Recap of Presentation from Dec. 2nd Speaker Night
by Lewis Katz
Capture
Shoot what you love. An emotional connection to your subject matter is important in creating more emotive and powerful images. Tap into your own life’s experiences and emotions to discover subjects that are personally meaningful to you. Also look at other photographers work and see what resonates with you. Black and white is especially effective in conveying mood and emotions such as timelessness, drama, power or the lack of power, elegance, loneliness, sadness, passion, anger and mystery. Keep in mind that placing people, or animals, into graphic compositions adds emotion and vulnerability to the overall feel of the image. Remember that we associate color with specific emotions which may interfere with the message of your image. In general I associate color imagery with more positive emotions and black and white images with more negative emotions. But always shoot color files and convert them into black and white in a software program.
Post Processing
Post processing should be a means to an end. You should have an idea, a roadmap of sorts, of where you want to take the image and what changes need to be made to reach your goal of an emotive and dramatic image. By using this method, instead of just random adjustments to random images, you will be more careful and deliberate in the field in identifying why something caught your eye and the potential emotional connection you are trying to create. Contrast is almost always vitally important in most black and white images – do not be afraid of using pure blacks and pure whites within the composition to create this contrast. However contrast can also be created by different elements within the image, texture, shape and scale or size.
I use an Epson printer and find that the Epson Advanced black and white driver gives me very consistent and accurate renditions of the image on my monitor. Be sure to calibrate your monitor at least every six months or less. Paper choice is also very important and a matter of personal taste. I find that baryta paper which is fibre based produces great black and white prints. Please be sure that the correct paper profile is loaded onto your computer and that you choose the correct paper profile when printing. If you have Lightroom Classic use the soft proofing in the Develop module.
Education Opportunities
I also offer individual instruction via Zoom at a rate of $50.00 per hour. This is a great way to learn a software program like Lightroom as editing and learning “on the fly” is possible via a Zoom virtual class. To make the rate more affordable see if other members of your club are interested in learning a specific subject(s). Please then contact me through my site www.lewiskatzphotography.com for details on a customized course to meet your needs and a price quote. Please also contact me at olympus21209@yahoo.com to be added to my email mailing list so that you will be advised of all upcoming events, courses and webinars.