The Why Behind Black and White

With every session I deliver, I turn a portion of the photos black and white.  Here's how I determine what I turn black and white and why!

1. To focus attention

Sometimes there is a lot of color and elements going on in the photo and the black and white helps focus the attention back down to the person or central focal point of the photo.

2. To show the emotion

There is something about black and white that conveys an emotion and feels deeper and more timeless in black and white.  (especially if the subject is not looking at the camera)

3. Great contrast

If there is great contrast in a photo it is even more exaggerated in black and white and gives more power to the overall photo.  

4. To hide bad lighting or color

Sometimes black and white is the answer to conceal bad or mixed lighting.  If the DJ goes too crazy with colored lights or there is a hard mix of warm and cool light, black and white takes away that issue instantly!

5. Give something a timeless feel

Black and white is often associated with "old" since that is once all there was!  Black and white often feels more timeless and that it could be 1800 or 2018 and if still feels the same.

Using your Camera: Classes and Resources

You have your camera- great!  Now how do I learn how to use it?

There are some great online classes and resources that I check out regularly:

• Creative Live
• Lynda.com (most libraries offer free online access!)
• Digital Photography School

For the Washington DC area, there are some great local classes:

• I love Washington Photo Safari because it's combining photography and seeing DC!
• Capital Photography Center has some great classes as well!
• Smithsonian Associates also offers some photography classes!

I also teach personal classes either as an individual or for a small group!  Contact me for more info and pricing!

Buying a Camera: 5 Things to Consider

I get this question a LOT!  
I want to step up my game and buy a “real” camera, but what should I get?

It’s a great question, but to answer it, you have to ask yourself a few questions first!

How am I going to use the camera?

Is this for travel?  Or is it to try and capture shots of your kids and family?  Or do you love nature and want to capture some beautiful landscapes?  This will effect the size, speed and lens choice that you need to make.

What do I need the camera to do best?

Is it important to shoot fast to catch those instant moments of your kids?  Or not be too obtrusive for street photography?  Do you need a long range lens so you can capture things far away?  Are you planning to do some heavy editing and you want the ability to adjust your images after the fact?  Is video important?  Will you be shooting in dark situations?

How much control do I want?

Does the idea of manual mode scare you or excite you?  If you want to learn how to make the camera do you what you want, you want to be able to adjust those controls.  If the thought of constantly adjusting aperture, ISO and shutter speed makes your head spin, you want a good automatic camera to make the right choice for you in the moment.

What am I going to do with the photos?

Do you have a ton of storage space for your photos and you plan on editing each one?  Or no computer at all? Or do you want to just download the photos and be done?  Or to they need to wirelessly transfer to your phone?  

How much am I willing to spend?

This is the big question, as the sky is the limit and that price can snowball very fast!  Understanding your budget and what is possible within that budget is good to know as you start researching!  With photography, you do get what you pay for.  There are ways to stay budget friendly, but also know that good quality does not come cheap and equipment is an investment!

Have you thought about your answers and need direction?  Shoot me an email and I’d be happy to help provide some direction!