Everyone is invited to join in the Black and White Book Club (and Flash of Color February) for the month of February. The idea is to join a group of photographers in reading a relevant photography book during the course of a month, while also applying the techniques and strategies of the book to your daily photography.
For the month of February, we will be reading either Michael Freeman's The Complete Guide to Black & White Digital Photography or Michael Freeman Black and White Photography Field Guide. (The Field Guide is a slightly slimmed down version of The Complete Guide, but the vast majority of the text and examples are the same, just in a smaller, more conveniently-sized package. If you really want to stare at the subtle differences in some of the example images, however, I recommend the larger size of The Complete Guide.) You do not have to read the book to participate, but you will get much more out of the experience if you do. Your local library may have copies of the books (mine did), or they are available from many sites online, such as Amazon. (Full disclosure: if you buy a copy of either book on Amazon through a link on my web site ( www.boostyourphotography.com a small (very small) percentage of the sale will benefit Boost Your Photography.)
The Book Club will be broken down into weekly sections, and there will be a detailed post each week with thoughts and summaries about the relevant book sections and their possible applications to your photography. The following is an overview of the ideas and topics covered:
Week 1, Feb. 1-2:Black and White Photography as Fine Art – fine art or abstract photography
Week 2, Feb. 3-9:Black and White Photography as Normality – still life, landscape, street, portrait, architecture, journalism or documentary photography,
Week 3, Feb. 10-12 and 14-16:Elements of Visual Design in Photography – thinking about shape, structure, tone, volume, form, and texture
Feb. 13th:Flash of Color – an image processed with selective color to bring out only a specific color
Week 4, Feb. 17-23:Creative Choices in Exposure – exploring over- and underexposure, high key, low key, high contrast, and low contrast
Week 5, Feb. 24-28:Putting it All Together – a final week to go back to your favorite or most challenging ideas or styles of black and white photography. You can also explore topics not covered in the weeks above, such as Grain or High ISO photographs or HDR, Tone Mapping, and Adding Tints.
(Note: if you are concerned about 'selective color,' we will give tips later in the month about some free processing programs and apps to you can use to get that effect.)
Section Two of the books, Digital Monochrome, will not be included during a specific week. This section deals intensively with the processing side of black and white photography and how to achieve specific looks using post-processing software. I highly recommend reading or skimming through this section at the beginning and then using the relevant techniques or strategies as they apply to the final photographic look that you are trying to achieve for a specific image. (There are a wide range of free post-processing apps or programs that you can use, if you do not already have post-processing software. Some of these include Picasa, Gimp , Picmonkey (available through 365 after you upload), Snapseed for Android and Apple, and many more. You can also shoot black and white by setting your camera to its 'monochrome' setting and not doing any processing to your images.)
All are welcome, even if you do not want to commit to the full month and just join for a week or a few days.
Feel free to leave a comment if you're interested in participating. You can also visit my blog ( www.boostyourphotography.com ) and sign up to receive email updates, read it in your RSS reader, or be notified via Google+. Or you can 'like' the Facebook page ( www.facebook.com/BoostYourPhotography.com ) for updates. You can also join the Photography Book Club group on Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/groups/photographybookclub/ to participate with other photographers outside of 365.
Post a comment below if you want to be tagged in future 365 posts about the book club. Hope you'll join us!
@archaeofrog Just a shout out to Katie ..THANK you for doing this! The last book club was the most amazing learning experience.Thank you for organizing this!!!!! Shout out to newbies!!!! JOIN IN. I joined the book club almost right away when I joined and it was the most inspiring thing I have done here.
Thanks for tagging me Katie. I had so much fun last year with the flash I red, I think Ill do this again even though I've been absent for awhile. Thanks again!
Thanks so much for organising another of these book clubs, Katie. The August one was great - I learnt a huge amount. February is less easy for me, especially as I'll be away for one week - but I'll definitely participate for at least some of the time and have already sourced a copy of the book.
@archaeofrog So excited about the great response here! And so many remember Flash of Red- boy that made my day!! But yes! We need a tag. Do we want something that emphasizes the book club or something that emphasizes the flash of color? You pick!!
@olivetreeann :) Flash of Red was a flash of inspiration! Well-worth remembering. Hmm, for the last book club, we used a different tag each week, but I don't know whether that was really necessary. What about just bw-bookclub ? (There was a thread recently that there are problems using the & in tags.)
definitely in for flash of red... loved loved loved that last feb... not sure if i'll play in the book club aspect... i want to, and i'm going to check out the book... but my time is becoming increasingly eaten up by work and my husband is likely to have to do a bunch of travel for work in feb leaving me to juggle the kids' sports scheds on my own... (ok - ya'all probably didn't need to know all that, now did you? ;p)
I'm thinking about it. I loved doing flash of red but at times I got really tired of black and white. Will let you know how I decide. I also am loving the jan14words and like to keep going there
Wonderful response so far and keep 'em coming! (Feel free to tag friends you think might be interested too.) Even if you cannot find / read / have time for the book club part, you are encouraged to join for the various black and white themes and ideas.
A few of you were asking about a tag, so we've gone ahead and decided to go with " bw-bookclub " for the month, as an easy way for everyone to find and view each others' pictures.
@archaeofrog I've just ordered the book, so hopefully my black and white shots will improve! My month of Jan is b/w and love b/w but I think I'll learn lots from this...... What do we tag the photos?
I'm in. I've requested the book from my library. One I start it I'll probably decide to buy it but I'm usually a try before I buy kinda girl when it comes to non-fiction.
This sounds great especially since I've been looking for some structured way of learning more about photography! I'll probably order the book on Amazon!
@wanabe Hi Meredith, not at all. Last year we did black and white February without a book, and we still learned a lot. I will also be posting some insights and overviews each week that you can use too. I do hope you'll join us!
So excited that we are rapidly approaching February and the start of the Black and White Book Club! (I will be posting the first summary on Wed. to give everyone advanced time.)
I was curious, as we start, as to how people were planning to take and finesse their black and white shots. There is a great deal of advice and specifics for post-processing in the book, and I wasn't sure how strongly to feature it.
So, do you (plan to)
a) shoot in monochrome via your camera and use the JPEGs
b) shoot color JPEGs via your camera and change to monochrome using free software (like PicMonkey, Picasa, or various apps). Please say which program, if you know.
c) shoot in RAW (or RAW + JPEG) and use paid software (Photoshop/ACR, Lightroom, Aperture, Nix plug-ins, etc.) to finesse your final black and white. Please say which program(s), if you know.
Or something in between.
If it seems like there is high interest in the more advanced post-processing options, then I may go more in-depth on Section Two: Digital Monochrome for tips / techniques, etc.
I'm variable. I actually like the discipline of shooting in B&W but realize that that limits my processing options. I'll probably vary from day to day.
I will shoot in shoot color. Probably more JPEG but depending on the subject I may shoot RAW. I will then work on them in Lightroom. I also just got a version of Perfect Effects 8 for free so I will probably use that in tandem with Lightroom. I am very interested in the post processing section so I will be reading through that no matter how you handle it in the book discussion but I certainly understand your desire/need to limit the topics to more of the photography over processing. Thanks for putting this together, I'm really looking forward to it. I've joined the group in flickr and may try to get a couple friends there to join in as well.
I plan to shoot in colour RAW and muck around with Photoshop afterwards. I have only just started using photoshop so this assignment will be a way for me to learn more about it. Looking forward to staring :)
I will generally shoot jpgs in colour and use Lightroom and/or Photoshop to process… or if I’m away with just my iPad, Snapseed. But sometimes I find it better to switch the camera to b&w as colour can be distracting.
...Still waiting on my book to arrive...
Raw, Photoshop CC and ACR 8.3 as the primary tools. I plan to experiment with nik efex and DxO. Shooting in monochrome, and thus jpegs out of the camera with greyscale maps locked in seems so limiting.
Shooting in color, probably RAW & jpeg. I have access to Lightroom & Adobe CC but haven't learned to use them. I'll either push myself there or process jpegs with Topaz Adjust, Restyle, and/or B&W effects.
In the past I've shot in B/W, monochrome. But recently learned it's better shoot in color and convert. I don't see that it makes much of a difference with my camera, so I'll probably shoot in b/w.
I'll be shooting RAW and editing with View NX2, a basic software from Nikon. I had been planning on shooting in color and then converting to black and white, but I'm thinking twice about that; maybe shooting directly in b&w will help me shift into the mindset... In any case, I doubt my strategy will remain the same for longer than a few days at a time :)
I shoot in jpeg as don't have the option to shoot in RAW, usually in colour and use GIMP to process. I may try the camera b&w settings too to see how well they work, but I like the flexibility of having different ways to convert in GIMP.
Reading all the comments has inspired me to have a go at Flash of Red. I'm new to B&W so I'll have a shot at it at least part of the month. If I can get a copy of the book I'll follow your progress and learn something in the process.
May be a mix. I like to shoot in mono because it forces me to think in black and white, and also because I don't know much about editing, and haven't yet figured out how to change images from color to B&W in my editing programs (I have the three that came with my camera). I have been playing around with them a lot this month, so if I get it figured out, I will change my tactic. :)
I'll do a mixture, because I've never played around much with shooting monochrome. I usually shoot in RAW then process using Nik Silver Efex. I've loaded some B&W film into my film SLR and will also try that.
@archaeofrog I'll do whatever the group decides but I don't have the high end processing software that others are using. I use iPhoto or Picasa, shoot in JPEG and JPEG & RAW...color and then convert or monchrome...either way is good for me.
Just excited to get started!!!
@tasian Hey Ken, there is no "group decision." Everyone gets to do and shoot just how they please. The motivation behind the question was more that if everyone answered "I shoot in monochrome jpg and upload" then there is no point having a discussion of various post-processing techniques in Photoshop, for example.
I shoot in RAW, Manual everything, and if shooting specifically for a black and white shot, I put the monochrome overlay on, I also have magic lantern fitted to the Canon so I get a lot of choices, My only editing s/ware is Elements 11, which seems to be a useful processing package.
I've only shot in JPEG, in the past. I definitely want to try my B&W (and other manuals) setting on the camera and I'll probably edit in Paintshop and Picmonkey..
I shall shoot in RAW, in colour, then process in Lightroom. My book arrived a couple of days ago, and it looks really interesting. Will be good to have some direction in developing this aspect of photography.
I'll shoot in colour, mainly jpeg, though this could be the time to start building up my experience with raw. I'll use Photoshop or Snapseed for processing - looking forwards to it!
I'm in! I've ordered the book and should have it early in Feb. I will be doing (c), shooting in RAW, converting in Lightroom, and possibly doing extra finessing in Silver Efex or HDR Efex. I also have OnOne Perfect B&W which I might give a go. Might use Photoshop if there is any manipulation to be done.
I'll be shooting raw, using Lightroom/photoshop but it's all new to me..only really started this year shooting raw and using the above, so hopefully will learn lots :-)
I normally shoot in RAW and process in adobe raw/Photoshop with a bit of nik colour efex, (wish i had silver efex, but that is so awesome it feels like cheating !!!)
I may try shooting b&w in camera for some of the time, as I haven't used that feature of my camera before! I am not sure I will be able to do a whole month of mono, but we will see
My book has been ordered so I would like to join. I think I will try different approaches. I would like to use the monochrome setting on my camera. But, I would also like to shoot in color and then process it in elements 10 or the onone program I just downloaded.
@northy I like the instant gratification of Amazon!Hope you participate as you can..even a bit...you are my one of my favorite black and white photogs on the site!
@mzzhope awww tx Hope! really really really - i am not all that! and everything i've learned about photography, including black and white, is thanks to 365 :)
@archaeofrog Just to let you know I am still waiting on mine as it was eventually ordered when you started this discussion (I visited several places before someone let me order it). I checked today if it was in yet and was told that I had to wait till it was reprinted as there were none left. That could mean I will not have it for the whole month of February (although hopefully not).
@la_photographic Harumph! Bummer. I got worried when I first ordered mine (Barnes and Noble 'cause I had a gift card) as I got an email that it was ready and then immediately one saying it was delayed ... but it was only a few days. Weird! Hopefully they get their act together soon for you.
Just in case anyone is still trying to get a copy of the book I found the field guide from the publisher here in a pdf format. It looks good on my PC and on my ipad although I will say the pictures are not as vivid as they are in the book format of the Complete Guide (borrowed from the library). http://www.ilexinstant.com/product/the-black-and-white-photography-field-guide/
@wanabe Meredith, I have a dropbox account and I just saved it to my dropbox account and then was able to open it on my ipad from there. Hope that helps.
I have just seen this post and would like to participate in some way but may not be able to do the whole month. I normally shoot in colour and in Raw and use Photoshop Elements or Picasa 3, I also occasionally use Photomatix. I am willing to try black and white in the camera too. I have been trying to get a copy of the book here in Sydney but haven't had any joy so I am not sure when I order on line how soon it will come.
@archaeofrog I'm in. I'm waiting for the Complete Guide to be delivered, meanwhile I'll use the precious link suggested by Wendy @photohoot)
I shoot in RAW & JPG and process in PS CS6 extended.
@archaeofrog Katie thank you so much I would have bought the e book but have just ordered a copy from the UK about an hour ago. I couldn't track one down in Sydney and the shipping was so expensive from Amazon. Thanks for that. I am on Flickr so once I get back on there I will join the club on there. This is a great idea.
I'm in but feeling ridiculously scared of being totally over my head! Hey ho.... looking forward to learning lots! Thanks for all the work that you are obviously putting into all this, the summaries are really informative.
@clarita_71, forgive me for being a busybody, but I saw your comment on Richard's candle/mirror photo. The b&w bookclub is shaping up to be a great experience. This is the first post about the book club and it includes this phrase near the bottom of the initial post that should set your mind at rest: "All are welcome, even if you do not want to commit to the full month and just join for a week or a few days."
Am doing the flash of red but not the book club this time around as I feel I've left it too late. What do we tag the flash of red stuff with? Is it 'flash-o-red' like last year? Thanks
@jaynspain Hi Jayn, we've really combined the two, so there isn't a separate tag. People doing the book club are still encouraged to do the flash of red too, so the tag is just bw-bookclub .
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Wonderful response so far and keep 'em coming! (Feel free to tag friends you think might be interested too.) Even if you cannot find / read / have time for the book club part, you are encouraged to join for the various black and white themes and ideas.
A few of you were asking about a tag, so we've gone ahead and decided to go with " bw-bookclub " for the month, as an easy way for everyone to find and view each others' pictures.
Looking forward to a monochrome month!
So excited that we are rapidly approaching February and the start of the Black and White Book Club! (I will be posting the first summary on Wed. to give everyone advanced time.)
I was curious, as we start, as to how people were planning to take and finesse their black and white shots. There is a great deal of advice and specifics for post-processing in the book, and I wasn't sure how strongly to feature it.
So, do you (plan to)
a) shoot in monochrome via your camera and use the JPEGs
b) shoot color JPEGs via your camera and change to monochrome using free software (like PicMonkey, Picasa, or various apps). Please say which program, if you know.
c) shoot in RAW (or RAW + JPEG) and use paid software (Photoshop/ACR, Lightroom, Aperture, Nix plug-ins, etc.) to finesse your final black and white. Please say which program(s), if you know.
Or something in between.
If it seems like there is high interest in the more advanced post-processing options, then I may go more in-depth on Section Two: Digital Monochrome for tips / techniques, etc.
I am thinking about Nik fx
I am happy though to shoot in B&W via the camera.
I was planning to shoot in RAW and convert in Lightroom with maybe a bit of touch up in PSE.
...Still waiting on my book to arrive...
I'd like to try shooting mono as well though.
Just excited to get started!!!
I may try shooting b&w in camera for some of the time, as I haven't used that feature of my camera before! I am not sure I will be able to do a whole month of mono, but we will see
@northy I like the instant gratification of Amazon!Hope you participate as you can..even a bit...you are my one of my favorite black and white photogs on the site!
Great, and welcome! Have you seen the post with more details for the first two days? http://365project.org/discuss/themes-competitions/20886/bw-book-club-week-1-feb-1-2
Elaine, someone found a web site where you could order an ebook (PDF) version of the little book, I think if you'd be interested .... http://www.ilexinstant.com/product/the-black-and-white-photography-field-guide/
I shoot in RAW & JPG and process in PS CS6 extended.