How to recreate classic Hollywood portrait lighting using modern strobes and grids. A Lighting 101 demonstration using still life and controlled studio light.
Lighting 101.12 – Hollywood Lighting with Strobes & Grids
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Lighting 101.10 – The Power of Flags
Learn how subtracting light with flags shapes contrast, shadow, and mood using simple materials and daylight in this Lighting 101 lesson.
Lighting 101.06 – Shadows
Lighting 101.06 explores how shadows shape form, composition, and mood—and how learning to see shadows is the key to mastering light in photography.
Lighting 101.05 – Window Lighting
A practical guide to window lighting for photographers, showing how to use reflectors and fill flash to support natural light while preserving mood and shadow.
Lighting 101.04 – Why Looking at Art Matters for Lighting
Learn why painters mastered light long before photography—and how studying art trains photographers to see, choose, and use light with intention.
Lighting 101.03 – Understanding Light Direction
In this Lighting 101 lesson, learn how light direction affects shape and depth using a simple still life and three classic lighting angles.
Lighting 101.02 – Shape and Value in Photography
In Part Two of Lighting 101, color is set aside to explore how light direction shapes form and value through simple black-and-white still life studies.
The Post Shoot: Classic Pet Portraits on Film
Classic pet portraiture on film: Hasselblad 501CM, TMAX 100, and 510 Pyro developer, with Joey the Tiger showing his regal personality in the studio.
The Shoot: Candid Cat & Joey’s Portrait Session
Step inside the studio as Joey the tiger cat takes the spotlight. From gear prep to candid antics, here’s how a Hasselblad session turned playful and fun.
The Pre-Shoot: Shaping the Vision, Setting the Stage
Planning a cat portrait shoot: from subject and design ideas to tools and studio setup, this pre-shoot guide blends humor, prep, and creativity.
The Pre Shoot: Preparation Shapes Creativity
Preparation shapes creativity. Learn how mastering craft, vision, and building an image bank can turn snapshots into intentional, lasting photographs.
Shading and Enhancing: The Matte Box Advantage
I discovered that a matte box, typically used with DSLR and video cameras, can also be an excellent accessory for other camera types, like panoramic and large-format cameras.