Black and White Landscape Photography – 3 Part Workshop with Jack Curran

Online – July 22, August 19, and September 23, 2020

Classes are limited to 20 people per session

Description: This three part digital workshop will cover the full process of capturing dramatic black and white landscape photographs, from previsualization, through processing in Adobe Lightroom and producing the master print file.  While Jack will be using Adobe Lightroom for his demonstration, many of the same principles are applicable in the field and your personal choice of post-production tools.

Class #1: July 22nd, 2020, 6pm-7:30pm CST
Previsualizing the Final Outcome Via the Elements of Presence in B&W Landscape 

Jack will use live before and after transformation dissolves and a several on-screen pre-post production illustrations to effectively demonstrate each Element of Presence used during his infield visualization process. Additionally Jack will discuss how he connects his post-processing to his visualization process and field work. He will also run share a short on-location video from Patagonia’s Torre del Paine National Park and then a live demonstration in Adobe Lightroom of how he brought the visualized image to life from RAW file to a pre-print final file.

Elements of Presence

• Imagination – What you can’t see
• Flow and Range of Light – Short, Long, High-Key and Low Key Conditions
• Contrast – High and Low Contrast or In-Between (extended) Do you see it?
• Transitions – How light, shape and form. lines and atmosphere create depth and assist the viewer’s eye in exploring the frame
• Luminosity – The difference between Luminance & Luminosity
• Tension – In Subject Matter and  Light
• Mood – Will the image illicit an emotional connection? If not for the viewer – at least you!

Class #2: August 19th, 2020, 6pm-7:30pm CST
Expanding the Range of Light – You Don’t Need Epic Light to Create an Epic Photo in B&W – Post Processing In Adobe Lightroom

We will quickly review the instruction from Class #1

Jack will share his visualization process pre-shoot and then pick a few images to Post Process taken during Fog, Rain, Snow, overcast cloudy days, predawn, and twilight and do a live demonstration on how he expanded the range of light.

Building the base Working File

1. Review The Big Three – Radial, Adjustment Brush, Grad Filter
2. Thinking about the Emotional Connection before you start – Intent Elements of Presence
3. Demo range Mask and Erase tools
4. Talk through using the tools – Transitions, Contrast and Clarity, and Luminosity
5. Layering Techniques
6. Show mask usage
7. Build working file and virtual copies.

Class #3: September 23rd, 2020, 6pm-7:30pm CST
Building the Master Print File

We will quickly review the instruction from Class #2

Building the Master Print File

1. Walk away and come back with fresh eyes – Evolution
2. Review the Virtual Copies
3. Combine the best elements
4. Look for obvious overuse of tools
5. Thinking about the Emotional Connection – Intent Elements of Presence
6. Clean up final file histogram – Clipping- sharpness, noise,
7. Thoughts on printing, lighting, test printing, paper choice, Archival, editions?
8. Building Mini Portfolios

Time: Approx. 90 minutes per session

IPHF’s Virtual Workshop Series will be hosted on the Zoom Video Communications platform. Links to meetings will be provided after registration. Technical assistance will be available at IPHF by phone and email.

Please log in 15 minutes prior to the beginning of the lecture to verify connection.

Members $100/Non-Members $125 for All 3 Sessions

To be put on our wait-list, please call 314-535-1999 or email [email protected]

Individual Classes: Members $40/Non-Members $50 Each Class