The Black & White Course
© Julia Dean
This six-week course is for intermediate photographers who want to concentrate on the art and technique of seeing and shooting in black & white. One of the workshop’s primary goals is to help participants thoroughly understand exposure, whether using negative film or digital; each requires different ways of exposing. Once participants have a solid grasp on exposing with a reflected light meter, Julia will introduce the zone system (for 35mm users). Further lectures will center on ISO choices, how to improve composition, when to use what lenses, how to use a tripod, and how to see light. Filters will also be discussed as they pertain to the black & white medium. In addition, the topic of printing will be covered thoroughly, both with traditional paper choices and with digital paper choices. A representative from Freestyle, one of the biggest camera stores in the nation for traditional photography, will join the class to demonstrate the many different paper choices currently available. Digital paper choices will also be shown and discussed.
Each week the lecture includes examples of photography’s different genres, as well as a lesson in the history of photography. The genres covered are portrait, nude, landscape, still life, documentary, photojournalism, and street photography. One lecture covers the movement of “pictorialism” while another is about self-expression, with a self-portrait as that week’s assignment. There will be a critique each week of the previous week’s assignment. The objective is to truly understand exposure and to work toward creating a personal vision and style that will result in a body of cohesive work.
Experience with exposure in both the film and digital medium is encouraged. Open to film and digital users alike.
Julia Dean is the director of the Julia Dean Photo Workshops. Throughout her career, she has traveled to more than 40 countries while freelancing for numerous relief groups and magazines. She is also the author/photographer of the children’s book, A Year on Monhegan Island. Julia received a Bachelor of Science degree in photography at the Rochester Institute of Technology and a Master of Arts degree in journalism at the University of Nebraska. She began her career as an apprentice to famed photographer Berenice Abbott. Later, Julia was a photo editor for the Associated Press in New York.
She has taught for 24 years at such places as the University of Nebraska, Los Angeles Valley College, Los Angeles Southwest College, Santa Monica College, the Santa Fe Workshops, the Maine Photographic Workshops and the Julia Dean Photo Workshops.
