Professional Portraits and Extensive Pre-Planning: Howard Schatz.

[todd frederick]

This morning on NBC Today, they presented an extensive and detailed

interview with Howard Schatz, who once was a physician turned

portrait photographer of the human form (not simply nudes!). One of

his first books was Redheads, which he said he did to lean how to

work with color.

 

His new book is Athletes. He's published about 15 books.

 

He showed some samples of his work and how he does it. Incredible.

 

What I noticed most of all, and what he pointed out specifically as

critically important, was the high level of pre-planning and note

keeping, on everything he and his staff did (coming out of his

training as a pysician): big notebook with polaroids and lighting

diagrams and written notes, to insure repeatability for future work.

 

Such detail is the total antithesis of what I do, (I'm really lazy in

that regard), and probably why I never became an accomplished pro

portrait artist, plus a distinct lack of creativity in that field.

Howard Schatz is bursting with creativity.

 

Question: do many of you do serious pre-planning when doing portraits

and how extensive do you keep notes, or do you find it easier to

just "wing it?"

 

Also, go to www.Google.com and search under Howard Schatz...large

body of websites related to his work. You should enjoy it.

[igord]

I always plan and make diagrams when I am going to create a new lighting. I have got quite a lot of notes and pictures just not to forget what I have done.

[manu_vermeiren]

I always make little drawings of what I did in studio.

[edsel_adams]

I use a similar lighting set-up and ratios for most of my portrait work.Using a diagram would be pointless.I learned early on about light distances equaling F stops.Example:Using 2 equal powered lamps,place a key light 11 feet away & a fill light 5.6 feet away.The 2 lights have a 2 stop difference.Move the fill light to 8 feet away,you now have a 1 stop difference.

[michael_barnes1]

Edsel,

Is that to say when you have your 2 lights set at 11 feet and 8 feet, you would use f8 aperature for your shot? Please explain further. This is very interesting.

Michael

[edsel_adams]

The basic math of square roots & F stops explains this.If you move a light closer by the square root it equals 1 F stop.Example: a single light at 8 feet will give twice as much light as a light at 11 feet,and half as much as a light at 5.6 feet!

[mike dixon]

I discuss the purpose of the photos with subjects, then based on that, we'll talk about potential loactions and wardrobe. Specific wardrobe, location, and lighting decisions are made at the time of the shoot.

 

I don't take notes unless I'm specifically conducting a test.