Comments on: Dennis Haysbert

By: Thomas Simpson

Thomas Simpson — Sat, 24 Mar 2012 21:18:56 +0000

I have seen Stephen Woo’s work. I have long been an admirer and fan of John’s amazing work. Not to be ornery but it just made me laugh that Woo would lecture Keatley on light. It’s like Pee Wee Herman trying to straighten out Tiger Woods golf game.

Thanks John. You’re one of my heros in this great gig called photography.

By: Tee

Tee — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 14:30:34 +0000

I just discovered your photography through SK’s blog. It is very entertaining. I adore this picture of DH well, I like him and this headshot does him great justice. I totally agree with your response about lighting. An image should be lit according to how the space and subject feel you will draw much more personality and warmth. Great work!

By: AGDM

AGDM — Thu, 23 Sep 2010 16:30:55 +0000

Hi John
Perusing your blog and reading the stories, is how I arrived at this particular post. I found the lighting to be interesting and a nice effect for portraiture. While I normally do not write anyone to ask “how did you do it”… I wondered if it were two heads with grids on either side behind the subject, and one head with a grid overhead… am I far off? less complicated? Do tell, if you have the time.

By: TUffer

TUffer — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 14:59:58 +0000

nicely done. Just enough light, not to much and the perfect close crop.

By: Dan Depew

Dan Depew — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 23:57:07 +0000

Awesome stuff John. Really like the shadow detail.

By: Marcin Retecki

Marcin Retecki — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 22:03:56 +0000

Wah! Some perfect portrait you got in here. His eyes are so damn deep! And to the twitter and TV influence, I guess many people have searched twitter for him after the sketch just to find out it was made up. It could probably been no 1 search phrase that night

By: John Keatley

John Keatley — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 17:49:45 +0000

Hi Stephen,
Interesting comment. I am curious why you think it is bad you left out a bounce card. If your personal style requires you to always use a bounce card to create catch lights in your subjects eyes, then I guess you made a mistake. For me personally, I don’t worry about catch lights or always using a specific light. I set up lights based on the feel I want to create. If I set up lights, and I don’t like how they feel, then I am going to change anything necessary to achieve the look I want. I would encourage you to be free with your lighting and experiment. There are rules in photography, but rules are also meant to be broken.

By: Stephen Woo

Stephen Woo — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 16:19:35 +0000

Good photo. However, I was surprised not to see catch light in eyes. I only mention this because last night when I was shooting photos I forgot to add the bounce card to create catch lights. My bad. Am curious about whether this is intentional.

By: Alex D.

Alex D. — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 06:41:25 +0000

Your photos never cease to wow me John. You’re lighting is sensitive and unique. So many photographers these days seem to be obsessed with stylized lighting that natural lighting is becoming an endangered species.

It’s a shame because it looks so damn good.