Portrait

Summary:

In this FotoTV film photographer Oliver Rausch, from the Cologne Photography, Germany, gives FotoTV another helpful tutorial. This time Rausch focuses on the very popular and forever timeless Butterfly Lighting" made popular in the 20's by legendary film icon Marlene Dietrich.

Legend has it that prolific film director Josef von Sternberg invented this style of lighting for his Muse Marlene Dietrich in the late 1920's. Being a perfectionist himself, the match between von Sternberg and Dietrich was definitely a match made in heaven. In fact, Dietrich demanded, if not isisted most of her film directors use this lighting to light her, including in all her publicity stills, simply because she liked the way she looked.

While demonstrating several various lighting placements, Rausch continuously adjust the elevation of the light in order to achieve the most perfect lighting. Rausch contends that butterfly lighting is the most beautiful light for women. The key butterfly light is placed directly above the camera lens, and the light falls straight, and full onto the face. He also points out that the technique gets its name from the shadows under the nose, which resembles a butterfly's wings in flight.

Some of the most important information for photographers that Rausch gives during this video is that this style of lighting can be achieved with a single off camera light and a reflector. Rausch concludes that the proper use of reflectors and the right placement of the light source will guarantee wonderful results. Butterfly lighting is one of the most flattering and artistic ways of lighting the face and is widely used by top celebrity and fashion photographers.

Summary:

FotoTV has developed FotoTV-Tech, a forum within the FotoTV platform dedicated to covering all photography related topics such as, prominent photographers, camera hardware, software services and products. For this further installment of FotoTV Tech founder Marc Ludwig speaks with legendary Magnum photographer, Richard Kalvar to discuss his work and technique.

Kalvar, a member of Magnum since the 1970’s, is a classic, black & white street photographer uses Kodak tri-x film, “for the unbelievable grain and rich grey tones”, he boasts. Although he considers the term “street-photography” to be anywhere from a bar or restaurant, to a visit to someone’s house, his photographs always reveal an intimate and most likely, a humorous setting.

Kalvar has an exceptional eye and a talent for catching unexpected moments between human interactions, be it two people arguing or talking on the street or two grown men dressed as daisies. He shares numerous techniques and gives guidelines on how photographers can best make themselves “invisible” when photographing on the street. One interesting story Kalvar shares is that of being accosted on the street during shooting for FotoTV and he also gives valuable tips on how photographers can make the best of almost any situation. Kalvar also talks about his latest project “Earthlings”, a photo book that showcases the best of his work throughout his extensive career.

Summary:

In this practical FotoTV tutorial photographer and blogger Dirk Wächter demonstrates how to achieve better flash photos in indoor areas.

Most photographers know that shooting indoor flash photos can be at times quite challenging and some photographers are even often shocked at their results of overexposed people in the foreground and dark undistinguishable backgrounds. Weddings, corporate functions and birthday parties are just some of the situations where an additional light source is needed to achieve great indoor photography results. Today Wächter discusses numerous manual and AV camera and flash settings and useful techniques for indoor portrait photography, as well as a few special effects that will more than satisfy your expectations. The settings and techniques he demonstrates result in great lighting on people in the foreground and still have the impact of the room lighting and features in the surrounding shot.

Wächter does not stop with producing fantastic portraits; he also shows several special effect techniques. Although using slow sync flash is for more complicated exposures, Wächter uses it to compose an impressive and creative shot using blurry long exposures. Your photo will definitely stand out of using this technique.  

As we watch Wächter, we learn the best way to become better at flash photography is to analyze the photos and try to figure out what could have been done differently in order to create a better flash-filled exposure. Simply follow his tips and techniques, and you too will be creating stunning indoor flash photos.

Summary:

In this FotoTV film, nature and animal photographer Nick Brandt talks about his epic work in Africa while at the Camera Work Gallery in Berlin, Germany. Brandt first visited Africa in 1995, when he was the director for Michael Jackson's Earth Song video. It was on that first trip that he fell in love with the place and the connection to the animals there.

Usually animal photographers shoot in color and with a telephoto lens, two things that Brandt does not do. His stunning images are all shot in black and white, with a subtle sepia tone to give a visual poetic impression of a bygone era. He does not use a telephoto lens; instead he chooses to photograph animals with a simplified perspective that actually represents them in their natural surroundings.

Brandt also discusses his photo book trilogy project, "Paradise, A Shadow Falls”, and a third yet to be titled book, all of them connected with the central theme of animal life in connection with the nature in Africa. Brandt’s photographs of the animals are elegantly arranged almost as if the animals actually posed for the shot--atypical when compared to the usual photos of animal photography filled with action and drama. His goal is to shoot a last testament to the wild animals and places in Africa before they vanish altogether.