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Black And White Digital Photography Options
With black and white digital photography, photographers have three options to choose from. The first option is to shoot the pictures in black and white. Many cameras have the ability to shoot in monochrome and the user’s manual for the digital camera will instruct the photographer in how to use this function. The photograph will appear in the viewing window in black and white, so the photographer can see exactly what the picture will look like.
Some digital cameras will allow the photographer to change their images from color to black and white digital photography within the camera itself. This program creates a copy of the image and converts it into monochrome while still saving a copy of the image in full color. This allows the photographer to see the image both ways and choose which is best for their needs. Some images convert well to black and white digital photography while others are best viewed in full color.
The last option, which is used by many amateur photographers, is to print the photograph in black and white using a standard computer or photo printer. Although this is not true black and white digital photography, it accomplishes the same goal. The shading will not be as crisp as if the photograph was manipulated with a software program, but the images will be of an acceptable quality. A major disadvantage of this option is that you cannot view the image in black and white before printing the photograph.
Of the three options for black and white digital photography, shooting the photographs in black and white achieves the best results. This is also the best option for creating larger prints and portraits. There are many images that look very good in black and white digital photography, such as a bride in her wedding dress or classic landscapes. Whatever the reason it is being used, black and white digital photography can create wonderful images in a classic way.
Print in black and white: You can print black and white photos from those taken in color by using the Grayscale setting, available in your printer preferences menu.
All of these methods work well. However, if your goal is to create larger black-and-white prints, shooting in black and white will yield the best results.
Contrast—the difference between the light and dark areas in a photo—is an essential part of black-and-white photography. There are three levels of contrast that you can experiment with when you shoot:
High contrast means striking white and black tones, with minimal gray. It can heighten tension or add drama to photos.
Look for bright light and shadows (as in the image above) to shoot in high contrast.
Normal contrast provides the most "realistic" presentation of an image, where some things in the photo are light or white, some are dark or black, and some are in-between, or gray.
Contrasts that are strong in color, such as red against green, look about equal in black and white, making for normal contrast.
Low contrast keeps tones mostly in the mid-range, so there are lots of grays.
Atmospheric weather, such as fog, is perfect for shooting low contrast black-and-white photos.
Emotional occasions, such as weddings, are ideal opportunities to shoot black and white. And don't forget group shots—black and white shots mean that clashing clothing isn't a problem.
Black and white lends itself to a variety of subjects:
Texture and patterns: Try shooting interesting textures and lines, or patterns in nature. Details that are barely noticeable in color become more prominent and poetic.
Portraits: Baby pictures, wedding photos, family portraits—candid or posed—gain a classic quality when shot in black and white.
Landscapes: From the mountains to your backyard, outdoor shots look magnificent in black and white.
If you enjoy digital photography, you’ll no doubt realise the benefits of taking a course to learn more about your skills and polish them to be able to take better photos.
The problem is, most of us have very busy lives, and the needs of work, family and friends sometimes mean it’s hard to find the time to commit to a day long digital photography course.
So why not bring the digital photography course into your own home and invest in an internet course instead?
Why Take An Online Digital Photography Course?
There are many benefits to an online digital photography course. Perhaps the biggest advantage is that they are designed to be done in your own time, around your own existing commitments. This means you could quite easily do half an hour each night when you get in from work, for example.
Self paced courses such as this are no less informative and useful than college based courses however. You will be provided with in depth course materials – sometimes all based online, sometimes in book form, and sometimes a combination of the two – and you will also receive tutoring during the course, so you will know how well you are doing.
The better courses assign each student a personal tutor, who can advise on your progress and suggest ways to improve your photographic techniques. You can expect to pay a few hundred dollars for a course such as this, but an online digital photography course is usually very flexible and in depth.
You will also find that the majority of online photography courses offer an immediate start after you enrol. This is due to the nature of the course – it does not require lots of students to enrol before it can begin. Everyone works at a different pace and can start and finish the course at leisure.
A digital photography course lends itself very well to the internet as you can upload your photos for your tutor to view. This is much easier than having to post them off and wait for a response. Your tutor can view and comment on them almost instantly – it really is like a virtual classroom.
Help is also available if you run into problems – live chat or email responses can both help you to reach your goal of becoming a better photographer.
So if you think you can’t fit a course into your busy everyday life, think again – and switch your computer on.
Become A Better Photographer With Digital Photography Training
If your business relies on your photography skills to make a good impression, you might want to consider investing in some digital photography training to boost sales.
Many businesses need photographers to promote their goods and give their customers a good impression of the business they run. Realtors rely on photographers to make each house they sell look appealing to potential buyers, and editors of newspapers worldwide rely on photographers to sell their papers. Just think of all those iconic front page pictures we have seen over the years.
Digital photography training can increase your earnings, and if you work for yourself you may well find that investing in a course like this will pay for itself many times over in the long run.
If you are looking for employment as a photographer, it looks very good on your resume if you are able to say you have successfully completed a course in digital photography training. If this is the case, try and make sure you attend a reputable and preferably well known school to complete your training course.
What Type Of Courses Are Available?
Digital photography training is a term which covers many different courses. If you want to be a press photographer and see your photos on front pages worldwide, you will need to learn what makes a good photo – and more importantly, what makes a saleable photo.
Some companies also offer courses designed to train a team of staff members to become better photographers. There are many businesses that have benefited from this kind of in house training.
Digital photography training for realtors and property developers can result in the sale of more properties and sites, so it can be a very cost effective training session. It can sometimes be hard to photograph a less than perfect property and make it look appealing to potential buyers, but digital photography training in these areas can show a budding photographer how to make the most of what they have.
Many businesses and self employed people find that digital photography training can make all the difference between an average business and a highly successful one. If you are self employed, consider how a course could help you in your day to day working life.
Employees can always approach their boss to see if they would be interested in running a course for their workers. Once employers realise the advantages of having highly trained staff members, they usually see the benefits very quickly indeed.
