The Photographic Portrait: Techniques, Strategies and Thoughts on Making Portraits with Meaning

by Robin Gillanders

In this comprehensive work, celebrated portraitist and teacher Robin Gillanders explores the subject in depth. Looking at all kinds of portraiture in both colour and black and white, he discusses how to set up the shot, how to pose the sitter, how to compose the photograph, how to light it, and ultimately how to give portraits real meaning.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0715316524
• ISBN13: 9780715316528
• Release Date: January 2004
• Publisher: David & Charles
• Length: 144 Pages
• Weight: 1.45 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.5" x 8.6" x 11.1"

Customer Reviews

Lighting 101, with enough pictures to really show you nuances

Mr Gillanders' book is a wonderful primer on how to light subjects for portraits. He goes into some good detail on what a portrait is, what the tools are and how to bring people together. There are a few sample lighting setups, but not too many. Most of the book teaches you how to look at the light falling on the person, how to think about the light, how to manipulate the light and how to think about what you are doing. To help bring the points home, he builds up the layers of lighting in the photographs, give you ideas of how certain techniques could be used. This is something that many portrait books do not talk about, I'm so glad that Mr Gillanders addresses this very important topic.

Good Starter Book

This is a great book for those just starting out in Portrait photography. The author spends more time explaining the philosophical and aesthetic approach to portraits as opposed to the technical side. All of the photographs included are by the author. Some of the photos are stunning while others are rather average. The images range from personal snapshots to formal commissions and editorial work. If you are already comfortable taking portrait photography and are interested in learning new lighting or darkroom techniques, look elsewhere. On the other hand, if you are timid about photographing living, conscious, subjects the author gives great insight to the interactions taking place between the photographer and his/her subject.

Great portraits and interesting techniques

Gillanders is a solid photographer with a great portfolio of portraits AND he's able to talk about technique in an easy to grasp way. I found myself really studying this book and going back to it again and again for ideas. Glad I own it.

Wonderful and inspiring

This is a wonderful book if you want a better understanding of portrait photography. The author gives his insight from teaching and working professionally into the psychology of the work. He explains not only how to achieve certain effects, but why he would do it that particular way. He even gives suggestions on how to work with your subject and perspective on what the portrait photographer is. Every page has beautiful portraits that he has done that have given me a great deal of inspiration. I don't know that I would consider myself as semi-pro yet, but this book was very helpful and inspiring.

Aimed at the intermediate and advanced, but useful to the novice

I received this as a Christmas gift in 2004. It wasn't quite what I was hoping for at the time, which was a detailed how-to guide for the technical aspects of portrait photography. There is some good material relating to that here, but as I read through the book, it became obvious that Gillanders' main goal was to share strategies for portrait-making with people who already know the technical end. The target audience could be described as the pro or semi-pro, which certainly describes me better now than it did in 2004. As a result, I've gleaned more out of the book with subsequent readings. Now that I may actually have to deal with portrait clients, Gillanders' advice on the subject seems more poignant; likewise, since I have my own studio kit to set up, I can appreciate the beauty of his tricks for using fewer lights on location. If nothing else, the book is useful as a source of inspiration for budding photographers. Gillanders' work is spread throughout and demonstrates an interesting blend of classical composition with a willingness to violate that same tradition. His photos are almost always locations shots too, so except in the most technical sections, you'll hardly ever see a face in front of a monochrome background. That alone is a nice reminder to the beginner that portraits don't always have to resemble your yearbook picture.