Monte Zucker video?

peweg

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I'm interested in obtaining a training video on photographic lighting techniques. Someone recommended Monte Zucker's "A day with Monte" DVDs. Can anyone here comment on this set? Also, what other training videos might you folks recommend?
Thanks,
Paul
 
I don't know the specific dvd, but I can tell you that you can learn a lot from him, I took a weekend workshop from him years ago and I learned more in two days, I mean stuff that I used, stuff that helped me see the light, and help folks look their best, I learned more in two days than in two years of community college photo program.

Keep in mind that he is mostly portraiture on location. But you pick up from that will help you even if you do nothing but documentarian style.

Google Joseph Zeltsman, there are some ancient tutorials on posing and lighting out in the public domain now, Zeltsman was Monte's mentor. Joe's method is a logical and systematic way of chosing which pose and lighting to choose for a particular face.

If you have a VCR player you could probably pick up some old tapes on ebay cheap, or join you local pro association, most of them have libraries full of these tape and dvd sets and the price of a years's dues will give you access to literally thousands of dollars worth of such materials, and Monte is typically well represented as he was always a good teacher and very active in doing so.

I don't know what is still available, but there used to be a lot of good online tutorials at zuga.net I mean everything he covered at a $500 to a 1,000 workshop was all right there almost word for word.
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HEY...

I have seen the videos that you are talking about. Th4ey are fair at best...More of a infomertial.

Yes he does do a number of teaching with a polorid and medium format gear. But it is far from what one needs to get lighting down.

Can't hurt, some things are covered. BUt it's vary outdated, and the books and materials out there now are a great deal more useful.

Pleae don't get me wrong, as the guy has done a great deal. But I'm just saying that his technique is standard Zucker, which in itself is outdated by decades, compared to what were doing with weddings and such now.

Like I said, can't hurt -- just don't pay anything for the video's.

JSH
 
Montes older videos come up on ebay very often - set up a saved search on ebay and have it notify you when new listings appear.

Also, if you are a member of local PPA or similar group, many have lending libraries with vast amounts of videos like these available free to check out as a membership benefit.
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Eric in Florida
 
I"m thinking of getting Tim Kelly's video(s). There's a lot of photogs with videos, and you can get a glimps of Monte, Kelly and others at the Zuga site (if you haven't already).

http://www.zuga.net/

Unfortunately, Monte's videos are pretty uninformative on that site (too basic, and he comes off as grumpy), but his own website has lots of good info:

http://www.montezucker.com/content.html?page=7

Tim Kelly's videos on Zuga are extremely helpful I fund, and I like his results with split lighting and his emphasis on keeping it in key. But there's also Gary Bernstein and others, so it's a good place to start.

hope that helps,

Chris
 
Dean Collins videos are amazing. Monty's great too. His poses are a little dated though.
 

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