A strong black-and-white landscape image moves far beyond the picture-postcard pretty to challenge our way of seeing the world. A solid understanding of exposure metering is key to creating the image you imagine, be it misty woods at dawn, stormy skies, fast flowing streams or grassy fields. Through a series of lectures, examples and shoots you will learn the tips and tricks of effective exposure, as well as learning about filters that can enhance the skies, foliage, water and other elements of landscape.
Deepening your understanding of compositional principals will allow you to use the pieces of the landscape as strong, graphic elements, creating images that are dynamic and alive, still and contemplative, always visually intriguing. As you gain greater control of the image making process you will be able to convey your unique emotional response to a landscape on film. Film from all shoots except the Sunday shoot will be processed in time for critique during the weekend.
Required Equipment:
A 35 mm camera, capable of "centre-spot" exposure metering is preferred. If you have an older model camera, don't worry we will explain alternative methods of metering. Bring the camera information booklet.
A sturdy tripod
A zoom lens with a "wide angle" capability (e.g. 30-70 mm or wider) or a wide angle fixed focal length lens plus a "regular" 50 mm fixed focal length lens
A plastic shower cap for camera protection (in case of rain)
A "penlight" flash light for viewing camera controls at dawn and dusk
6 (or more) rolls of 35 mm film, either T-Max 400 CN or Ilford XP2 super; since these black and white films are developed by the rapid C41 processing
Pocket notebook (or pocket tape recorder) for keeping information on camera setting, scene location and weather conditions for each picture
18% reflectance grey card
Optional Equipment:
A camera shutter release cable for cameras that accept it.
About 12 feet of nylon cord (for camera support and to tie back branches)
Camera bag (back pack is preferable) to stow and carry photographic equipment
Any lens filters suitable for black and white film - circular polarizer, yellow #8, red #25, neutral density (0.3, 0.6), graduated neutral density filter
Lens cleaning cloth (lens tissue or micro-fibre cleaning cloth)
Camera repair tools - eye glass repair screwdriver, Allen wrench, Swiss Army knife, Sharpie marker pen,
Small brush or old tooth brush (for cleaning camera body and tripod)
Insect repellent, sun screen, rain gear, hat, sturdy shoes or boots, hiking clothes
General Course Outline:
Friday evening:
7:30 - 10:30 pm
snacks, introductions, Crieff meal times, film development arrangements
background of instructors and slide show of 6 - 10 images of their work
slide show of work of famous landscape photographers and their styles
restate agenda for the weekend
Saturday:
8:30 - 9:30 am
Breakfast
9:30 - 10:30 am
Lecture/talk on exposure control and the zone system
10:30 - 12:30
Field experience using zone system to place tonal values
Hand in film for development
12:30 - 1:30 pm
Lunch
1:30 - 2:30
Lecture/talk on principles of composition and "light" in B&W photography
2:30 - 5:30 pm
Field assignments on composition at designated sites on Crieff property
Hand in film for development
5:30 - 7:30 pm
Dinner and relaxation time
7:30 - 10:30 pm
Snacks and review of pictures from morning's zone system assignment
Sunday:
Pre-dawn
dawn, sunrise photography "shoot" at Valens Conservation Area (small lake)
8:30 -9:30 am
Breakfast
9:30 - 11:00 am
Relaxation and review of pictures from Saturday afternoon's field assignment on composition
11:00 - 12:30
Lecture/talk on creativity in landscape photography - approaches, filters
12:30 - 1:30 pm
Lunch
1:30 - 3:30 pm
Field excursion photographing participant's choice
Note: film used in this session will not be developed in course, however, participants may send up to three of their best images later as e-mail attachments for comments and suggestions.
3:30 - 5:00 pm
Wrap-up discussion and course feed back and suggestions
