December 1, 2007

Dear Reader,

This issue of Insights quickly follows the last with the same theme. Consider them a double issue on the theme of Black and White - capture, conversion, adjustment, printing, materials and aesthetics.

21st century tools (and relatively recent developments in the industry) prompt a reconsideration of black and white imagery. This impacts both workflow and ways of seeing. You'll see I have a different perspective on the subject than many. It comes from my personal history - being around some of the greatest black and white photographers all my life, often watching their work reproduced both in the darkroom and on offset presses, and being trained as a painter. I've encapsulated my insights on the subject and my personal techniques in writing.
New black and white PDFs are posted - B&W Conversions Complex, B&W Pallettes, Adding Color, and B&W Expanding Definition. These complement the last issues offerings - B&W Adjustment Layer, B&W Dual Adjustment Layers, and Seeing in B&W.

Additional black and white resources from my column (R)Evolution are featured in the last, current, and next issues of Digital Photo Pro magazine will soon be posted on DigitalPhotoPro.com. You can read many of my past contributions on masking posted there now. I highly recommend them!

An excerpt from David Willis' DPP feature on black and white printing has been posted.

I've posted the first audio excerpt from a conversation with my father (one of the greatest black and white silver gelatin printers in the history of the medium) on black and white.

Also, I've noted Galleries of my work that highlight neutral (Fumo) and semi-neutral (Allies) work as well as the Statements I've made about the series.

You can learn these techniques, hands on, in an intimate environment with state of the art equipment, in my upcoming studio workshops.

Black & White Mastery (next date January 28 - Feb 1, 2008) is a special variant of my most popular workshop The Fine Digital Print I (next date April 28 - Mar 2, 2008) - a continually evolving workshop now in it's 12th year. What's the difference between the two. Black & White Mastery covers the same material with more emphasis on black and white aesthetics. Also, due to poplular demand, I'm offering a new workshop - The Fine Digital Print II (next date Feb 4-8, 2008). It's the follow up to The Fine Digital Print I. What's the difference between the two? FDP II is more advanced, tailored to individual participants, involves extensive reviews of work both brought and done during the week, encourages more collaboration and feedback with other participants, discusses presenting and marketing your work, and emphasizes printing a larger number of exhibition quality prints. 15% early registration discount for B&W Mastery and FDP II ends 12/4. If you'd like to take either workshop, register now - space is limited. They're filling fast.

My annual print offer, made exclusively to Insights subscribers, features one of my most popular images from a recent trip to Antarctica. Quantities are limited. Orders are filled on a first come first serve basis. The offer ends January 3.

Check the last issue of Insights for more black and white resources. (If you're a new subscriber you'll find the recently posted PDFs listed on the Downloads page. The Library homepage will also direct you to recently posted articles and interviews.)

Finally, every year I award a free workshop to for one lucky individual. When you recommend Insights to others, you receive one chance to win per referral. With over 100 free downloads (and many more resources) every subscriber is a winner. The 2007 award will be made at the end of the December. My gift to you can be your gift to others. Pass it forward!

Stay tuned for more soon!

John Paul
__________________________________________________________
In this Issue...
Creativity - Passive and Active
Workshop - B&W Mastery 
Workshop - The Fine Digital Print II  
Technique - B&W Channels As Layers  
Technique - B&W Palettes  
Technique - B&W Adding Color  
Technique - B&W Expanded Definition  
Technique - If You Can See It, It's Color  
Statement - On B&W Printing  
Statement - B&W Printing  
Gallery - Fumo  
Gallery - Allies  
Resource - DPP.com  
Special Offer - Print

__________________________________________________________


Creativity
Passive and Active States Are Equally Important

The origin of ideas is one of the great mysteries of the mind. Though they can identify many of the processes involved, classic patterns, and mechanisms for triggering them, modern psychology and even the great spiritual traditions cannot fully explain them. It's said that Mozart and Shakespeare wrote their masterpieces fully formed without editing. Their art was in them already. All they had to do was listen. And write. This was as much a mystery to them as it is to us.

If mystery isn't present your process isn't inspired - a living breathing thing. Mystery opens the way for discovery, insight, and breakthroughs.So, how do you develop what you can't define? Celebrate it. Cultivating curiosity will help you become ready for discovery.Attention reveals. Non-judgementally, be aware of your process as it unfolds. You may even want to make note of essential components and processes as you become aware of them. Become aware of and develop your awareness of your creative process. Make a lifelong study of this profound mystery that you are a part of.

"Being" receptive may not seem like "doing" anything but it's the most important part of your creative process.
__________________________________________________________


Workshop
Black & White Mastery
Jan 28 - Feb 1

Black & White Mastery is a special variant of my most popular workshop. The Fine Digital Print I. Like FDP 1, it provides a solid overview of color management, surveys current media, outlines a fine art workflow, demonstrates optimum sharpening and noise reduction, teaches sophisticated selection and masking techniques, and much more. It does all this with a more specific and in depth focus on black and white imagery. You'll never see black and white images in quite the same way again. Many myths about black and white are disrupted. Many new expressive possibilities are explored. You'll not only learn to make the finest digital prints possible, you'll see photography in a new way. After all, it's the 21st century and the medium of photography is experiencing the most significant paradigm shift in its history right now. Learn to put this new found power to work for you and your images in this workshop.

Next date Jan 28 - Feb 1, 2008.
Only 4 spaces remain.
15% early registration discount ends October 8.
Register today!

Learn More
Register
__________________________________________________________


Workshop
The Fine Digital Print II
February 4 - 8 T

his is the most advanced printmaking workshop I've ever taught. The knowledge base outlined in The Fine Digital Print I is assumed. Lightning fast reviews get participants on the same page. This allows us to address even more advanced techniques, such as addressing the limits of color management and rediscovering the lost art of proofing. This also allows us to be more creative, putting the tools to use for each individual's unique sensibilities. There are no formulas here, only dynamic strategies for solving problems in unique ways. In addition we'll discuss presenting and marketing your work. Extensive reviews of individual participants work sets the stage for our collaborative efforts.

Identify what's unique about your vision, start producing a refined body of work, and leave with exhibition quality prints in this workshop. You'll not only produce the finest digital prints possible, you'll see your images in new ways.Next date December 3 - 7, 2008. Only 2 spaces remain. 15% early registration discount ends December 4. Register today!

Learn More
Register
__________________________________________________________


Technique
B&W Conversions
Channels as Layers


For the ultimate in control, try this advanced black and white conversion technique.

Read




__________________________________________________________

Technique
Color Theory
B&W Palettes

There are many ways, not just one, to structure distinctive black and white palettes. This PDF defines all the classics.


Read



__________________________________________________________

Technique
Editing
B&W Add Color


Adding color (or "toning") black and white images can add new expressive dimensions to your images. Learn how here.

Read



__________________________________________________________

Technique
Color Theory
B&W Expanded Definition

In the 21st century black and white images start with color capture, remain in color during editing, sometimes have color added back in, and often end with color output. This demands a reconsideration of the too easily drawn lines between color and black and white. Find out more in this PDF.

Read __________________________________________________________

Technique
Color Theory
If You Can See It It's Color

Color is a physical, biological, and psychological response. It's what we do with vibrations. Any visual response is color - including neutral colors like black and white. Learn more in this PDF.

Read

__________________________________________________________

Audio
Father & Son
Paul Caponigro & John Paul Caponigro
On Black & White

This excerpt is the first of a new series of audio excerpts. This one is on the power of black and white. They're all both entertaining and insightful.

Listen

Also, read our first father & son conversation ever published.

Read
__________________________________________________________

Statement
Black & White Printing

For his upcoming article on black and white printing in Digital Photo Pro, David Willis asked many top professionals working in the field to share their insights on the subject. Here's the full exchange we had, which will no doubt be excerpted for publication.

Read

_________________________________________________________

Galleries
Fumo

This gallery features neutral images, an extremely simple, abstract, and effective palette.

View

Read the accompanying statement to learn more.

Read

__________________________________________________________

Gallery
Allies

This series uses complex semi-neutrals to separate spatial relationships and add a uniquely expressive dimension.

View

Read the accompanying statement to learn more.

Read
__________________________________________________________

Resource
(R)Evolution
Digital Photo
ProDigitalphotopro.com

The last, current, and next issues of Digital Photo Pro feature a set of articles that give a grand overview of black and white techniques and insights.

You can find many of my previous contributions to the publication in my column (R)Evolution posted online at Digitalphotopro.com.

Read
__________________________________________________________

Special Offer
Print

Once a year, I make a special print offer available to insights subscribers only.

You can purchase an 11x14" limited edition pigmented ink print (Epson K3 on Epson UltraSmooth Fine Art Paper sprayed with Print Shield) signed and matted for 50% off list price ($1,000) - $500 plus shipping.

This year's featured image is Antarctica XXXVIII taken on my February 2007 voyage. Read more about the voyage here. See more images here.

Act now, you'll never get a better deal on my prints. The edition is limited to 50. Print orders will be filled on a first come first serve basis. All major credit cards are accepted. Offer expires January 3, 2008. To reserve your print email jpc@johnpaulcaponigro.com.
__________________________________________________________

Previous Issue

Check out the previous issue's B&W resources ...
Seeing in B&W
B&W Adjustment
LayerB&W
Dual Adjustment
LayerAdvanced B&W Photo

Read

_________________________________________________________

No comments: