candid photographers should not get too obvious to produce the most unscripted shots of frozen moments. Take photos by not holding the camera near the eye as often as possible. You can do this by also hiding the camera while taking pictures. For example, you could put the camera near your waist to take the shot. This will also help you to see the pictures in another angle.

Maximize the zooming capacity of the lens

Using the camera's fullest zoom will also help you get a good, candid photo. As long as you are not seen, the subject will act naturally. When you are a fair distance away from the subject, you can use the telephoto lens. Avoid taking pictures of people's backs.

Capture the subject in action on black and white

Converting the picture into a black and white image will is another great idea because it will help you capture the subject's emotion. Taking pictures of people who are doing things or are in constant motion is the best situation for taking candid shots. Capturing the essence of a person's task in black and white will emphasize the emotion on the subject's face.

Ask for permission when appropriate

Also, never forget to ask permission when appropriate. Although for some it is okay, asking for permission is always a safe and appropriate decision. This will avoid conflict and intrusion of someone's right to privacy.

The best way of capturing a candid picture is to experiment often. Explore everything, try every angle, and don't forget to see other's work for inspiration.

How Using Your Digital Camera For Photography Can Make You Money

There are plenty of photography classes, lessons, and tutorials that you can learn in order to take some of the most amazing pictures in the world. You know the ones that I am talking about. How about the sunset cliffs from your vacation last summer or the killer whales you shot from a whale watcher tour off of the coast of California.

If that trip was in Hawaii you could have captured a fabulous view of a volcano or a once in a life time cascading waterfall. These are much more than just memories. These are the very photos that are worth a pretty penny to the right person.

As a matter of fact, most people do not even realize that even the simplest snap shots are worth just as much as the rarest picture that you can take. That's right. Consider the concept that so many companies involved in the stock photo or graphic design industries are in need of background scenes from every angle you u could imagine.

From simply the use of cheap camera that you can find online, to one of the most expensive Digital SLR cameras you can buy, every single moment that you can capture could be worth more that you will ever know. Unless you can find someone to take you by the hand and walk you through free and easy process, you probably would not know the first thing involved or what to do.

Not just taking the necessary steps on how to make money, there are simple techniques that you can be taught that will show you how to improve you photography skills. You can have people looking in awe at just the simple but brilliant images you are producing and making a nice little profit from. The sky is the limit.

A Regular Guy's Thoughts and Opinions on Tony Horton's P90X Exercise DVDs - 1 Year Later

A little over a year ago I posted an article on EzineArticles about Tony Horton's P90X DVDS, that article generated quite a lot of buzz about the product. Since then I've had a lot of people email in and asked if I still use the DVD's, and if I still feel the same way I did when I wrote the initial article.

Yes, and yes again. I still use them (my wife does as well), and I still maintain most of the opinions I had in the original article.

After Over a Year, Here's What I Feel About P90X:

• It still is challenging, and it's still fun.


• If you're creative with your workouts you can always keep them fresh. If you get a little bored with their routine, consider switching exercises around.


• There are some exercises I just can't do, and there are some videos I tend not to use as much.


• I still don't use the fitness guide, I think we recycled that. Of course this limits the effectiveness of the workouts and my results, but I am not going to count calories or eat like a rabbit.


• I've read other reviewers complain that the music gets old quickly. Nonsense. While I am not looking for the music to download off of iTunes, it's not bad at all. Watching Tony and his crew didn't get boring either, even after I've used these discs repeatedly for over a year. I actually know most of Tony's banter and ad-libbing by heart now - my wife finds it funny that I can lip-synch to what he's saying while in between exercises.

Silly Observations and Personal Opinion:

• My favorite disc is the first one: Chest and Back.


• In one of the videos, Tony keeps calling Dave (a substitute teacher) by the wrong name. He calls him "Adam" and "Jason" or some other name. The guy takes it in stride though.


• At the end of the Chest and Back routine either Tony calls Scott a "punk" or vice-versa, but I can't tell who's saying it.


• In one of the routines, Tony is walking around giving everyone a congratulatory "high-five" in between exercises. While doing this, one of the participants (a blonde woman) totally ignores him - she's in her own world. The camera quickly cuts away, but it is kind of funny to watch.


• My favorite 3 members of Tony's crew are: Maurine - she's always happy and smiling; Bobby - don't think this guy's got a mean bone in his body;  Phil - dude works frighteningly hard.

If You're Looking to Purchase P90X, Here's the Bottom Line:

• If you want results you need to be consistent; Tony says "Just keep pressing play". He's right, if you keep showing up and trying your best, you will see results. If you're looking for the quick fix, forget it...but that never works anyway.


• You can strive to keep up with Tony and his crew, but don't get discouraged if you can't. He's a pretty encouraging guy, so it's easy to stay motivated.


• Try to do as many of the discs as you can, but like me, you may find some (or specific exercises) not safe to do. If you're going through a disc that has an exercise or two you can't do, skip to the next exercise or do some cardio work (jumping jacks, etc.) instead.


• If it's been quite a while since you've exercised, or this is the first routine you've ever done. Consult with a doctor first, and consider working with a trainer instead (at least at first). Tony's not messing around and you could get hurt or discouraged if try too hard too fast.


• I still go to the gym frequently and feel that it's a necessary component to exercise. For that reason I don't believe these discs alone can replace a good cardio machine and the professional equipment at the gym, but it's an outstanding compliment for anyone who wants to workout at home when they can't get to the gym. For most folks, P90X might be all they want out of exercise, for the more serious you'll want to integrate these into your gym routine.  


• Lastly, people do ask me, "Would you still recommend these after having them for a year?" You bet.

PS - Tony (or someone else at Beach body) if you're reading this, consider having the discs available streaming online where people would be able to customize their own routines.