The Photographer's Assistant

by Kieffer, John

• ISBN13: 9781581150803
• ISBN10: 1581150806
• Edition: Revised
• Format: Trade Paper
• Copyright: 2001-02-01
• Publisher: Allworth Press

Summary

This resource introduces aspiring photographers to the art and skill ofssisting top-notch photographers - an incomparable way to learn the fieldnd ascend the career ladder to becoming a professional photographer. Revisednd expanded to include information on multimedia and Internet developmentsn the field, the book offers technical tips on camera equipment, lighting,urface preparation, studio and location shooting, CD-ROM development, andelling stock photos online - all from the perspective of what the assistanteeds to know. Seven top photographers give candid interviews in which theyell what skills and personal attributes they want in an assistant, how theyhoose assistants, what they pay, the biggest mistake an assistant ever made,hen an assistant saved the day, and how well their assistants succeeded inaking the transition to becoming professional photographers.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments	ix
The Assistant and the Photographic Community	1	(10)
The Photographic Assistant
The Assistant's Responsibilities
Benefits from Assisting
The Professional Photographic Community
Freelancing and Full-Time Assisting
An Interview with Shel Secunda	7	(4)
Making the Most of Your Skills	11	(16)
Assisting Skills
Expanding Your Repertoire
Resources
Getting Hands-On Experience
Making the Most of Your Nonphotographic Skills
Creating Something from Nothing
Location and Travel Skills
Being Objective
Assistant's Skill List
Promotional Material
Electronic Media
Alternate Approaches
The Portfolio
An Interview with Michal Heron	25	(2)
Finding the Right Photographers	27	(12)
Defining Your Market
Contacting Prospective Clients
Call Report
An Interview with Jim Grout	35	(4)
Business Matters	39	(10)
Establishing Your Rates
Bookkeeping
Business Purchases
Ethical Considerations
An Interview with Todd Droy	45	(4)
Your First Day on the Job	49	(6)
Preliminary Information
Beginning Your Day
Working with Equipment
Working with Film
Keeping Organized
Finishing Up
The Day's Shoot
List of Essentials
The 35mm Single Lens Reflex Camera	55	(6)
Characteristics of the 35mm SLR
The Assistant's Responsibilities
Lenses and Filters
The Medium-Format Camera	61	(8)
Key Characteristics
Medium-Format Film
The Film Magazine
Loading the Film Magazine
Preparing the Film Magazine
The Exposure Process
Unloading the Film Magazine
Film Processing
The Roll Film Holder and View Camera
Lenses, Filters, and the Compendium
Using a Tripod
The View Camera	69	(16)
Key Characteristics
View Camera Basics
Large-Format Lenses
Sheet Film
Preparing the Sheet-Film Holder
Cleaning the Film Holder
Loading the Film Holder
Inserting the Film
The Exposure Process
Why You Identify Film
Unloading the Film Holder
Ensuring Proper Processing
Working with the Photo Lab
The Changing Tent
Summary of Responsibilities Related to Camera and Film
Polaroid Instant Film	85	(16)
Why Use Polaroid Instant Film?
General Characteristics
The Assistant's Responsibilities
35mm SLR and Medium-Format Instant-Film Backs
Polaroid for the View Camera
The 8''
10'' Polaroid System
Responsibilities Related to Polaroid Instant Film
An Interview with Steve Umland	96	(5)
Scanning Film and Using Digital Files	101	(10)
General Scanning Procedures
Tips for Adjusting and Working with Scans
Different File Formats
Kodak Photo CD Scans
Web Sites
Burning a CD-ROM
E-Mail
Protecting Your Photography
Capturing Digital Images	111	(14)
Digital Capture
Digital Capture Using Medium-Format and View Cameras
Viewing the Image
Computers and Software
The Assistant and the Computer
The Assistant's Responsibilities
Working with Photoshop
An Interview with Carl Fischer	120	(5)
Artificial Lighting	125	(16)
Compare and Contrast
The Electronic Flash System
The Power Supply
The Flash Head
Summary of Responsibilities Related to Electronic Flash Systems
On-Camera Electronic Flash Units
Summary of Responsibilities Related to On-Camera Flash
Continuous Light Sources (Tungsten and HMI)
Working with Light	141	(12)
Qualities of Light
Light-Modifying Devices
Summary of Responsibilities Related to Light-Modifying Devices
Light Meters
Summary of Responsibilities Related to Light Meters
An Interview with Chip Simons	151	(2)
Photographic Hardware	153	(6)
Stands
Booms
Clamps
Adhesives
Miscellaneous Hardware
Summary of Responsibilities Related to Photographic Hardware
Surface Preparation	159	(8)
Primary Considerations
Cleaning
Commonly Encountered Surfaces
Monitoring the Exposure Process
Painting
Miscellaneous Aerosol Sprays
Summary of Responsibilities Related to Surface Preparation
Background Materials	167	(6)
General Guidelines
Plastic Laminates
Seamless Paper
Plexiglas
Additional Materials
Summary of Responsibilities Related to Background Materials
The Photographic Studio	173	(10)
Learning the Studio
The Shooting Area
The Workshop
The Kitchen
The Lounge Area
The Computer
The Make-Up Room
The Darkroom
Equipment and Background Storage
An Interview with Pete Saloutos	180	(3)
Photographic Specialties	183	(16)
Product Photography
People Photography
Wedding Photography
Location Photography
Audio-Visual Assignments
Overnight Assignments
Acquiring Location Work
Architectural Work
Stock Photography
Summary of Responsibilities Related to Photographic Specialties
An Interview with Nancy Brown	195	(4)
Getting the Most From Assisting	199	(4)
Be a Good Assistant
Keep Shooting
Think Beyond Photography
Take Advantage of What's Available
My Transition to Being a Photographer	203	(5)
Me, A Salesman?
Assisting Saves the Day
Try Something Different
Networking
Stock Photography: Timing Was Everything
The Stock-Photo Industry and You
Where I Am in the Year 2001
Model-Release Form	208	(1)
Appendix A: Photographic Associations	209	(2)
Appendix B: Creative Directories---Sourcebooks---Web Sites	211	(4)
Appendix C: Photographic Literature and Catalogs	215	(8)
Appendix D: Periodicals	223	(4)
Glossary	227	(8)
Index	235