Thinking in black & white

Before the days of digital images many photographers started shooting in black and white (B&W) and consequently learnt how colours translate into tones. With the arrival of digital cameras colour was the norm and affordable, and B&W photography moved towards art.

B&W photography can be really powerful. Colour can often distract and mask poorer compositions but in B&W there is no hiding so the other key elements of composition and design come to the fore – shape, line and pattern. Colours also appear as tones but not always the tone you expect.

On this workshop we’ll be looking at how to think in B&W instead of colour. First we’ll be looking at how colours reproduce as tones then we’ll be combining this with shapes, lines and patterns to make strong compositions.

This is a one-day workshop and during the day we’ll be learning how to choose a subject which will work well in B&W, using these important elements of composition and looking at how we can further control light, contrast and tone through use of filters.

Join me for a second day

You are invited to join me for dinner after the workshop and, if you’d like to, turn this one-day workshop in to two days. In the evening we’ll chat about the day and photography in general, then on the second day go out and shoot in B&W together, applying what we’ve learned and receiving feedback to improve your images.

Price: £175 per person

Additional day: £95 per person

Included in the price

• Tuition by Chris Coe
• Soft drinks and snack
• A wonderful location

Not included in the price

• All meals – we will eat locally or you can bring your own lunch
• Sundries
• Accommodation (if needed)

What to bring

Gear

• Camera with a lenses of your choice, from wide angle to telephoto
• Tripod (if you have one)

Wear

• Comfortable clothes
• Walking shoes or boots
• Waterproof and windproof jacket in case you need one

We’ll email more details to participants before the workshop.