Fine Art Portrait Photography: Commercial Techniques and Images in Black and White

Rating:
Summary: PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU CONSIDER BUYING THIS BOOK
Review: I AM STARTING UP A PHOTOGRAPHY BUSINESS. AS THE BOOK MAY HAVE TECHNICALLY CORRECT PICTURES,THEY DO NOT TELL THE READER ANY OF THE CAMERA TECHINIQUES USED AT ALL. THE ONLY TECHNIQUE MENTIONED IS HIS USE OF LIGHTS. IT DOESN'T GO IN DEPTH OF THE TYPE OF LIGHTING. IT JUST TELLS THE READER OF THE POSITIONING. ALL OF THE PICTURES IN THE ENTIRE BOOK ARE BASED UPON CHARACTERS OF THE MEXICAN RELIGOUS HOLIDAY OF "DIA DE LOS MUERTOS" DAY OF THE DEAD A.K.A ALL SOULS DAY. IT IS A FESTIVAL DATING BACK TO THE ADVANCED AZTEC INDIANS. IT IS A VERY BEAUTIFUL HOLIDAY IN WHERE THE DEAD ARE HONORED AND DEATH IS VIEWED IN A HUMEROUS MANNER SO NOBODY MAY LIVE IN FEAR OF THE NATURAL PROCESS OF DEATH. PEOPLE DRESS UP IN COSTUM AND MAKE-UP REPRESENTING DEATH AND DANCE WHILE THEY PARADE THROUGH THE STREETS. OSCAR LAZOYA DOES AN EXCELLENT JOB IN CATCHING THE ESSENCE OF THE CHARACTERS. HIS IMAGES ARE EXPRESSIVE AS WELL AS POWERFUL. LAZOYA THOUGH FAILS TO DISCLOSE ANY OF THE TECHNIQUES HE USED TO CAPTURE THESE IMAGES. THE DESCRIPTION OF THE BOOK THAT IS UNDER THE TITLE CAN BE VERY MISLEADING TO THE WOULD BE PERSON BUYING THE BOOK TO LEARN TECHNIQUES OF PHOTOGRAPHY. IT IS RATHER A BOOK MORE TOWARD A GALLERY OF IMAGES. PERHAPS THE TITLE SHOULD HAVE BEEN"LAZOYA'S IMAGES OF ALL SOUL'S DAY" BUT THEN, THE COMPANY THAT PUBLISHED THE BOOK MIGHT NOT HAVE FOOLED AS MANY PEOPLE INTO BUYING THIS BOOK UNDER DIFFERENT PRETENSES.

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Summary: Wonderfully Dramatic Fine-Art B&W Portraiture
Review: I very much disagree with SkyHunerV about the absence of technical details. The Author illustrates what lights went where, plus what camera and lenses were used. Yet I highly recommend this book for its glimpse of Mr. Lozoya's bold photographic and cultural vision. It's not "about" Dia de los Muertos, or even the Hispanic Southwest, although these are often its subjects. This is "about" Lozoya's unique perspective on our cultural myths of love and death and innocence. It's playfully bright and solidly graphic. No, this is not (strictly speaking) a how-to book, although most techniques are clearly explained. It's more about talented vision, personal passion and having fun with your camera, family and friends.

Rating:
Summary: Outstanding work
Review: Oscar Lozoya's book is an outstanding body of work that very few people can duplicate. The lighting, the posing , the attention to detail is absolutely marvelous. It is a unique style that Mr. Lozoya masters very well and I strongly beleive that it does not matter if you are a beginer or an old timer at photography, this book is worth it. This is what great Black and White photography is all about. Perfect lighting, perfect poses, perfect negative equals a perfect print. A great Master no doubt.