For this month, July 2019, the theme challenge is “Light”.

The above image was captured using an iPhone 6 Plus as the sun was setting in the opposite direction causing a golden light to be cast on the landscape, Perce Rock, Quebec, Canada. As you can see it’s more about the light than the gear.

Let’s face it, it’s impossible to even capture an image without light. Light is what we as photographers use to create our images. The quality, direction, angle, colour, and contrast in light is what helps create fantastic images.

There are many opportunities to create amazing images during all kinds of conditions, I encourage you to get out at different times of the day, and under varying weather conditions to witness and capture the light.

Students are encouraged to develop their ability to tell a story or invoke an emotion, as well as how to plan and troubleshoot while creating their images. As such it’s important to not only create the image but to also include a “title”, and write a short paragraph about; how they came up with the idea, any interesting back ground that compelled them to make the image, and describe any techniques on how they overcame any obstacles.

As always with our monthly theme challenges we try to seek out an instructional resource, below is a YouTube video link to give you some hints and ideas.
Nigel Danson, Landscape Photographer instructional aid:
7 Simple ways to “Master Light” in your Photography
Speaker: Nigel Danson
Link: 7 Simple ways to “Master Light” in your Photography (18min 58sec)

An important part of improving your photography is practice, which is one aspect of the monthly theme challenge, in addition you have an opportunity to learn about different genres, techniques and tips.

For this month, June 2019, the theme challenge is “Black & White” also known as “Monochrome”.

There are many opportunities for monochrome images such as dramatic clouds and older style subjects, even during harsh daylight is a great time to consider choosing monochrome to capture your images.

It is important to be able to preview your images on the camera in “monochrome”, which will help you visualize your result as you are shooting. To shoot in “monochrome” requires a change to the camera settings.

As an example lets see how to setup two Cameras to shoot in monochrome:

• Change the “My Colors” setting on a Canon SX30, (manual pg 79); press the “func/set”, on the back of the camera, then use the up/down arrow buttons to choose the “My Colors” option. Then press the right/left arrow buttons to pick the “Se” (sepia) or “BW” (black&white) option and then press “func/set” to choose the selected option. (Warning: It is important to know that when shooting in “Jpeg” the captured image will not have any colour, remember to change the “My Color” option back to “OFF” when done shooting monochrome images to allow capturing any new images in colour.)
• Change the “Picture Style” setting on a Canon T6i to “M” (monochrome), (manual starting on pg 125),  press the down arrow (picture style) button, on the back of the camera, and then press the right/left arrow buttons, on the back of the camera, to pick the “M” (monochrome) and then press “set” to choose the selected picture style. Before pressing “set”, you can also press the “info” button to change the sharpness, contrast, filter effect and tone effect (example sepia) as well. (Warning: It is important to know that when shooting in “Jpeg” the captured image will not have any colour, remember to change the “Picture Style” option back to the previous setting such as “S” (standard) when done shooting monochrome images to allow capturing any new images in colour.) Note shooting in “RAW” retains the colour information.

Students are encouraged to develop their ability to tell a story or invoke an emotion, as well as how to plan and troubleshoot while creating their images. As such it’s important to not only create the image but to also include a “title”, and write a short paragraph about; how they came up with the idea, any interesting back ground that compelled them to make the image, and describe any techniques on how they overcame any obstacles.

As always with our monthly theme challenges we try to seek out an instructional resource, below is a YouTube video link to give you some hints and ideas.
B&H Event Space instructional aid:
Black and White Photography in the Digital Era
Speaker: Harold Davis
Link: Black and White Photography in the Digital Era (38min 15sec)

An important part of improving your photography is practice, which is one aspect of the monthly theme challenge in addition you have an opportunity to learn about different genres, techniques and tips.