I had the chance to shoot with Vincent several days last year. You are right he uses often big HMI Fresnel Arri continuous movie lighting. Sometimes outdoors the Fresnel HMI is replaced by a huge mirror on a swivel mount to redirect sunlight on the subject. He also sometimes creates dappled light with gobos between the light and the model. The fresnel high light contrast is compensated by rather soft Kodak Portra 160 film he uses in his Mamiya RZ67. Even his B&W images are Portra 160 converted digitally in B&W. He only uses a digital camera on clients request. Vincent has a very broad cinema, literature and human culture, when discussing with him, he always compares his still images style to some films, books and he has a unique calm, smart and cool relationship with models.

@paolociccone

4 ай бұрын

Thank you for sharing this bit of information. Interesting that he uses Portra even for B&W, I wondered about the type of film for a while. Platon uses TMax and I thought that maybe Peters did the same. I understand the reasoning, you get the ability to shift the tonlity in post as much as you want. Still, you lose the ability to play with the chemistry. But, like anything in photography, it's a compromise.

@walthornik

4 ай бұрын

I took a workshop with him in Venice a couple of years ago and I came here to write pretty much exactly same comment :) I absolutely love listening to him talk about photography and art - I highly recommend any podcast with him that's available to listen

@nilswachter

4 ай бұрын

I just think about booking the new workshop in Venice this April. He is phenomenal and as you said an extremely interesting person. Would you recommend it? It’s quiet expensive and for me it is important to be able to create similar images after the workshop myself. I would also be really happy to see some images shot by people attending the workshop! Do you guys have some online?

@walthornik

4 ай бұрын

@@nilswachter for me personally it was exactly what I needed. You won't learn camera settings, lighting setups, none of that KZread mumble jumbo. You will however talk a lot about the purpose of what you are doing, developing your style, and talking about art. He also doesn't have a rigid structure like a classroom. He prefers you asking questions so if you want to use it to maximum come prepared with a lot of things you want to ask and find out.

@NC-oc3ld

4 ай бұрын

@jean-claudemuller3199 "Even his B&W images are Portra 160 converted digitally in B&W.' Wow I was wondering about that when I was looking at his pictures a few days ago and saw the Portra 160 stamps on the edges of his photos. Just to be clear, does it process the Portra 160 in C-41 chemicals as usual then converts it to black and white....OR does he process the film in B&W chemicals?

One of the key ingredients to Hurrell's and Peters's work is the dance of shadows and highlights. Hurrell was very fond of specular highlights, down to the point of using baby oil on the skin of actors to make them shine more. Think about it. That is exactly the opposite of what most photographers do today. But Hurrell knew how to treat those highlights because he was using film. He would use the tried and true technique of overexposing and under developing. Highlights are exactly what make digital cameras perform poorly. Those silver highlights can only be handled by film, and Peters is taking advantage of that too.

@aes53

4 ай бұрын

Interesting analysis, makes perfect sense. Thanks for posting.

Thanks Alex. You also demonstrated the power of print and selection. Simply scrolling through Peters instagram i didn’t get the same impression.

Fascinating, even to one who does not take portraits.

I enjoyed this one even as someone who doesn’t do portraits, uses models or uses lighting. This type of content is brilliant to just reflect on one’s own work. Inspiration comes from everywhere we need to open our eyes and minds and then go and take some images. I’ve been in a rut for a while and am now getting back my enthusiasm. Thanks and keep it up.

The cinematography by Vittorio Storaro at the end of Apocalypse Now is absolutely superb. Marlon Brando moving between the light and darkness as he recites his lines , very powerful.

@mjeffn2

4 ай бұрын

“The horror.” 😎

Thank you for introducing me to vincent Peters! I've always loved Herb Ritts and George Hurrell and now I'll have Vincent Peters!

Vincent Peters' work is amazing. Another portrait photographer I love who does interesting things with hard light and shadows is Tom Hoops.

What also totally fascinates me about the prints/books by Vincent Peters, besides the amazing lighting, talent/expression/set, is his outstanding clearness and plasticity look of the faces, which perfectly complements the light/talent/expression/sets. For me this also is part of his uniqueness.

Hi Alex, I really enjoyed looking at the photos of Vincent Peters. Light and Shade is not so easy to do, it's something that I don't photograph enough. The couple with the Cigarette was very nostalgic something you don't see very often. Many thanks for sharing. 😊

Nice balance of tones, his use of shadows and highlights are next level, great reportage-timeless

Thank you very much for this inspiring video. Vincent Peters and Herb Ritts are two of my all-time favourite photographers. Their technique on lighting is breathtaking. If you ever fancy doing a workshop on hard light with deep shadows and lush skin tones .... count me in.

Light Sculptors is what they are masters of it. Because of this, I am now going to do portraits using video lights.

Stunning

Best photo channel on youtube so far you are giving me the interest to gop back and explore, light, shadows. cheers

Peters is certainly using light well, but it certainly helps he’s photographing beautiful people who are photographed for a living

Thanks for a great presentation of Vincent Peters work..... that book is a gem and one I constantly turn to for inspiration.... What a master of light he is !

AMAZING WORK!

Love it! Thank you so much.

Great video Alex

Another fine (and inspiring) talk. Thanks Alex!

Another great video and another photographer whose work I need to look into more.

Why is it one of the hardest things in art to make seem things simple? That is true not only for photography ...

Thank you your youtube channel taking about is one of the better ones on photography. I'm reinventing me

B & W make light and shadows marvellous. Thanks for your video superb portraits.

Thank you, your observations and introduction to the work of Vincent Peters was inspiring. Harsh light and deep and extensive shadows as you noted. Detailing across skin, clothes and surfaces as light falls off. In combination simulating sculptures in three dimensions.

It is a beautiful photograph.

Thank you for your insight. Very nice food for thought.

You have one of the best channels on KZread and I look forward to every new video that comes. I always learn so much and discover new photographers. The only downside is that my wife isn't happy that I am buying all these beautiful books that you introduce us to. Cheers and thank you!

Another phenomenal video. Your work always inspires me to grab my camera and start experimenting. Thank you.

Great stuff. As for the model or actor discussion, I learned a lot about light and expressions by taking self portraits. It has certain advantages, you have all the time in the world, no schedule needed, you learn a lot about poses and facial impressions when you have to do them yourself and if it is a total fail, there is no witness 😉🤫

Thank you so much for making this. I'm still struggling with lighting, so this has really helped

love the approach you take in your videos, mate :)

It's funny - the Kleigl Brothers manufactured all manner of lighting fixtures and signage for theatres and soundstages: spotlights, beam projectors, ellipsoidals, border lights, etc. Starting with the early days of electric lighting, using carbon arc sources and evolving into DC tungsten, AC tungsten, Xenon, HMI through the decades, they were a major manufacturer of entertainment lighting fixtures. They also played a key role in the evolution of dimming control when they marketed computerized lighting control systems. Today, in the world of photography, they are remembered tangentally for but one type of fixture: the fresnel wash light. Admittedly the beam characteristics of a simple fresnel fixture are iconic and have lit so many of the pictures (both still and moving) that stand out in every decade over the last century. I just find it fascinating that one manufacturer's entire product line can be boiled down to but one fixture type.

They are HMI lights. The spectral highlights they cause are what creates the availability of luminous shadows

I noticed that these photos would only work for white skin individuals. I would like to see more photos of people with darker skin tone and how it works to combine light and shadow.

I was once told by a photographer who only shot black and white. That the shadows tell as much of the story as the light does.

informative content

The strongest influence i see in his work are movies. A lot of italian feel, some french, some of his editorials are directly inspired in specific movies. I saw one inspired in "In the mood for love". i sae some pictures with "Psycosis" feel. Hurrel not that much. What they have in common is cinema inspired looks. Painters too: the ballerina pictures seem to have Degas influence.

You don't need Fresnels for what he does. They come handy but the fresnels seem to be only a small part of his toolbox. I would say that the right distance for the source and LOT of black flags and a lot branchaloris and similar do big part. Big part for the atmosphere of his pictures is that he controls where he does not want to have light. Controlled contrast and deep black shadows are a constant in his work.

Always beautifull to listen to you. If you ever want something from Argentina you´re welcome lo let me know.

It's the camera that's makes the difference. Vincent Peters, like so many others used the Mamiya RZ67 medium format camera.

Shadows suit Christian Bail well.

@mortenthorpe

4 ай бұрын

Well, yes.. but I think the use of shadows is where the communicative part of an image is: for a hard working industrially worn skin of e.g. a miner, a construction worker, the lighting on Bale works well, because it highlights their main character og being in physical labor. For older women, where vanity comes into play, and for white collar workers, this sort of lighting would be awful… probably flat light is best for older people, the more vain they are, the flatter… opinions on this???

HMI Fresnels! I've assisted and provided lighting for Mario Testing, Peter Lindberg, Santo D'Orazio

Yes, I believe you are referring to Klieg lights. Not on my gear list as I rarely use anything other than available light.

I believe you were looking for HMI lights.

As well I wouldn't underestimate the film he uses on his camera as well as the lens he uses on the Mamiya, but I agree the harsh light is a big point.

wow, this is my kind of stuff!

🎉❤🎉

Seems that the alluring styles of fantastic Hollywood cinematic looks, are to a large degree due to the camera being placed on the shadow side of the subject.. Funnily enough, the first 2 images of Charlize Theron, that you showcased, clearly use this technique

Do you think would get same impact photo with a non famous and modelling experienced model?

Regarding models vs. actors, I think they're both sides of the same coin, but when actors are photographed, they tend to tell a story with their expression, whereas models don't always. I think better models do, and art models more than strictly fashion models (whose job is to showcase what they're wearing, rather than themselves), but in each of those actor pictures, their expressions and poses told a story. Maybe that was also part of Peters' genius.

I've been studying George Hurrell's work quite extensively for the past few years and starting using a Fresnel a little over a year ago. Once you're able to let go of the mindset that the light has to be soft for a portrait and accept the light from the fresnel and see how gorgeous that light is, it is really addictive. Sadly, I don't get much chance to use it but it is glorious when I do. I literally dream of photoshoots using it.

Oh i have Vintent’s book. He is real legend❤

Empty cup?

The younger generation would do well by studying Hurrell's work.

Light is easy to control… shadow is hard to master

Curious how you have been upgrading little by little your videos with lighting. Your first videos were very simple and when it comes to your setup as time progress you have made quite a few changes. I’m curious on what made you feel the need to do so? I’m asking because I’m here for the content, and probably a lot of other viewers, not for visual production value, so I was wondering what was the process on deciding to invest in it?

@ThePhotographicEye

4 ай бұрын

No real particular reason As you noticed, I had to move from videoing in the lounge into my office and because the light in there, it was very dull. I decided to live up just a little bit using the bits and bobs that I had lying around.

@joao.s.cardoso

4 ай бұрын

@@ThePhotographicEye got it :) thank you for the feedback

@L.Spencer

4 ай бұрын

I liked the older light, it looked warmer, richer. @@ThePhotographicEye

Ek hou nie van Charlize nie! Stuk vuilgoed! Sys maar pragtig! That light set up, way too much for me!

I keep hearing "pigdrop"

To me no one can come close to Horst.P.Horst’s standard

Using hard light is too hard. 😩

Your channel is dangerous cause I tend to buy far too many photography books 😂😉