Many of the most powerful, memorable and effective photographs are black and white images. With digital photography though you can no longer take a great black and white photograph... but you can create one using the black and white photography techniques taught in this course. So if you're confused about which black and white conversion techniques to use, unsure about how to adjust the tonal range and balance of your black and white photos using curves and masks want to make more of your black and white portraits and you want to learn how to tone your black and white images this course is for you. What black and white photography techniques are you going to learn: * You're going to learn how to use a range of powerful flexible and non-destructive black and white conversion techniques. You're will learn which are the most useful and powerful e.g. the Channel Mixer and Black and White tool when to use one technique rather than another and which techniques to avoid (and why). * You will learn how to evaluate the tonal range and tonal balance of an image and then how to make global and selective changes using adjustment layers selections masks and the Curves tool: four of the most powerful tools and techniques within Photoshop. * You'll then learn how to use these tools and techniques to overcome some of the unique problems you'll face when converting your portraits to black and white including how to delineate your subject from the background how to work with skin tones to maximise detail or smooth your subject's skin and how to enhance your subject's eyes. * You'll learn how to add unique and complex tones that will really bring your black and white images to life. * You're going to learn how to embed all of these tools and techniques into a flexible powerful and repeatable workflow. * But this isn't just a course about post-production and Photoshop: each video will also enable you to develop the skills and give you black and white photography tips you need to create not only technically optimal black and white photographs but ones that are aesthetically striking too. * When you create a black and white image pressing the shutter is just the start. Sign up for The Art of Black and White Photography and take the next step now. Downloads are ENABLED for this course.
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What's inside
Learning objectives
- How to create technically optimal and aesthetically stunning black and white images with photoshop.
- How to develop an effective, powerful, and efficient black and white workflow.
- How to use a range of black and white conversion techniques to maximise the impact of your images.
- How to evaluate the tonal range and tonal balance of an image in order to work out the changes that need to be made during subsequent post-production.
- How to use the histogram effectively.
- How to create and use adjustment layers.
- How to use masks to seamlessly blend two or more adjustment layers.
- How to use the curves tool, photoshop's most powerful tool, to apply both global and selective changes to the tonal range and tonal balance of your images.
- How to blend two or more conversion techniques within the same image.
- How to smooth skin tones, a technique that's especially useful for portraits of women and children.
- How to lighten your subject's eyes.
- How to maximise the detail in your subject's face: especially suitable for male portraiture.
- How to add unique and compelling tones to your images to really bring them to life.
- Show more
- Show less
- How to create technically optimal and aesthetically stunning black and white images with photoshop.
- How to develop an effective, powerful, and efficient black and white workflow.
- How to use a range of black and white conversion techniques to maximise the impact of your images.
- How to evaluate the tonal range and tonal balance of an image in order to work out the changes that need to be made during subsequent post-production.
- How to use the histogram effectively.
- How to create and use adjustment layers.
- How to use masks to seamlessly blend two or more adjustment layers.
- How to use the curves tool, photoshop's most powerful tool, to apply both global and selective changes to the tonal range and tonal balance of your images.
- How to blend two or more conversion techniques within the same image.
- How to smooth skin tones, a technique that's especially useful for portraits of women and children.
- How to lighten your subject's eyes.
- How to maximise the detail in your subject's face: especially suitable for male portraiture.
- How to add unique and compelling tones to your images to really bring them to life.
- Show more
- Show less
Syllabus
Getting started
David J. Nightingale
chromasia.com/training
Photography and post-production training for photographers
Read more
Syllabus
David J. Nightingale
chromasia.com/training
Photography and post-production training for photographers
This PDF contains the slides used during each of the lectures.
--
David J. Nightingale
chromasia.com/training
Photography and post-production training for photographers
In this zipped archive you'll find 28 images (2 RAW files, 5 layered Photoshop files and 21 JPEGs: all at around 1500px wide) that you can download and work through as you go through the lectures. The images are named in the order in which they appear in the course.
--
David J. Nightingale
chromasia.com/training
Photography and post-production training for photographers
In this video we take our first look at the range of black and white conversion techniques we’ll be covering during this course. We'll then take a detailed look at some of the simpler techniques: how they work, when you should use them, and the degree of control they offer over the back and white conversion process. We conclude by summarising the limitations of these simpler techniques.
--
David J. Nightingale
chromasia.com/training
Photography and post-production training for photographers
In this video we take a detailed look at the Twin Hue/Saturation method of creating a black and white: a non-destructive technique that provides relatively limited control over the black and white conversion process. We then go on to consider why such control is important control is important, particularly in terms of meeting your creative aims for an image. We conclude by taking a look at why a higher degree of control is often be required.
--
David J. Nightingale
chromasia.com/training
Photography and post-production training for photographers
In this video you will learn how to use the Channel Mixer to convert your images to black and white, a tool that offers a high degree of control over the black and white conversion process.
--
David J. Nightingale
chromasia.com/training
Photography and post-production training for photographers
In this video you will learn how to use the Calculations method to create a black and white image. This is a destructive technique, and quite complex to master, but it is a powerful and flexible method of creating a black and white image.
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David J. Nightingale
chromasia.com/training
Photography and post-production training for photographers
In this video you will learn how to use one of Photoshop's most powerful and flexible black and white conversion methods, the Black and White tool.
--
David J. Nightingale
chromasia.com/training
Photography and post-production training for photographers
In this video we take a detailed look at how to use the Camera Raw plugin in Photoshop to convert your images to black and white. This is a powerful technique, and the only one we'll be discussing that allows you to convert your image during the RAW conversion process. However, unlike many of the other techniques we discussed previously, it does have its limitations, particularly in terms of embedding it within an overall workflow.
--
David J. Nightingale
chromasia.com/training
Photography and post-production training for photographers
In this video we begin by taking a look at the features of a colour image contribute towards making it easier to create a stunning black and white image DURING the black and white conversion process. From there we move on to explain tonal range and the histogram, before taking a look at how you can adjust the tonal range and brightness of your images using the Levels tool.
--
David J. Nightingale
chromasia.com/training
Photography and post-production training for photographers
Follow us on Facebook, Google+ and Twitter.
</p>
The Curves tool can be intimidating, at least at first, but it is the most powerful, most useful, and most flexible tool within Photoshop, and can be used to adjust both the tonal range and contrast within your images in precise and targeted ways. In this video we take a detailed look at how to use this tool.
--
David J. Nightingale
chromasia.com/training
Photography and post-production training for photographers
In this video we begin by taking a look at the limitations and problems associated with Dodging and Burning, a technique you can use to make selective adjustments to the tonal range and tonal balance of your images. From there we move on to work through a range of detailed examples, each of which will teach you how to use multiple adjustment layers and masks to make selective and targeted adjustments to your images to greatly increase their impact. In the final section you will learn how and why to blend multiple black and white conversion techniques within a single image.
--
David J. Nightingale
chromasia.com/training
Photography and post-production training for photographers
Follow us on Facebook, Google+ and Twitter.
</p>
In this video we begin our discussion of black and white portraiture by taking another look at the tools and techniques we discussed in previous lectures, particularly in terms of how these can be used to delineate your subject from the background.
--
David J. Nightingale
chromasia.com/training
Photography and post-production training for photographers
In this video you will learn how to soften and smooth skin tones during the black and white conversion process: to remove blemishes, brighten the skin and so on. This is an especially useful technique for portraits of women and children. Using exactly the same tools you will learn how to maximise detail, a technique well suited to male portraiture. As you'll see though, in both instances, this can involve some counter-intuitive decision making at the outset.
--
David J. Nightingale
chromasia.com/training
Photography and post-production training for photographers
In this video you will learn how to convert a portrait (or any other image) to black and white using Lab Color mode, a powerful alternative to RGB. You will learn the basics of Lab, before moving on to discover why this can be a useful technique for black and white portraiture.
--
David J. Nightingale
chromasia.com/training
Photography and post-production training for photographers
In this video you will learn how to convert a portrait (or any other image) to black and white using Lab Color mode, a powerful alternative to RGB. You will learn the basics of Lab, before moving on to discover why this can be a useful technique for black and white portraiture.
--
David J. Nightingale
chromasia.com/training
Photography and post-production training for photographers
In this, the first of two videos on toning and colorizing your images, you will learn how to use a range of tools to: apply a single colour to an image, how to split-tone an image using Camera Raw, and how to apply a duotone within Photoshop. You will also learn how to incorporate toning into your black and white workflow.
--
David J. Nightingale
chromasia.com/training
Photography and post-production training for photographers
In this, the final video in The Art of Black and White photography, you will learn how to add multiple and complex tones to your image using a range of powerful and flexible tools. These include the Gradient Map, the Color Balance tool, the Channel Mixer, the Selective Color tool, and my personal favourite, the Curves tool.
--
David J. Nightingale
chromasia.com/training
Photography and post-production training for photographers
Practice, practice, and then practice some more :)
--
David J. Nightingale
chromasia.com/training
Photography and post-production training for photographers
Additional resources that you may find useful.
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Activities
Review basic photography principles
Show steps
Review the fundamentals of photography such as aperture, shutter speed, and ISO to refresh your memory.
Show steps
-
Gather your photography gear
-
Set up your camera in manual mode
-
Practice adjusting aperture, shutter speed, and ISO
Read 'The Art of Photography' by Bruce Barnbaum
Show steps
Explore the technical and artistic aspects of photography through the insights and techniques shared by renowned photographer Bruce Barnbaum.
View
The Essence of Photography, 2nd Edition: Seeing...
on Amazon
Show steps
-
Acquire a copy of the book
-
Read and study the chapters in sequence
-
Take notes and highlight important concepts
-
Apply the techniques and principles to your own photography
Take practice photos in different lighting conditions
Show steps
Experiment with photography in various lighting situations to develop your understanding of how light affects exposure and image quality.
Show steps
-
Identify different lighting conditions (e.g., natural, artificial, low light)
-
Take multiple photos of the same subject in each lighting condition
-
Compare and analyze the results, paying attention to exposure, shadows, and highlights
-
Adjust your camera settings and techniques to optimize image quality in different lighting conditions
Two other activities
Expand to see all activities and additional details
Show all five activities
Write a blog post or article about your black and white photography journey
Show steps
Share your experiences, insights, and techniques related to black and white photography through a written piece.
Show steps
-
Choose a topic related to black and white photography that you're passionate about
-
Outline and structure your article, including an introduction, body paragraphs, and conclusion
-
Write and edit your article, paying attention to clarity, organization, and engaging language
-
Publish your article on a relevant platform, such as a photography blog or online magazine
Create a portfolio of your black and white photography
Show steps
Compile a collection of your best black and white photographs to showcase your skills and progress.
Show steps
-
Select your strongest black and white images
-
Edit and finalize the images for presentation
-
Organize the images into a coherent and visually appealing portfolio
-
Present your portfolio online or in print
Review basic photography principles
Show steps
Review the fundamentals of photography such as aperture, shutter speed, and ISO to refresh your memory.
Show steps
- Gather your photography gear
- Set up your camera in manual mode
- Practice adjusting aperture, shutter speed, and ISO
Read 'The Art of Photography' by Bruce Barnbaum
Show steps
Explore the technical and artistic aspects of photography through the insights and techniques shared by renowned photographer Bruce Barnbaum.
View
The Essence of Photography, 2nd Edition: Seeing...
on Amazon
Show steps
- Acquire a copy of the book
- Read and study the chapters in sequence
- Take notes and highlight important concepts
- Apply the techniques and principles to your own photography
Take practice photos in different lighting conditions
Show steps
Experiment with photography in various lighting situations to develop your understanding of how light affects exposure and image quality.
Show steps
- Identify different lighting conditions (e.g., natural, artificial, low light)
- Take multiple photos of the same subject in each lighting condition
- Compare and analyze the results, paying attention to exposure, shadows, and highlights
- Adjust your camera settings and techniques to optimize image quality in different lighting conditions
Write a blog post or article about your black and white photography journey
Show steps
Share your experiences, insights, and techniques related to black and white photography through a written piece.
Show steps
- Choose a topic related to black and white photography that you're passionate about
- Outline and structure your article, including an introduction, body paragraphs, and conclusion
- Write and edit your article, paying attention to clarity, organization, and engaging language
- Publish your article on a relevant platform, such as a photography blog or online magazine
Create a portfolio of your black and white photography
Show steps
Compile a collection of your best black and white photographs to showcase your skills and progress.
Show steps
- Select your strongest black and white images
- Edit and finalize the images for presentation
- Organize the images into a coherent and visually appealing portfolio
- Present your portfolio online or in print
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