National
Geographic Photography Field Guide: Digital Black & White
de Richard Olsenius
Book Description
Veteran National Geographic photographer, photo editor, and filmmaker
Richard Olsenius provides a compelling case for capturing the essence
of people and landscapes through black-and-white photography, and shares
his secrets to mastering the craft and the latest technology. This 160-page
guidebook is as much about "how to visualize a story in black and
white" as it is about the technical aspects of photography. Finding
black and white in a world of kaleidoscopic color, seeing the essential
form, structure, or meaning in a subject, requires "a special way
of seeing."
The
guide covers the advantages of different camera formats, lenses, and
light filters for different types of photography. The goal is to aid
new or developing photographers in choosing the best camera and equipment
for achieving their objectives. A section on light and film provides
tools and advice on how to use light and various films to provide a
palette of tone and brightness in the final photographic image. A master
printer in both color and black and white, Olsenius provides numerous
suggestions on both digital and darkroom techniques for printing the
final image. The guide is filled with 120 photographs illustrating the
techniques addressed in each chapter.
In
addition, the work of four noted photographers is included in the guide,
along with interviews describing their reasons for shooting in black
and white. They include Father Don Doll, who has worked most of his
career photographing Native Americans and produced a number of stories
for National Geographic Magazine. Brian Peterson is an award-winning
newspaper photographer for the Star Tribune in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Marion
E. Warren is a noted photographer who at 84 is best known for his work
on the Chesapeake Bay. Nick Kelsh is a commercial photographer and art
director who works in advertising and has produced several specialty
books using black-and-white photography.
Additional
information on displaying and storing photography is included in the
guide. A Useful Information section includes Web-based resources, books,
and magazines to provide valuable references for the emerging photographer.