Rangefinder Magazine
September 2006

Insight/On the Cover by Bill Hurter
 

The medium that defines one’s style as an exceptional photographer is not film or bytes of information, it’s light. Light is the signature of every good photographer. In this, our lighting issue, we present an overabundance of lighting experts and great photographers, who will illuminate the topic from a variety of diffuse and specular points of view.

When you want definitive observations on light, see the writings of Glenn Rand, author, Brooks Institute instructor and noted expert on the behavior of light. In “Quality of Light” (page 118), Glenn breaks down the basic differences in light quality and the science behind it. Amazingly thorough, this article should be the beginning of your light odyssey. Lighting wizards, such as Playboy photographer Rolando Gomez (page 24) and the late Dean Collins (page 98), with help from longtime assistant Tim Mantoani, share their years of lighting expertise in solving complex lighting dilemmas. Another noted and articulate lighting expert is Rangefinder technical editor Claude Jodoin (page 98), who delves into the nuances of sophisticated glamour lighting for digital capture.

In the area of special assignments, we present a number of challenging lighting tasks. Joe Morahan (page 68) reveals how to record hours of star trails and detailed foreground subject matter all in a single frame. Anton Heiberg (page 34) illustrates how he captured the unseen microseconds found in the sequence of dropping a lime slice into water. The results are quite amazing. Noted portrait and wedding photographer Kevin Jairaj (page 36) presents three different examples of found directional lighting—the key, he says, to exceptional light quality. Vin Isola (page 64), a talented commercial photographer, explores the complex world of food photography with continuous light sources, notably a Westcott Spiderlite TD5. Chung Chan (page 94) details how to make splendid nighttime portraits, while Neil van Niekirk relates a tongue-in-cheek real-world endeavor to “find the light.” Also featured this month is a unique lighting product, called the Strobe Slipper, designed by award-winning wedding photographer and cinematographer Bruce Dorn (page 28). Well known photographer and author Harvey Lloyd (page 40) decides to “Break the Light” in an amazing photo essay done in New York City.

Bill Hurter, Editor

 

ON THE COVER:

PHOTOGRAPHER: Rolando Gomez
SUBJECT: Laura Foley
CAMERA: Olympus E-Volt E-300
LENS: Olympus Zuiko 11–22mm (effective focal length: 44mm)
EXPOSURE: 1/10 at f/6.3 at ISO 100
WHITE BALANCE: 6000K
CREDIT: Copyright © 2006, Rolando Gomez
COMMENTS: Laura appears to walk on water as she strikes a “flamour” pose while on location at a workshop in the Virgin Islands. Laura is standing at the edge of an infinity pool that faces the ocean. She was illuminated by a Hensel Premium Porty 1200 AS portable power pack with a Hensel Ringflash with an optional Octa Sunhaze RF90 softbox. A Rosco Bastard Amber #02 gel was placed inside the Hensel Sunhaze.

In recent years, glamour photography has returned to its elegant Hollywood roots. Recapturing this classic legacy has also helped glamour influences slip into just about every genre of photography. Rolando has been able to capitalize on this rebirth with his incredibly popular website, www.glamour1.com, which receives nearly a million hits every day and averages over 100 unique users every 10 minutes on the photography forums alone.

For more on Rolando and his photography, read Michelle Perkins’ article on page 24. And be sure to check out Rolando’s latest book, Garage Glamour: Digital Nude and Beauty Photography Made Simple, published by Amherst Media.