Colour and light are not the same thing.

Ansel Adams Zone System

How many photographers get this wrong or confused. Seeing colour and light are two different things. The foundation to become a good colour photographer is B&W. How else do you learn to look, see, expose, post and print for tonality if you have no basis in B&W. Otherwise you just end up chasing colour, chasing busy. And wonder why your work lacks depth, mood and does not sell or resonate. Mood is primarily created by light and tonality. If you don’t understand this your colour work will look 2 dimensional and lack any depth. It won’t draw the viewer in, to go on a journey within your image.

Tonality creates depth. Depth engages the viewer. Depth draws the viewer into the photograph. If you can’t evoke an emotion or take the viewer on a journey, then your just making pretty pictures. Decoration. And there is nothing wrong with this but surely as a photographer artist you are constantly striving for betterment in all aspects of your craft. Too many camera clubs believe technical perfection is the end of the journey, the goal of a photographer. To me it’s the foundation, the beginning, the starting point of getting good at photography. Too many stop before they even begin.

Where is the yugen in your work?

What is tonality, it’s not a histogram or 255 etc. It’s really understanding Ansel Adams zone system. If your serious about tonality, taking your work to the next level and really learning this, get in touch.

Reading : Meditations by Krishnamurti

Watching : Professor T

Listening : Back to Beethoven

Eating : brocoli sprouts

Drinking : soda water