Sunday, November 8 | 3:45 to 5:00 p.m. | Auditorium
Presentation Description
Want to turn your bland raw images into bold, timeless black & white masterpieces?
Black and white images aren’t just color photos without color – they’re their own language. In this presentation, we’ll begin by learning how to recognize which images have the structure, light, and subject clarity to make powerful black and white photographs. You’ll gain insight into what types of scenes lend themselves to monochrome and why.
From there, we’ll explore how to see in black and white by focusing on tone, texture, shape, and light. Using tools in Lightroom Classic, *Photoshop, and Silver Efex Pro, you’ll learn how to transform bland images into bold, dramatic monochrome interpretations. We’ll explore workflows that emphasize contrast control, tonal precision, and the emotional weight that great black and white images can carry.
We’ll also study iconic black and white photographs for inspiration and walk through real-world examples with side-by-side edits to reveal the full expressive range of grayscale. This presentation is ideal for photographers who want to move beyond basic desaturation and create black and white work that is timeless, striking, and deeply personal.
You’ll learn about:
- Choosing strong B&W candidates from your catalog
- Understanding tone vs. color in visual storytelling
- Using the B&W mix and tone curve tools in Lightroom
- Enhancing shape and texture with clarity and contrast
- Local adjustments for mood: darkening skies, lightening subjects
- Split toning for subtle warmth or coolness
- Silver Efex Pro workflows for dynamic range and film looks
Presenter Information
Joe Brady is a full-time professional photographer, educator, author, photo workshop leader and studio owner. One of his great joys is to see photographers in his presentations have that “Ah-Hah!” moment leading them to capture beautiful images consistently. HIs company, Land, Sea & Sky, produces image editing and processing training videos, runs photo workshops around the U.S. and offers Photo-Centric Guided Vacation Tours in Western Europe and more. In addition, Joe has two online Live Shows – The Photography Kitchen Episodes are offered twice each month, and Deep Dive Photography Classes once or twice a month. These interactive classes are available by subscription from Joe’s website – www.joebradyphotography.com
Joe is involved with many photo industry leaders, including as an X-Rite Coloratti, a Nissin FlashMaster, a FotoPro Ambassador, an author on LinkedIn Learning. He holds both Master of Photography and Photographic Craftsman Degrees from the Professional Photographers of America.
As a producer and presenter, Joe creates and delivers educational videos for photo and audio industry companies. This includes Nissin, Hensel, X-Rite, Sekonic, Novoflex, Rokinon, Ilford, Fotopro, Tascam, Zoom, Saramonic, and others, totaling over 3.5 million views to date.
A recipient of the Fuji Masterpiece Award for his landscape photography, and a former member of a member of Sony’s Artisans of Imagery, Joe teaches photography workshops around the world, specializing in scenic and panoramic landscapes and environmental, location and studio portrait photography. Joe switched over to OM Systems cameras two years ago and treasures the quality, size, and weight – all of which are so important for someone who travels widely and frequently!
