The Art of Black and White Photography: Techniques for Creating Superb Images in a Digital Workflow

By Torsten Andreas Hoffmann

Over the last few years, most books on photography have been focused on the new breed of cameras and how to master the digital imaging workflow. In The Art of Black and White Photography author and photographer Torsten Andreas Hoffmann takes a different approach, focusing on image composition and image capture, with an emphasis on the creative aspects of black and white photography rather than on the digital workflow.

After introducing the ground rules of composition, Hoffmann illustrates their applications with his own stunning black and white images that cover various photographic genres, including architecture, street photography, portraiture, and surreal photography. Also discussed are the elements of a "photographic language"', which distinguishes creative photography from random shooting. Finally, you will learn valuable post-processing techniques, mostly using Photoshop, that emphasize the functions necessary for creating outstanding black and white images.

This second edition has been updated to include Photoshop CS5, as well as brand new images, content, and a revised layout.

• Language: English
• Publisher: O'Reilly Media, Inc.
• Release date: Jan 14, 2012
• ISBN: 9781457117886

Torsten Andreas Hoffmann

Torsten Andreas Hoffmann is a photographer, author, and photography workshop instructor. He specializes in black and white photography and conceptual photography. Since 2003, he's written articles for Photographie, LFI (Leica Fotografie International), c't special Digitale Fotografie, and Digitalis Foto (Hungary). In his workshops, he guides his participants toward understanding and accessing their own visual aesthetic. Hoffman is internationally known for his coffee table book, New York, New York, a subtle debate on the events of 9/11; published by Kunstverlag Weingarten. Another of his titles, The Art of Black and White Photography, published by Rocky Nook, is already in its 2nd edition. Hoffman also publishes art calendars with publisher Kunstverlag Weingarten, Dumont, and ars vivendi. Born in Duesseldorf, Germany, in 1956, Hoffmann studied Art Education with a concentration in photography at The Braunschweig University of Art. His images can be seen in many exhibitions at renowned galleries such as: Leica Galleries, Salzburg and Frankfurt, and imago-fotokunst, Berlin. He is a member of BBK Frankfurt, LOOK photo agency Munich, and the German Society of Photography (DPPh).

Reviews for The Art of Black and White Photography

[bookscantgetenough · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This was a great book!! It was very helpful with techniques and gave awesome examples. I would recommend it to anyone who is interested in photography in general as well as black and white.