Skilled Photographer

First...Emanuele "Manny" Pontoriero is the most gifted Photography teacher I've ever encountered...in the way he not only explains the principles of photography in the clearest possible terms...but shows a true genius for providing easy-to-follow AND master demonstrations. As the Amazon product description of this DVD promised...I experienced a ton of EUREKA moments...regarding everything from composition to lighting to the use of the gray card (among others). Time and again, he adds that clue that really makes the principles/technique easy to understand and use. And he makes learning fun! How amazing is he...as a teacher? I truly believe that if he decided to create a DVD teaching QUANTUM PHYSICS, he'd explain it a way that would provide ANYONE with an understanding of not only the principles...but also easy-to-apply tips on practical applications (that benefited humankind). Yes, I've bought other books/DVDs...with the hope that they would automatically improve my understanding/skill/confidence. And many of them are very good. But all of them seem to lack the special ingredient that Manny provides. "What is it?" I've asked myself. For one,, what is so appreciated...is that he makes every single concept so clear that it's possible to apply...immediately. AND...he provides background/examples that demonstrate why these principles and techniques are so powerful...rather than assuming we should just take it for granted because these ideas are so often repeated...even if not fully explained. Take for example...the rule of thirds. It's described in most photography books. But, he goes the extra distance. He shows how it's used so effectively in the Mona Lisa to draw our attention to her smile. And he shows how applying the rule of thirds transforms a blah sunset scene into a dramatic, exciting picture. The lighting tips are also priceless. He not only demonstrates the mystical beauty of Rembrandt lighting...but how to achieve it with natural light. He also shares a secret he learned from another photographer about how to find different types of desired lighting...outdoors...by evaluating the light which falls on trees, columns, or other areas you're considering for your portrait. You've probably heard about the importance of framing. But, he explains it in ways I've never seen before. Manny shows...with great examples...how the choice of framing can affect our feelings or impressions regarding the subjects in the picture...such as intimacy, shelter, or an emphasis on the relationship between the subject and background. As an example of a BEFORE and AFTER. Before...I felt like...okay...I know I should be sure and frame...like the other books said.....that it's suppose to help create a feeling of depth. But it almost felt like flossing...something I SHOULD do. But when Manny describes it...I suddenly feel inspired...like I have this almost magical power of communication...at my finger tips....by how I choose to frame...or apply other techniques.. In other cases, I'd think I understood a technique...from other books...but it was like there was often a missing ingredient...to truly master it. Or maybe, they just didn't demonstrate it in a way that got my attention...or resulted in a lasting impression. But, when Manny reveals. a tip like being sure to use a telephoto lens for the gray card to avoid shadows....I get it...and incorporate it into my photography. All of the above may sound simple/obvious...but that is what is SO transforming. The clarity/simplicity of his descriptions/examples is what helps to make them such powerful photographic tools. I am not exaggerating when I say that Manny's DVDs have been a life-transforming experience...It's because of his gift for teaching me photographic techniques...I've longed to master...that help me in my dream of creating pictures that convey the story, emotions, vision I hope to share with others through photography. I would strongly recommend purchasing his other DVD Jump Start Your Photography to accompany this one...if you haven't already. I will go so far as to say..... Everyone who cares about improving not only their photographic skill but confidence AND JOY in picture-taking . ...in my humble opinion should buy BOTH of Manny Pontoriero's DVDs. ********************************************************* ********************************************************* P.S. My one frustration is that Manny primarily uses models (or non-models in portrait settings) to demonstrate photographic techniques (understandably!!!!!! since he's a portrait photographer.) And he does show how the principles apply to landscapes and city scapes...plus pets. (He achieves some amazing! photos of dogs..to die for.) But I'd appreciate some demonstration of how the principles apply to spontaneous events with people...since I find his examples are so great in making his principles clear. Like maybe a wedding scene or other event (party, fair, etc.) Though I realize it could create some challenges in terms of model releases...it would still be helpful). But overall...if there was an Oscar for HOW-TO PHOTOGRAPHY DVDs...Manny and his crew/staff would deserve Oscars in EVERY category. The DVD is beautifully crafted in every way! I especially appreciated his wife Dora's contributions...such as getting the horse to raise its ears at just the right moment. (No small feat). (You'll have to buy the DVD to find out how she did it.) And what an exquisite portrait of a horse and owner/rider!

Very helpful!! Like others, I have found much in these DVDs that was either new or though I'd read or heard before, Manny put in a such way that it sticks with me when I pick up my camera. Many aspects of photography are difficult to learn from a book, seeing Manny in action really adds another dimension of practical and valuable information. The composition DVD is thorough and extremely valuable, even though I'd studied comp before, Manny's clear, step by step approach seem to imprint it in a way that I can access it easily.

Manny has done it again, an excellent photography training video in plain English. This set of DVDs picks up where "Jump Start Your Photography" left off (I would highly recommend starting with the "Jump Start Your Photography" if you are new to Photography and/or if you want to build on a strong foundation). Manny gives a detail description of the techniques and actual live examples of how to apply those techniques. Here are just a few of the things that were new to me and I enjoyed learning: Composition with diagonal line, composition with repeating lines, Changing the Depth of Field without changing the f-stop, Depth of Field ratio from the point of focus, why use a gray card, why use a light meter, Rembrandt Lighting, Split Lighting and much more. I even picked up on a few tips on communicating with a model just by watching Manny in action. You can gain so much more from watching a video of photography techniques being applied than just reading a book on photography. With just these two sets of DVDs, my photography has improved significantly and I really know and understand why. I have enjoyed learning from a great teacher and real professional like Manny. I can't wait to order his latest set of DVDs; "The Ultimate Photographer 3 DVD Set (2011)"

I have watched a lot of videos on my camera, on taking better pictures and youtube freebies and these DVD's are the best money I have spent. You can tell he loves photography and is doing this so that we will love it too. He simply talks to you and does not rush through anything while reenforcing the importance of the techniques. This is one of a series of DVD's in which Emanuele Pontoriero is sharing his life time of training and experience with us so that we can be photographers and not just picture takers. He has taken the time to explain "why" not just "how" you take a photograph. You are going to learn all the concepts of photography so that you can take photographs not just pictures with just the camera you have now. No need to go out and buy a bunch of fancy epuipment to be able to use what you learn here right away. His style of teaching is clear and easy to apply immediately. Each time he goes over a subject he adds a little more so you build on what he has talked about earlier in the series. He teaches so much more than just what setting to use. You will learn in the easiest fashion how pictures translate into emotion and to apply the feeling you want to capture with the proper technique. The same photograph can say different things depending on how you capture the image. He explains all of this in such a way that it just becomes a natural way to think and I have found that I look at everythng differently now.

Mr. Pontoriero is very knowledgeable and provides a lot of good information but, oh my goodness, it's so slow and boring. Similar to sitting in a classroom, it's over an hour of him in front of a camera talking about photography. Nothing to keep you truly engaged except for your will to learn more about photography. I'm going to keep the DVD because, like I said, he does provide a lot of good information, but I'm going to have to watch it a little at a time.