I thought Shanghai was a modern city. Until, that is, I walked away from the bright lights and skyscrapers in the centre and started to explore the older neighbourhoods. Some of these are simply undeveloped, and will probably be bulldozed and rebuilt in the near future. Others have retained their ‘old’ character for reasons of commerce and tourism, such as Yuyuan Garden in the Old City.

Read the rest of this entry »

Anthony Loved to Fish

There’s a genre of photography that has always appealed to me and that I dabbled with a little when I first started using Photoshop, but have never pursued. I think of it as ‘surreal photography’ and like to see it when it is done well, especially in black and white. Which is exactly why I like the work of Michael Ticcino so much. His imaginative photos show how it is possible to use Photoshop to create imagery that exists only in the imagination.

Read the rest of this entry »

Today the third eBook in my Magic of Black & White series goes on sale on Craft and Vision. It’s called The Magic of Black & White: Part III – Nine Photos and picks up where the second eBook (The Magic of Black & White: Part II – Craft) left off.

In this eBook I take you through nine black and white images with the intention of explaining the more advanced Photoshop* techniques behind them. I discuss toning, split toning, exposure blending, soft focus and the creation of diptyches and triptyches. But it’s not just about Photoshop technique. Photoshop is an essential part of the digital black and white photographer’s toolbox – but to be anything more than a technical exercise it needs to be aligned with creative vision.

Read the rest of this entry »

In the conclusion to my eBook The Magic of Black & White: Part I – Vision I wrote about looking at the work of other photographers for inspiration. So where do I go to look for inspirational black and white photos?

One source is Flickr. The interface makes it easy to keep track of the latest photos from my contacts and groups. I have my favourite photographers – and today I’m going to share the work of fourteen of them with you. A tip – if you look at their profiles you will see the photos they have marked as favourites. This is a good way to find the work of new photographers.

Read the rest of this entry »

Xavi Fuentes’ beautiful black and white images contrast the soft forms of the sea with the solidity of concrete and rock.

I n t r u s i o n

Xavi Fuentes‘ images are dominated by the sea. Slow shutter speeds reduce the movement of the water to a smooth blur, interrupted only by the solid forms of rocks and concrete. He shoots in the half-light of dawn and dusk, reducing the elements of the landscape to strong shapes and dramatic skies.

Read the rest of this entry »