A Masterclass in the Aspects of Monochrome

Step into the evocative world of monochrome photography with Leigh Preston. This masterclass will help you master the art of creating impactful black-and-white images. Gain insights into composition, storytelling, and the use of light to create striking photographs.

Morning Session: Mastering Light and Composition

• Visualise an image without the colour and what happens when you lose the colour.
• Light affects a scene: making the most of shadows; how it affects contrast; and how highlights can be managed when they are seen as greys.
• Visualise colours as shades of black and how to look at grey tones to give an image structure and how these can create lines and shapes in a composition.
• Visualise the geometry of a composition with lead-in lines and vanishing points, repeating patterns, and triangles, and how to make the most of the directions these linear features create.
• Pre-visualise your final image and how that can alter the dynamics, depth, and feel of a piece of work: where are you going to crop? Which areas of lights and darks will you want to emphasise?
• Decide on the image key and how to use the histogram to create high- or low-key images.
• Learn how various weather conditions influence an image by understanding how the angle, direction, time of day, and sky affect light, and how to master exposure techniques to handle these conditions.
• Make the right equipment choice for the photo that you have in mind.

Afternoon Session: Mastering the Processing of Mono Images

• Assess your image for a mono image.
• Consider contrast, where the colours will be interpreted as tones and the strength of that tone.
• Add and subtract detail, tone, light, etc.
• Make adjustments to levels, dealing with brightness, true black and true white.
• Fix distractions and defects.
• Deal with noise - should we take it out, reduce, or even add some for that 'darkroom' grain effect?
• Add effects using special effects, Lith, over/under exposure, and extra contrast to add mood and how to control it.
• Add your personal stamp on the final image.

About Leigh Preston

Leigh is a distinguished photographer renowned for his evocative imagery that captures the essence of the British landscape and industrial heritage. He developed an early passion for photography, leading to a career spanning several decades. Leigh's work is characterised by its atmospheric quality, often highlighting the interplay between natural environments and human influence. His photographs have been widely exhibited and published, earning him recognition within the photographic community. In addition to his personal projects, Leigh is dedicated to education, conducting workshops and lectures to inspire emerging photographers. His commitment to the craft and unique artistic vision have solidified his reputation as a significant figure in contemporary photography.

Find out more about:

Leigh at www.leighpreston.co.uk

Colchester Photographic Society at https://colchesterphotosoc.co.uk

Messing Village Hall https://messingvillagehall.org.uk