Painting with Light: Lighting & Photoshop Techniques for Photographers

Exploring techniques that will work with the materials that photographers already have on hand, the author designs images through thorough planning and creativity that depict his subjects in breathtaking and unexpected ways that would be impossible without the approach detailed in this photography guide. In addition to the inspiration of the artistry itself, photographers will learn how to push digital imaging to its extremes, taking full advantage of a potential that is largely underutilized. The book covers all the materials photographers should be familiar with and have on hand for their shoot and helps construct sessions that will often involve a full night of photography to create a single final image, and then explores the actual camera and lighting techniques used to produce images. Painting with light is a technique that allows photographers to work in areas with no, or very low, light and then either selectively apply “pops” of light to their subject and setting using a variety of different light sources and modifiers, orchestrate a sequence of light pops during a single long exposure, or—most commonly—create a lengthy sequence of digital captures with a single pop of light illuminating a specific feature of the scene in each. Because they are made without moving the camera, these images can then be combined in postproduction to provide the ultimate in creative control. The composites for several final images are included, showing how the individual captures are treated in Photoshop layers and seamlessly blended to create one highly refined final image.

Eric Curry specializes in industrial photography and was trained in studio still life and special effects photography. He is the former owner of an advertising photography studio and now working on location for select clients and his personal work. He lives in Los Angeles.