Essentials of Lighting

Don on the BeachThere are times when you have to learn more about something and so you go find someone who’s teaching style compliments your learning style. Don Giannatti is a really patient man who knows an incredible amount about photography, design, and the business of being an artist – and is the type of teacher from whom I learn very well.

Pictured is Don – this is my second workshop with him and I’ve come out the other end a better photographer in so many more aspects of my ability to look at light, work on post-processing, and talking about the business of being a commercial portrait and editorial photographer. The others in the workshop were also invaluable – Bill from MD (Flickr Hopeland Studios) (here also working on an article for a magazine about Don) and Megan from AZ (both a phenomenal photographer and photoshop expert and our stand-in model – thank you!). Our workshop took place in Rocky Point, Mexico – an oasis in the middle of a desert.

More images from this workshop will be posted as I get them processed. Some are portraits and some are more landscape or editorial pieces. Lighting is essential for all, and Don helped me to see the light as a photographer in a significantly better manner.

Don’s websites: Lighting Essentials and Learn to Light.

[lighting for this shot: Alien Bees SB1600 into a beauty dish - backlit by massive fusion reactor]