by Gregory Daniel, M. Photog. Cr., CPP, F-ASP
So here’s the thing: you know those stunning location portraits that blow your mind with jaw-dropping fidelity—images so wrapped with dimension it feels as though you can see around the subject? There are very simple concepts and principles behind creating these every time. Without a doubt, Tony Corbell has been one of the most renowned and sought-after educators in this arena for over three decades. With his simple and fundamentally sound approach to controlling lighting, you will gain the confidence and control it takes to create beautiful portraits every time.
I met Tony over twenty-five years ago. It was during one of his lectures on lighting control with Dean Collins. I was instantly impressed with his ability to communicate how to harness the power of light. Today, these concepts are at the core of each and every one of the images I create. My confidence to create beautifully lit portraits in any setting, at any time of day, is rooted in the controls that Tony lays out in this book. Our friendship has grown over the years as we have shared projects with Kodak, lecture venues for teaching, Professional Photographers of America affiliated school programs, and Camera Craftsmen of America meetings. He is so willing to give his all to our profession through participating in countless state, regional, national, and international conventions as well as authoring articles, books, and videos. There is no person better-qualified than Tony to share with our industry the techniques of location lighting control.
He will take us though a journey of self-discovery by demystifying applications of light and uncovering old myths—and share the historical relevance behind technology and change. Mastering the applications of light is a game-changer in everyone’s pursuit for better image creating. As a student of these lighting applications, I remember the first time I could “see the light.” What a powerful day! All these lighting principles and controls started to unfold and make sense. I saw how light and shadow play their roles in creating depth, shape, form, and texture. It is amazing how simple things like a small movement in your position relative to the subject and light source can affect the quality of the end product. This knowledge opened the door to my creativity and set me on the path of what would become the foundation of my career in photography.
Without question, learning Tony’s applications of lighting principles will fill your toolbox with knowledge and help establish in you a habit of successful consistency. If you are new to the field of photography, you are starting at the right place—and if you are a seasoned professional, it is a very smart choice to take inventory and refresh your toolbox.
Enjoy “seeing the light!”