A quiet revolution has been gathering pace in photography - an exploration of the subtleties, excitement and pleasure in making images in black and white. This is not a case of old traditions reasserting themselves, but rather a rediscovery of what imagery made purely out of tones can offer to the creatively curious. The fourth book in Michael Freeman's newest series, Michael Freeman On...Black & White is a clear and concise guide to a unique, enduring and very popular subset of photography. Broken down into chapters covering every type of monochrome photography, the book provides both a practical guide to working without the distraction colour, details of the unique challenges posed by a genre that is so defined by shape and light and the ways in which working in monochrome can hugely improve your photographic practice.

From timeless, elegant portraits to gritty, graphic street shots, the possibilities of black and white are endless, enticing, and exciting. Recognising this potential within every shot, and knowing the digital-editing tools and techniques to maximize its effect are essential steps to building up your photographic repertoire. Having first established the fundamental aesthetic choices that go into every B&W conversion, Michael Freeman goes on to review the noble tradition of black and white, detailing its numerous styles and fashions, with step-by-step instructions on how to achieve each effect, regardless of your particular software. Presented in a straightforward and easy-to-understand format, you will soon be able to both visualise exactly how you want your final image to appear, and achieve that signature look with efficient workflows and powerful conversion techniques. These skills open up new worlds of photographic opportunity everywhere you look, and encourage artistic growth just as much as they inspire you to try new styles and exciting treatments.

Designed by expert professional Michael Freeman, this complete course will let you take exceptional photos and develop a deeper understanding of what makes a great photo work. Inspired by the structure of a college course and the benefits of collective learning, in-depth lessons are punctuated by shooting challenges, encouraging you to get out and practice your new skills. Start by taking creative control of your images, learning the science behind exposure, getting comfortable with the full range of camera controls, and leaving Auto mode behind. Next, learn to read the light itself and capture consistently high-quality images even in the most difficult lighting conditions. Then take a step back and develop your photographic eye to recognize potential design and compositional choices, making the most of stunning scenes as they occur. Once you get back to your computer, wrap it up with a complete overview of the most important digital-editing techniques, cutting through the clutter and honing in on the tools and workflows that are relevant to your own photographic style. By the end of this course you will understand the principles of photography, you'll know what makes a successful photograph, and you'll have the skills to take excellent photos yourself.

Unlock the full potential of each and every image with reliable post-production techniques that will become a fundamental part of your photography. Using easily followed, step-by-step instructions, Michael Freeman demystifies the complexities of today's high-powered editing programs to provide you with effective digital workflows tailored to your particular photographic style, and using whichever editing programs you are most comfortable with. Begin by exploring the fundamental aspects of image optimisation, from fixing exposure and making colour adjustments, to sharpening and noise reduction - essential steps that elevate simple snapshots to stunning images. Then move on to explore the advanced possibilities of black-and-white conversion, panoramic stitching, HDR imaging, and more. Learn to recognise the right tools for the job, saving you time on the computer and ensuring each image gets the treatment it deserves. Whether you're salvaging an underexposed shot or building a composite of multiple images, these techniques will give your photography a professional and refined style.

Learn to "read" light in this complete course on the building blocks of photography. Michael Freeman teaches not only how to see the subtle nuances of light and shade, but also how your camera views and records them, to make sure you approach each scene with the optimal settings and appropriate technical know-how. Explore the different ways to approach and capture existing light - from sunlit outdoor portraits to the moody urban landscapes of artificial light - through a comprehensive overview of the many forms of lighting encountered by photographers of all genres. Then tackle the art of adding your own photographic lighting with straightforward, easy-to-grasp tips and techniques for operating your own flash and studio equipment. All the essential lighting accessories are covered, with an emphasis on getting the most out of each piece of gear. You will learn to coax stunning photos out of even the most challenging lighting conditions, and enhance your images by developing your own personal lighting style.

Drawing on over 40 years of practical experience, best-selling author and photographer Michael Freeman examines the most fundamental building-blocks of photography - light and shadow - bringing this key element of the picture-making process into the 21st century. In this book, Freeman takes a new and different view of photography's prime commodity, arguing that for the photographer, the rich and evocative world of shadows is the full equal of the actual light that casts them and bathes scenes. He defines the varied qualities of both light and shadows (of which there are at least ten distinct types), and shows how they have particular meaning and purpose. He also argues for integrating exposure and processing with an appreciation of light and shadow quality so as to have full and subtle control. Armed with this understanding and these techniques, the creative photographer can work with light and shadow to add depth and quality to imagery. - All new content from the master of photography guides - Concise and easy-to-follow format clearly explains the fundamentals of light and shadow - For the first time ever, both light and shadow are given equal weight in the discussion of photographic image-making - Real-life examples, clearly illustrated, cut through the jargon and show the theory of light and shadow in practice

Leave the Auto mode in the dust and take complete creative control of your images with this comprehensive guide to photography's most fundamental principles. Michael Freeman brings his years of experience to the table, teaching you all the professional techniques so you can nail the optimal exposure in-camera at the moment of capture, every time. Learn the particular nuances of shutter speed, aperture, and ISO, understand the specific ways in which they interact within each exposure, and master their usage to quickly and efficiently achieve your creative vision, regardless of the lighting conditions or subject characteristics. Get under the hood of your camera with an in-depth look at how each of its metering modes works, so you can know exactly how to find the best options and settings for each scene. Then review some of the most challenging exposure scenarios - from a bride against a shadowed background to the neon lights of city streets - all explained with reliable methods and established techniques for delivering stunning results.

Clear, direct and guaranteed, Perfect Exposure looks at the way professionals work, and lays out the decisions and sequences with absolute clarity, while incorporating the latest, powerful post-processing techniques. Choosing the exposure for a photograph is both alarmingly simple, and infinitely complex. Simple, because there is ultimately only one dosage of light, controlled as it always has been, by a shutter speed, aperture and ISO setting. But arriving at the perfect exposure is also complex, because it affects everything in the image and its effect on the viewer. There are endless subtleties in the brightness, readability and mood of every part of every scene, as the myriad of exposure decisions photographers take testifies. Understanding how and why exposure works is essential, not only because it helps you to decide what is instinctively "right". Perfect Exposure enables total confidence in that decision - an invaluable skill for every single photographer.

At some point, all photographers are called upon to shoot a proper portrait - combining technical skill with personable demeanour to capture someone in their best possible light. Michael Freeman teaches you how to achieve flattering portrait results with a variety of both traditional and modern styles. Learn how to set your subjects at ease and bring out their natural beauty with a friendly yet professional attitude. Feel confident giving directions on posing and stance with a thorough review of the classic approaches, from head-and-shoulder shots to full-length compositions, and everything in between. Take creative control of your portrait sessions by learning to manipulate the light to your own ends - whether that means bouncing sunlight o a reflector or building your own studio setups with multiple fl ash units. The complex science of photographic lighting is explained in straightforward and easy-to-understand language, with abundant and inspirational examples. Finally, master the fundamentals of post-production finishing techniques to make sure every portrait looks its absolute best. Your subjects will thank you for it!

Michael Freemanour top digital photography author and a worldwide namepresents the most comprehensive book yet on black-and-white digital photography. Oversized, beautifully illustrated, and far-reaching in scope, this guide is destined to be a standard reference for years to come. Freeman covers all aspects of black-and-white digital photography: its fine art tradition as well as its techniques. Learn how to see and expose in black and white, digitally convert color to monochrome, and develop a black-and-white digital workflow. Explore creative choices and how to interpret various subjects most skillfully in monochrome. Finally, get an expert s advice on printing and displaying black-and-white photographs to best effect. "