Introduction to Studio & Location Lighting
© Jonathan Exley
This six-week course is designed to take the mystery out of using studio lights. Students will learn how and when to use strobes, continuous (hot) lights and reflectors while making both traditional and creative portraits. In each class, there is a mix of hands-on experience and lectures on technical information to give participants a solid base so they may support their own creative journey. Students will learn what makes strobes such a unique form of light, and how to control it for all situations.
The workshop begins with exposure basics and traditional lighting set-ups to demonstrate the best looks for portraiture with new techniques progressively added throughout the course. In addition, information will be given about using ratios for multiple lighting set-ups, and how to explore fill techniques. Students will apply these techniques to balancing ambient light sources, such as the sun, for natural outdoor fill flash photography, as well as continuous sources for studio and night photos.
All participants will have time in class to shoot and handle the equipment. Models will be provided. There will be weekly critiques and assignments. No basic understanding of lighting is necessary but students should be familiar with their camera and basic photography fundamentals.
Over two decades of award winning images, Jonathan Exley is one of the most sought after photographers from best selling authors, Hollywood's elite, sports figures to world famous rock stars. As an artist, he has the ability to capture light, work fast, and most importantly grab the human soul in that instant of honesty. His distinguished career began with shooting music luminaries such as Joni Mitchell, Michael Jackson, Chris Issak, Stevie Wonder, Whitney Houston and Warren Zevon. He then made the transition into editorial work shooting some of Hollywood's elite, which landed him in the White House photographing Hillary Rodham-Clinton. Exley's hard work over the years has earned him recognition and endorsements from such prominent companies as Kodak film and Hasselblad cameras. He has received two of the coveted American Photography Awards as well as recognition from the Art Directors Club of Los Angeles, Art Directors Magazines and the most prestigious Graphis Annual. Jonathan is privileged to give back by speaking and giving seminars on behalf of Hasselblad cameras and other colleges, seminars, and EXPO’s around the world. He currently resides in Los Angeles.
