Digital Black & White Photography – (an introduction and overview on how to create digital Black and White photographs like the Masters)

Overview

Creating Museum quality Black & White (B&W) Images was once reserved for the master's like Ansel Adams, Richard Avedon and Joseph Karsh. Now with digital cameras and photo editing software, creating Iconic Quality Black & White Images is achievable by all of us.

This class will begin with the first photograph, B&W in 1826 by Joseph Nicéphore Niépce and the first Color slides created from black and white images by the physicist James Maxwell in 1862 and include an explanation of the importance of the Red, Green and Blue Filters that James Maxwell and the Photographer Thomas Sutton used to create the first color (composite) images of a tartan ribbon.

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This introduction to color photography will be followed by the master’s and their Iconic Images and Philosophies:

• Ansel Adams – Pre-visualization
• Edward Weston – Straight or Pure Photography
• Henri Cartier Bresson – The Decisive Moment

Input Devices: Film Camera and Scanners DSLR Mirrorless (ICL) Point & Shoot Cell Phone and Camera will be discussed. How Capture Devices and Output Devices see Color will be presented and the concepts of Visible light and their spectrums as well as Invisible light and Infrared and IR’s spectrum will be presented.

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The highlights of the class will include, “How color affects Black and White images”, the use of filters and their impact on B&W photography, as well as a simple overview of Software and Postproduction to further enhance your B&W images.

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This is the perfect class for anyone who has ever been interested in Black & White Photography. If you have ever wanted to create your own iconic images of your friends, family, or travels, this class will leave you with a better understanding of “how to” pre-visualize and execute your B&W images like the Masters.

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The evening lecture will end with an overview of the composition of Iconic photographers. Black and White images from well-known photographers like Elliot Erwitt, Eve Arnold, Abbas, Vivian Maier, and Alex Soth will be presented.

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‍Composition Rules that will be illustrated include:

• Rule of 3rds, Symmetry
• Balance
• Leading lines
• Abstraction
• Repetition
• Using Frames
• The Decisive Moment
• Texture
• Keeping it Simple
• Selective Focus
• Getting in close
• Splash of Color

This is a Three-Part class.

The first class will give you a broad foundation to begin the process of creating your own unique Black and White images. The second class will be an in-person photo walk in Boulder Colorado.

At the end of the first class, you will be given a homework assignment, and you will have two weeks to complete the assignment and join your classmates virtually for a critique and discussion about the images you took.

Class 1- will feature a 3-hour Lecture followed by 30 minutes Q&A with the instructor. (Live Online Event)

Class 2-. Photography walk: at Pearl Street Mall - Boulder, Colorado.

Class 3- will feature a 3-hour Critique with instructor. (Live Online Event).

This class is recorded for attendees to watch for up to 7 days after the event

‍Topics Include:

• History of Black and White and Color Photography.
• Input capture devices: (scanners, DSLR/Mirrorless interchangeable lens cameras (ICL), point & shoot cameras and cell phones.
• RGB and the Color Wheel and how Color influences black and white photography.
• Color Filters: (Red, Green, Blue, Yellow, and Orange).
• Density Filters: Neutral Density Filters (ND), Graduated Neutral Density Filters (GND).
• Other Filters: Infrared (IR), Sepia, and Graduated Color Filters.
• Software and Postproduction:(Lightroom).
• Composition: (Rule of 3rds, Symmetry, Balance, Leading lines, Abstraction, Repetition, Using Frames,
• The Decisive Moment, keeping it Simple, Selective Focus, Splash of Color, Getting in close).

Tuition: $199.00 (this is a small group class limited to 20 People).

Max Class Size 20

This Introduction to Black and White Photography Workshop is limited to 20 photographers. Participation is for those 12 years and older. Children under the age of 16 must be accompanied by a paying adult 21 years or older.

About Your Instructor: Brian Rabin

Brian is a certified photographic consultant and The Industrial Sales Manager at Mike's Camera in Boulder. Brian is a seasoned photographer and a lead instructor at Mike's Camera. He is well known for his enthusiasm and passionate instruction style and brings over 20 years of experience in various photographic disciplines including B&W photography, event photography, portraiture, macro, and street photography. His work has appeared in one-man shows, group exhibits and has been published in national and local magazines.

Registration, Dates, Times & Locations

Part 1:

Wednesday, May 15, 2024

6:30pm - 9:30pm (Mountain Time) - Virtual Lecture

Part 2:

Saturday, May 18, 2024

1:30pm -4:00pm (Mountain Time) - Walk Pearl Street Mall, Boulder CO

Part 3:

Monday, May 22, 2023

6:30pm - 9:30pm (Mountain Time) - Virtual Critique