THIS WORKSHOP IS SOLD OUT

Black and White Photography: It’s About Tones will show you how to take, create, and print stunning black and white images. You will learn how to choose an appropriate subject, compose your image, calculate the exposure, and process and print your image. The workshop includes classroom instruction, field work in Shenandoah National Park and the surrounding area, and practice in the digital darkroom.


In the early days of the digital revolution, it was difficult to print true, neutral black and white images. Over the past few years, software and printers have improved to the point that black and white images can be printed now that rival silver halide images. With this new technology, there has been a resurgence of interest in black and white photography.

This class will provide you with the basic skills necessary for capturing, processing, and printing stunning and compelling black and white images. The workshop will include instruction on the basics of capturing images and converting them to black and white, time in the field capturing images, and an opportunity to print black and white images.

Blue Ridge Workshops
elliot stern



Tentative Agenda for
Black and White Photography: It’s All About Tones
March 19, 20, and 21, 2009

Brian J Zwit and Ray Boc

NOTE: All non-field events will be held at the
Link Community Center, 12018 Lee Highway, Sperryville, VA 22740.

Friday, March 19, 2010

12:00 noon    Introductions
You should bring your lunch with you or eat before arriving at the community center.

12:30 pm    All About the Weekend
Brian and Ray, your instructors for the workshop, will review the schedule for the weekend and answer any questions that you might have about the workshop.

12:45 pm    Capturing Stunning Black and White Images
Brian will discuss how black and white photography differs from color photography, using his own work and the work of some of the masters. He will cover, among other topics, choosing appropriate subjects for black and white images, thinking in tones rather than color, and composing images.

2:30 pm    White Oak Forge, Ltd and Nol Putnam
We will travel to the White Oak Forge outside of Sperryville to photograph Nol Putman, a modern-day blacksmith, as he takes iron and turns it into works of art. The photographic opportunities are boundless and include his tools, heated metal, flying sparks as he works metal, the forge itself, and his finished and unfinished pieces.

5:00 pm    Hotel Check-in and Dinner on Your Own


Saturday, March 20, 2010

6:00 am    Meet at the Entrance to Shenandoah National Park on Highway 211

7:00 am    Big Meadows, Shenandoah National Park
We will leave for Big Meadows promptly at 6:00 am from the Thornton Gap entrance to Shenandoah National Park on US 211. It is a twenty mile drive to Big Meadows and we want to be there well before sunrise. The sunrise over the meadow is not to be missed. There will be opportunities to photograph the “grand” landscape as well as focus on rock formations, individual trees-dead and alive and, with a little luck, wildlife.

Noon        Lunch and Image Editing
Students should eat lunch or pick up lunch before returning to the community center. Please bring a laptop along with your image editing software of choice for converting your images to black and white and a flash drive to provide images to the instructors for your critique.

1:00 pm     Converting Images to Black and White and Printing Images
Brian will demonstrate a number of ways to convert color images to black and white photography and discuss the advantages and disadvantages of each. He will also demonstrate how to print black and white images, which will include a discussion of printers and what papers are best for black and white.

2:00 pm    Practice and Printing
The rest of the afternoon will be spent working on your images, including editing and converting to black and white and printing your images. (We will have two printers set up for your use.) The instructors will be available for questions and assistance.

5:00 pm    Critiques and Questions and Answers
Brian, Ray, and your fellow photographers will review some of your images from the previous evening and earlier in the day. We will critique the image on screen as well as any prints.

6:00 pm    Thornton River Grill
We have made reservations at the Thornton River Grill for those in the class who would like to dine together. The restaurant is very popular locally and is one of the best in the area. Separate checks will be available.


Sunday, March 21, 2010

7:15 am    Meet at the Link Community Center, Sperryville, VA

7:30 am     A Barn, a Cemetery, and Some Local Attractions
We will meet at the Link Community Center for a short drive to our first shooting locations of the morning, an old barn and a cemetery. After the cemetery, we will return to the Link Center and walk to some local locations to photograph barns, buildings, and other subjects.

11:00 am    Displaying Your Images
Back at the Link Community Center, we will discuss how to display your images. A step many photographers take for granted but which can make or break an image.

11:30 am    Practice and Printing
The rest of the morning and early afternoon will be spent working on your images, including editing and converting to black and white and printing your images. Students can take a break to walk into Sperryville to eat lunch or pick up lunch. The instructors will be available for questions and assistance.

2:00 pm    Critiques and Questions and Answers
Brian, Ray, and your fellow photographers will review some of your images from the previous days and earlier in the day. We will critique the image on screen as well as any prints.

3:00 pm    Workshop Ends

Note: While Blue Ridge Workshops has planned this agenda carefully, some factors are out of our control, including the weather and construction. If we need to change the agenda for any reason, we hope that you will be understanding and work with us to make the workshop a positive experience for you and your fellow students.

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