You guys are still the best damn forum pool around. And I have a set of 26 photos that really impressed me. Getting harder to narrow them down now. Lots of great shots in the pool these days. Thanks.

IMPORTANT: IF YOU HAVE ATTENDED A LIGHTING ESSENTIALS WORKSHOP, please see the Workshops Page.

Before we head over to look at the shots, a few thoughts.

Last week, the NYT published a piece, “For Photographers, the Image of a Shrinking Path” that has caused a bit of a mini-firestorm. One that I think will stay smoldering for a while.

I won’t even begin to summarize here, you should read it yourself. And then read these followup articles for other perspectives:

“Don’t Panic: Thoughts on the NYT Article about the Future of Commercial Photography” – Heather Morton.
Money graphs:

“There is no way to compete against stock in the jobs for which stock is appropriate so I think you should mostly stop trying (and definitely stop bitching about it). Instead, make sure you’ve got a look and feel that the brand needs; that you are an innovator, offering solutions. And take heart- as per Jaffe’s article referenced above, these are the same demands that clients are making of the ad agencies.

There will always be some demand for commissioned, generic, safe imagery but this is a field that is enormously oversaturated. On the other hand, there is tremendous opportunity to find new ways of working right now. So don’t panic, just figure it out.”
Check the comments for some great fun.

UPDATE: Heather has added a second, follow up post:
Don’t Panic: Part Two by Heather Morton
Money Graphs:

“This is the same thing I’ve been hearing for a couple of years and I just don’t know what I can do to help on this one. Because of where I work (if you’re an agency who can hire a freelance Art Buyer, you at least understand that you have to pay for good photography), I haven’t experienced this dramatic assault on fees. But I also can’t insist that the client shoot every image. If shooters like Mariano Pastor are offering product shots to own for $250 and my client finds out about it, there’s only so much I can argue that the shot needs to cost 30 times that.

But I do argue with them because I don’t want y’all to leave the business. I need to know that when the good tabletop jobs come up, you will all still be there so that we can really delve into the skill and style that a great photographer can bring to the brand and elevate it beyond the value of a $250 photograph.”

“NYT: Pros and Amateurs Debate: Is Photography in Trouble?” – Bruce DeBoer.
Money Graphs:

“My feeling is that once the “good enough” market is saturated, photographers with the skills to “make” images will find new business models that return a decent lifestyle. We are in transition. The current angst is mostly fear of change but also about the heartbreak of all those career photographers watching their greatest love walk away. I hold grief for my profession but also excitement about possibilities since imagery is gaining importance in the marketplace.

It’s a time of disruption but disruption means high creativity – watch this space – good stuff is bound to happen.”

“Creatives & The Hope Economy: What Do We Do Now?” – Bruce DeBoer once more.
Money Graphs:

“The market is most robust for what’s good enough and good enough is less than it was. Once there were professional type houses but now desktop publishing – good enough. Once there were staffed million dollar music production studios, now we have a garage and Pro-tools on a PC – good enough. Once there were journalists, now there are bloggers – good enough. No time or money for more than good enough unlike there once was.

Spend 10,000 hours on proficiency and the world will have moved on to something else. Don’t look now but your expertise is obsolete. One might be better off learning a little about a lot, settling for good enough and cashing the check: the DIY culture.”

“Professional photographers’ commoditization covered in mainstream media” by Carolyn Potts.
Money Graphs:

“I still believe the very best strategy to deal with these changes is having both real talent (that is ever-evolving) and the right attitude. I feel that having a pro-active attitude instead of a “victim” attitude is probably the most critical element.

What did those professional photographers do to survive? Every single one of them refused to focus on what was wrong with changes; they focused on the opportunities! They use a business slow-down to reinvent themselves. They update their portfolios; become proficient in new software; grow their business network; and learn more effective sales and marketing techniques. “

Of course, you must first read the NYT article, which I found to be very full of holes, mis-representations, omissions and ironically stupid to have the guy from Corbis on there… sheesh.

On the workshop front, I am coming to Omaha, Cleveland, New York, Baltimore and a bunch of other great places. I have a few spaces at most of them, and it is always fun to come to markets that are not well covered as well as those that are saturated. The workshops are much different than most you will take. We combine classroom theory and real world shooting to make sure you understand and can repeat the concepts and techniques taught.

Take a look at Learn to Light for more information, and if you are thinking about a workshop this year, consider ours. Inexpensive, and filled with real learning.

Now… off to the images!

This shot pretty much puts that ‘rule of thirds’ in it’s place. The use of sky/space augments the subtle lighting and adds power to the subject.

This shot just draws you in. The light is sumptuous and warm.

I love the homage to classical portraiture in this shot. Wonderful light and gesture.

Use the light like this to tell a story.

I just like this shot so much.

I think this photographer understands negative space really well.

I would say that this shot is a ‘knock out” but… well, you know. It does have a lot of punch doesn’t it?

A Fantasy shot that has some wonderful texture and light.

Soft and natural light for a natural beauty.

Composition, light and limited DOF creates a powerful portrait.

A very clean commercial look of a beautiful girl and some Canon gear.

Light as a subject itself.

Beauty Light on a beauty.

Nice use of light and texture. The pose is well executed into a vintage look.

Just cute.

Gesture, pose, light.

Classic glamour. Classic light.

Using light to enhance a sense of place.

The light is calling from outside the frame. Adds mystery.

Light can make even the most mundane set more interesting for a portrait.

Simple beauty light.

Nice lighting and gesture.

Perfect… LOL… just perfect.

I love the flare, and the crop.

Beautiful color and edge light.

Thanks for following along. You can stalk me on Twitter, visit my other sites, and view my iPhone images here.

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Portraits… man I love portraits. People are so interesting and the combination of an interesting person and a creative photographer reveals more than simply a photo of someone… it reveals the nature of all of us. And that makes it timeless.

From the earliest times, painters and sculptors used people as their inspiration… from the Roman statues to the Mona Lisa, Rembrandts portraits to Bourke-White’s mother and child… people dominate our subject interest.

And photography is the medium I, and I presume most of the readers here, choose to render the people we see into portraits.

There are a lot of opinions on portrait photography, from the ‘Rembrandt triangle of light below the shadow eye’ to the ‘correct’ lens to use. I believe most of that stuff is crap… there are no rules other than the rules you impose on yourself. Does your vision of the portrait match the image taken? If so, good. If not, you may need more work. And that’s fine too.

Portraiture gives us a wide variety of genres to work in. Fashion, beauty, glamour, artistic nude, wedding, maternity, environmental, studio and more. And the styles can run from a total formality to a whimsical play. And so much in between.

But because portraiture is so popular as a type of photography, it becomes more and more difficult to set your work apart from the vast amounts of portraiture being created daily. I know that it is hard to do, but it is so important. And it can mean the difference in whether you can be sought out by people wanting your particular spin on the image, or just being considered by the price-shoppers.

Light can be one differentiation in how your work is seen and appreciated. How you work with your subjects, their relationship to the environment, posing, lens choices, angles, and gesture becomes your pallet. And then comes the vision thing that ties it all into your approach to the portrait.

Great portraitists present their subjects as they want them to be seen… infusing the photographers vision into the resulting image. This can be a little challenging to some who want only a ‘picture’ of themselves, and there are plenty of places and photographers who are only too happy to provide a snap. Portraitists want to do more than simply snap, they want to explore and reveal and lead and challenge.

A few portrait shooters from my list of influences.
Yousef Karsh
Richard Avedon
Irving Penn
Victor Skrebneski
And some newer to the scene:
Nadav Kander
Dan Winters
Chris Buck
Nick Onken
And of course, Annie, Patrick, Arthur, Albert and Peter.

The goal for me has always been to make the subject look as beautiful as possible… without changing them into something they aren’t. I want to let the beauty I see in them come forth through my camera. And that takes a mix of lighting, composition, lens choices, timing and most of all, rapport. I look through the lens and become emotionally involved. I don’t hear the music, I don’t hear the distractions (which I keep to a minimum in the studio… cell phones on buzz, only answer in the dressing room, no chatting on set unless it directly involves the subject and the session etc…). I just see the subject and what we are trying to do. When the camera goes down, things go back to normal, but when I am shooting… I simply am involved with my subject.

After the jump we will take a look at 24 images from the LE Flickr Pool that I thought brought a little more the portrait… a drama or sense of style.

If you are considering a workshop, we have planned a schedule that will bring us near to your city, and if you would like me to bring a Lighting Essentials workshop to your city, let me know. I like to go to the smaller cities where other workshops don’t venture. We are a small group (limited to 12 tops) so going to smaller venues is possible. And fun!

This portrait starts the gallery. I love the unexpected look to it, and the post brings a sense of cold and dread. The subjects eyes being set a little off from each other adds to the surreal effect.

The black and white post adds to the drama of this image. The slight backlight is offset by the fill and the light in the eyes. The photographers use of angle and the subject looking off from the camera adds to the uniqueness of the image.

I like the sense of loneliness and separation that this image conveys. Placing the subject in the center and in a little shaft of light isolates her from the dark and mysterious environment.

Framing the subject with a panel of color, and with the gates in the foreground make this image seem like a grab shot. But the formal position and the off camera gaze give the shot some definite focus.

A single spotlight effect gives this portrait a unique, stylish look. The sunglasses add a bit of whimsy… or mystery.

The post in the bluish tones adds to the unique style of this image. I like that the light is visible at the back to camera left. Her fun pose and leg line are kinda cool too.

I like the black and white processing on this shot. It adds so much to the dramatic pose and skin of the shot. Working the light to advantage here, the end result has interesting tonality and highlights.

A natural, soft light and angled horizon give this shot a very nice feel. Keeping the subject to an off camera gaze allows us to imagine a bit about what is happening in the image.

The falling lines, low angle and well defined light takes this portrait to a higher level. I like the look on her face and how she fits into the environment.

I love the gesture and the light here. Her total involvement in this shot really carries it. I love it when a model really lets go like this.

Dramatic lighting, the flared sun and the helmeted subject give this shot a dramatic appeal.

From the color to the dynamic pose to the dramatic setting, this shot delivers a wonderful feeling to a double portrait.

I like this shot a lot. Dramatic light, interesting post and a subject that really draws you in. The gritty location adds to the accessibility of the image.

Such a nice, illustrative image. The set of grass and the sleeping subject are set off well with the interesting light. A grand gesture brought into a ‘small’ image.

A very dramatic image with a super wide lens and a wonderful affectation from the subject. The cross lighting adds a sense of illustration to the shot.

A fantastic illustrative shot with excellent lighting and a surreal setting. With the subjects attention off frame, the image takes on a poetic, editorial feel.

The light, pose, composition and excellent framing make this portrait a standout. It just grabs the senses and delivers a fresh look.

The negative image of the subject against the light and the corridor gives this shot a totally editorial feel. A small story in a single image.

Just an entertaining portrait with a whimsical feel. The light and the environment lend a fun feeling to this illustrative portrait.

One light majesty with a subject full of character and charm. The simplicity of a black background and a dramatic light can never be underestimated.

Tightly composed and brightly lit with beauty light, this portrait delivers a sharply defined subject with some very nice shallow DOF.

A small pool of dramatic light highlights this subject in a dramatic way that also shows off the muscular physique and interesting wardrobe.

Warm, enveloping light is perfect for this location maternity image. The framing and composition creates a compelling portrait.

This musician shot conveys a dramatic light, and an affable smile. Contradictory and yet inviting. I like how the light just hints at the guitar.

Thanks for visiting Lighting Essentials. Follow me on Twitter if you like. And if you like Lighting Essentials, be sure to tell your friends about it. We are pushing hard for a few thousand more readers. Thanks!

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Well, we present 30 images from the pool today. Images that are soft and wild and quiet and loud… but all of them compelling in their own way. As always, the images link to the photographer’s Flickr pages so please click and visit. Leaving them a comment always brightens their day.

Before we get going with that, some fun stuff to share.

From the web:
Heather Morton has a post on breaking out and adding to your genre.
Kirk Tuck shares some insights from a nice ad job he did.
Mathieu Young grabbed a big strobe and walked all over LA making photographs of every one he met.
Mike Sheil gives us his take on working as a photographer for over 30 years.
And here are Ten NO’s for all of us freelancers.

On the Lighting Essentials site, we have just completed a three part interview with Selina Maitreya. Her insights into what is working now and what to do to get out there are really indispensable.

Part One
Part Two
Part Three

The new Rants and Raves section is getting quite a bit of play. And we added some testimonials to the Learn to Light site. If you are considering a workshop, take a few minutes and check out ours. I want to make it the best workshop experience you have ever had.

Upcoming dates for the workshops:
Jan 30, 31 : Seattle
Feb 6, 7 : San Diego
Feb 27, 28 : Houston
March 13, 14 : Santa Cruz
March 27, 28 : New Orleans
April 17, 18 : Philadelphia
April 24, 25 : Omaha

Please let me know if you have some questions that you would like me to explore. I am preparing a few posts n shooting film, medium format and large format, as well as some on-the-scene coverage of some working pros. Your input is always welcome.

BTW… if you haven’t started a 365 Project yet… it is never too late. Just start today and run it for a year. Let us know about it and we will compile a list of LE folks with their 365 projects.

OK… let’s go look at some images from the forum. I think you are going to like these.

As always on these posts, please click the image and leave a comment on the photographer’s Flickr page. It means a lot to them to hear from you.

I love the gesture here. The “Jazz Hands” and the impossible position give the photograph so much dynamic motion.

The light, smoke and position of the subject make the shot seem formal. The subject offsets the formality of the composition by the gentle twist of the head and the informal hands.

This image just pulls me into it. Such a nice composition, and the tonalities make it inviting. I love that little bottle dead center. The casual effect of the subject looking off camera is powerful.

Careful focus and wonderful soft, wrapping light make this portrait stand out. The attention of the subject on his hand lends a feeling of reality to the image.

This subtle black and white landscape shot has such a nice composition. Love the texture versus smooth foreground. Those clouds bring the eye right back to the land, don’t they?

This dramatic shot looks fabulous as a thumbnail. The big shot doesn’t disappoint. Nice use of flare to help make the statement.

Sublime texture and line in this classically composed environment. Black and white works so well.

Careful attention to casting, props and wardrobe make this image stand out. The light is complex without being distracting. Ahhhh… texture.

Wow. Lighting and mood. Props and color as well as the DOF control make this little guy pop without being blown out. Clean light and beautiful baby.

This crew should love the photo. Very complex lighting, but the result is a well done commercial image.

The softness of the natural light, with the flare and wrap make this image a perfect match for what the photographer was going for… a dreamy state of mind.

The offset composition, shallow DOF, gesture of the model and very nice, dramatic sidelight give this image some real punch. Hard not to notice it… and then it draws you in.

Color, gesture, angle and the model’s pose all together present a moment perhaps to be remembered.

Sometimes the portrait is so dramatic and the concept so pure, it cannot helped but be seen. The gesture brings you in and you leave with more questions than answers. Nice light too!

Sometimes the light is so nice, it can enhance an otherwise already nice image. Composition is classic, subject is gorgeous and the light sets her off very well.

Clean, solid light, limited DOF and a smile that is infectious. A nicely done headshot for sure.

I like how he seems to be emerging from the light. Nice effect. And really nice pose.

Dontcha just love images that are like little short stories? Mini novellas? Light, gesture, pose, composition… so much going on here.

Dramatic composition and effective use of two lights present this subject in a classic, yet a bit modern image. Limited DOF and the pose of the subject make the image stand out.

Hmmm… that looks like it may be a Corona. That works for me!

Yeah… sometimes it’s just like that. Lighting works to present an illustrative portrait with a lot of appeal.

What could be a cliche ends up bringing us in. Nice use of a color pallet and gesture.

Sensual color and light. The composition sets our eyes moving into the mist to see what is there, but ultimately we are drawn back to the windmill.

Alright… this just looks like a hell of a lot of fun.

Such a classic composition. Quiet and understated and so very interesting. Great detail to offset the whimsical pose.

Oh man, this shot works on so many levels. Such energy from the subjects. Placing the rider to one side in the composition makes it even more dynamic.

Rich color and dramatic DOF make this image pop.

A beautiful, natural light portrait of a lovely subject. What else could you ask.

A feeling of ‘paparazzi’ created by the lighting and the subjects attention elsewhere. Seems almost a grabshot, and that makes it immediate.

Light, color pallet, gesture, styling and makeup artistrty combine with subtle and effective lighting to present an ‘other worldly’ portrait.

Hey, thanks everyone for taking a look at some of these amazing images from the Lighting Essentials Flickr Pool. Come on and join us there for images and discussions on a wide ranging set of topics.

Follow me on Twitter, and visit my workshop site at Learn to Light.

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At least they strike me as being lit with the ‘feeling’ or ‘mood’ of the photograph foremost in mind. I have made some notes on what intrigued me about each of the images. They will get the ol’ juices goin’ for thinking about light before we think about the gear.

Each of these images seem to hold a bit of a cinematic view… shadows that are un-mitigated, soft light contrasted with contrasty light, a ‘natural’ feel that may not be natural light, but with the warmth and subtleties that draw one in. (BTW… take a look at the pool at LE Flickr… there are a lot of great images there, and this choice in no way is meant to slight the other images there.) This post comes right after the post on “Emotional Lighting”, a recent Rant.

You know, I do workshops all over the country, and some selected dates out of the country. I meet so many great photographers and beginning shooters and models and just great people where ever I go. One of the reasons I am so optimistic about the future of photography are the people I meet at the workshops. Dedicated, interested, invested, committed, and creative, there are some terrific people pursuing this wonderful art of imaging.

I also hope to see some of you at the workshops this year. We are keeping them very reasonably priced, and very exciting. New curriculum, challenges and examples to work through. More media, more notes, more hands-on. If you are thinking about a workshop this year, I hope you consider mine. Checkout Learn to Light for more information. We will be coming more into line with a lot of other workshops next year, but for now my goal is to meet and work with as many small groups as I can.

There is a lot to think about this year. Some people are saying the recession is over. I am not so sure, but I don’t feel it tanking as fast as it was. We have to be nimble and able to create more channels of income into our pockets as professional photographers. Does that mean that commercial guys start doing weddings or wedding photographers branch out into industrial? Maybe. Does it mean we all have to start shooting video? No, of course not. Should we be investigating the new tools including video? Oh… yeah, we most definitely should.

If you think things changed fast last decade, hold on to your butts. Change will come more rapidly and on more fronts than in the oughts, and that is certain. We need to be nimble and we need to adapt to the changes. Are you dabbling in social media? You better be… or it will change so fast and the learning curve / ‘buy-in’ capital will be so high that it could be ten times as daunting as it is now. Read TechCrunch for some ideas of what is coming. Social media for the enterprise and filtered for content delivery by Google and Yahoo? Yeah. If you don’t know what that means, you need to find out. It affects us all in small business.

I hope you join in and become active in taking the idea of photography by the horns. Tackle the Ideas of lighting, the nuances of lighting, and how they all tie in to posing and gesture. Both grand and small, gesture is what makes the image speak to the viewer. Even the lack of gesture is a gesture in its own right.

The 24 images you are about to see come from the Flickr Lighting Essentials Pool. I hope you join us there for more discussions, a picture sharing forum, and a chance to meet and talk to some incredible peers. We aren’t about any one kind of light, we have no mantra other than to make great photographs, and for the most part we’re pretty darned nice.

Be sure to check out the Going Pro category and if you are looking for the shorter, one page posts, hit Rants & Raves. In the recent post on “Emotional Lighting” -the one that proceeded this one, there are some links to photographers that will inspire you. Also see the “8 Essential Sites for Emerging Professional Photographers” for some places to bookmark.

Now let’s go see the images and be sure to visit the photographer’s Flickr sites after the jump.

As with all the Lighting Essentials posts, clicking on the image will take you to the photographer’s Flickr stream – and I hope you take some time to leave a comment or two.

The flare in this image takes it up a level and helps connect me to her eyes.

Bringing the face forward with the spotlight is so theatrical. Spotlights have great impact on the viewer.

While we are talking about the focused light , check how the light makes something we all see (as parents) into something more evocative.

Keeping the shadow adds drama to the shot… even the blank wall takes on part of the composition.

I love the way the face emerges from the shadow. Very shallow DOF and the wonderful, soft lighting invite us in to the image.

A pool of light surrounds her, while a key keeps her lit in front. The rim light on her leg gives the image a cinematic look. In total keeping with her outfit.

She gazes off toward the light. The light becomes a part of the shot as it lights the area behind her and then falls off in the direction that she is looking. Classic cinematic approach.

Simply exquisite crop, and light makes this image so strong and revealing. I love how the sides of the face fall off leaving a very nice, clean light on her center face. Light is part of the emotion of the image.

Such beautiful backlight, and the way the tree limbs are in and out of the light makes you feel like you are there. Love this kind of light.

Letting the background burn in so hot sets the mood of this glamour shot. Front lighting is just contrasty enough to make it believable while still well lit.

The sidelight sculpts the masculinity so well. And with the subtle light on the background (shadow of the subject side) it really draws the viewer in. The very judicious use of the rim light sets the image off from the background.

The DOF and bright lights behind her add to the overall feeling of flare to the image. Her slightly bottom lit face also lets us know that she is engaged in the event at hand.

Everything works so well here. Pose, attitude, gesture and light. The emotion of emerging or ‘new’ (hope) is heavily felt.

Soft light and colors let the subject be a part of the environment while keeping her well lit. Careful placement kept the subject from ‘melding’ into the white gate.

The soft, but directional light adds dimension to this shot. I particularly love the shadow of the cigarette and under her chin. Pose and lighting working so well together.

Can’t you just feel the warmth in this shot? Exceptional use of flare and gesture.

Color, pose and light working together to provide a wonderful sense of place for the subject.

Sculpting the face from all angles and then adding a slight vignette, this portrait really draws in the viewer. Cinematic and powerful.

It’s all about the light in this exceptional edge/form headshot.

Using the light to enhance the pose and the environment. The light behind her brings some mystery to the image.

The softness of the light on her with the contrasty light behind makes this shot seem like a frame from a story. Intrigue and beauty.

The feeling of an off camera light source, bringing the shadow in front, is so cinematic. You can almost hear the light here.

Subtle back light and a soft ambient foreground give this image a spark that adds drama. it doesn’t have to be a big gesture of back light, sometimes just a hint will do.

The light wraps the ballerina almost like a mist. The background seems to lift her off of it and ‘present’ her to the viewer.

Thanks for visiting Lighting Essentials. I hope this post entertained you and gave you something to think about before you pull out the gear. Lighting for effect, emotional effect, is quite a powerful tool.

RECENT LONG FORM ARTICLES YOU MAY ENJOY:

Spend a Day Shooting Portraits
“Why Did You Light It That Way?”
Natural Light for Natural, Subtle Beauty
Thinking About Portraits: 6 Studies in Beauty
And don’t forget the Going Pro Series for emerging photographers.

For the “Rants and Raves” section, click here.

See you next time. Follow me on Twitter, or visit my Learn to Light site for information on my

lighting workshops.

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We have another inspirational post from the Lighting Essentials Flickr Pool. 44 terrific images that hopefully will inspire you. I love looking through that pool whenever I have a few minutes. Take your time, and as always, the images link to the photographers Flickr page so take a look at the other wonderful imagery you can find there.

Our cover shot was done a few days ago at the amazing Boston workshop. It rained steady the second day and we had to punt a bit, but we got some amazing imagery. Fantastic models and talent and some really talented photographers there in Boston.

Off to Boise – and we have an opening or two. Sure it’s last minute notice… but hey, throw caution to the wind and join us in Idaho for a workshop that will change the way you think about, and use, light.

A few of our previous collections of images live here:

40 Pictures from the Forum
44 Cool Images From the Forum
24 Photographs That Rock
Lighting Essentials Forum Rocks Another 40 Images

And…
Create an Antique Camera Look for Your Images
Adding Texture to a Portrait for Added Drama
Style: It’s Not What You Shoot, It’s How You Shoot It

I hope you enjoy this post as much as I enjoyed looking through the pool. Grab a cold one (or a warm one if you back in New England) and spend some time looking at the amazing work.

Here are 44 of the most amazing Lighting Essentials Flickr Images. Thanks for sharing the great images with the world, folks. PLEASE click on the photographs to see more of the amazing images from the photographers presented here. And of course, thanks to all the photographers who participate in the Lighting Essentials

Thanks for stopping by. I am so proud of the work on the Lighting Essentials Flickr page that I love to share these images. Makes a heck of an inspirational post, ya know.

If you enjoyed the post, please share it through Flickr, Facebook and any of a bunch of Social Media sites. See the panel on the top right of this page.

See you later this week with another post.

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I am so proud of the Lighting Essentials Flickr Forum. There are some truly amazing photographs here. Thanks to all that participate. Now if we could get the discussions going a bit… oh well.

Remember to visit the photographer’s Flickr page by clicking on each image.

Before we get started some housekeeping:

We are postponing Detroit and New York. Seems we picked a bad weekend for both. My Washington DC group pulled a lot of interested New Yorkers and the timing is not good.

Omaha is gonna rock. I mean it you Midwestern shooters… you will learn and shoot and learn some more. And the Missoula workshop should pull a lot of interest from the north western states. What an incredible location and opportunity for cool images. Chicago is out there as well, so it could be great for those of you interested in a ‘Big City” approach to the workshop.

I have been so busy that I feel like a crazed man sometimes. But the good news is that the new workbook is taking shape as well as the new DVD series. I stopped the sales on the old one and it is only available at the workshops. We are adding a “continuing education” component to the workshops and will only be available to the workshop attendees… and at no cost. We start in May. Watch the site for more information.

Well, on to the newest collection of images chosen by an AD friend of mine who wants to be anonymous. She is a little shy when it comes to these things.

Thanks and remember to click on the images to visit the photographers Flickr page. Leave them a comment and let them know if you like their work.

Thanks for coming by. We will be adding some stuff on Wednesday. See you then.

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We are so blessed with talent over at the Lighting Essentials Flickr Pool. This weeks selection is wonderful and exciting, cool and hot – all at the same time. This group has 27 very nice images to inspire you and lift your spirits.

Before we go down the pool to see some of the amazing work that has been collected here, I would like to mention a few things that are happening here at Lighting Essentials.

Workshops are in full swing. Seattle this weekend, and Tampa area next weekend. Then we have the special Mexico workshop on the horizon. Check out the workshop site, www.learntolight.com for more information.

Our contest for February is drawing to a close, so get your submission in before Saturday night. You can see the current monthly submissions at the contests page. Special thanks again to BorrowLenses.com and Mighty Imaging for their support on this contest. We are getting ready to announce the assignment for March by this coming weekend.

Be sure to see our latest Tech Sheets. They range from a three page tutorial on using Tilt-Shift lenses, to using a couple of speedlights to add a little hint of natural light to a non-natural light set.

On to the great images from our Lighting Essentials Artists. As usual, the images link back to the photographer who created them. And as usual, any image that may be considered NSFW is at the bottom of the page and there is a warning for you before you get there.

Have fun!

———————————-NSFW Images follow this point.

Please be aware that there are some Lighting Essentials photographers who shoot images that may be considered Not Safe For Work in some workplaces. Thank you for understanding before scrolling any further down the page. Thank you.

Be sure to subscribe to our RSS Feed to keep up with all that is going on here at Lighting Essentials.

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Some amazing work gets shown on the Lighting Essentials Flickr Group, and we like to take a few minutes and share some of our favorites. There are many that I am sure should be on this list that didn’t make it, and our apologies. I need to do this more often. Just beautiful work everyone. I think it is one of the best groups of images out there.

Before we get going:

Workshops coming up:
San Diego: This is only a week or so away.

Seattle: I have only two openings there.

Anna Maria Island: Really one of the most beautiful spots in the world. And we are going to shoot there for three days.

Kansas City: That will be my first workshop in the Kansas area. Hoping for a great one there.

Contest Information:
If you aren’t familiar with our contest, check out the rules and the great monthly prizes for our contest. This month it is simply the best shot. Next month there will be an assignment.

Here we go. As usual, the images are linked to their maker’s Flickr page. Please visit them and make some comments on the wonderful images they are so kind to share with us.

BTW, there may be some NSFW images. They will be below the section marked NSFW at the bottom of this page.

NSFW Below this ad.

And one more:

Now that is one heck of a set of images. Wow. You guys rock.

Wednesday’s post is taking shape and I am sure you will like it.

Be sure to check out all the great resources on our “Essentials” page and see you next time.

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Well, the pool keeps gettin’g deeper, ya know. I was perusing it last night and realized how many incredible pics had been added recently. This pool is really rich with excellent photography. I want to build the forum up a bit, and if anyone has questions and such, that is a good place to post them as well as here.

I want to take a minute and thank everyone for their tremendous support for the past year. It has been a crazy time, and it is made all the more wonderful with readers who help get the word out. It is so cool to read an email from someone who got the link to Lighting Essentials from a friend or on a blog.

That’s cool.

Just a reminder that Lighting Essentials has its own RSS Feed, so you can be notified when we update. I want to remind everyone that there is a wealth of information already here so if you haven’t clicked on the category links above, take some time to do so. Grab a cold drink, or hot tea and spend some time looking around.

We are going to try the live broadcast of a shoot this weekend, so watch for the time on the Flickr group and here. Also, you can follow me on twitter where a lot of the announcements will be made as well. See my site for links to the twitter channel – dongiannatti.com.

Well, let’s take a few minutes to look at some remarkable imagery. The images all link back to the photographer’s Flickr pages, so you may want to take a view of their work as well. And leave a comment or two if you like the images. On to the fun…

NOTE: Some images may be NSFW.

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I love to go through the Lighting Essentials Group on Flickr and just being knocked out by the high level of imagery there. Most of the members there have either purchased the DVD or attended the workshop, so I take a little pride there. I am going to post a few of them here and call out some of the great shots we have.

BTW, workshops are really getting exciting now that we have moved it to a two day workshop with more demonstration and technical explanations of why and how to make the lighting choices. There is still plenty of time for shooting, but with the workpad and key lighting charting, there is a bit more structure and control.

I am also offering a one hour “Going Pro” discussion after the end of each day. These are optional and photographers who don’t wish to be a part of that can spend the time shooting as long as possible. We have posted the Agenda on the workshop page so take a look at it. We want this workshop to be the best workshop you have ever taken. We are working hard toward that end.

But let’s get on to the image post.

First up is Evan Romine with a beauty shot in the studio.

Just Fab catches Briana in a feisty mood.

Meio Quilo took this captivating image of Kita in Bermuda.

Fox Pony delivers a glamour shot beating the sun handily.

CaptaiXO finds the sun behind the hair and then adds his own strobe for a dramatic look.

Ermeister captures a lot of expression in this fashion shot from San Francisco.

CaptainXO catches some tourists with a nice application of light and Photoshop.

generationexe provides this lovely shot from the San Francisco workshop.

Fishbein provides this interesting image also from the San Francisco workshop.

Lisa Stone shot this portrait in San Francisco.

Sasha by ermeister. Great use of natural light.

Nicole by lightstalker.

Beautiful shot by bermy.

She really does fly: Air Briana by ‘when i grow up’

Hubcam delivers this image from the Boston workshop.

Number 95 delivers this fun shot.

We’ll end this with a really nice shot by lymond.

I love doing these. Make sure you take a look at the photographers work for more information on what they were doing and their lighting ideas.

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