Photography tutorials and 'How-to' articles

Photography

Making a picture - from idea to print - A look back at all the stages of making a large black and white print. Includes all the other photos taken at the scene, and why one particular view 'worked'. Also covers the editing and print preparation techniques used. [February 2013]

Better photography - without the expense - After two photo lectures this week for photography groups, Keith has written brief notes about some effective ways of improving your photography without breaking the bank [October 2012]

3 (9) quick tips for better B&W photographs

Hyperfocal focusing - Why hyperfocal focusing often isn't the best approach. Keith explains a simpler technique he commonly uses.

Better pictures for your web site
Keith was recently asked for advice on getting better pictures on a web site. His top ten tips cover the process of taking the pictures in the first place, through to sharpening and saving for web use.

An Introduction to Black and White digital photography
The basics of producing high quality black and white images from your digital camera. An extended version of an article that Keith first wrote for Canon in their CPS magazine.

Composition

Vertical lines and movement in photographic composition - Looking at some aspects of how vertical lines affect the feel of a photograph. [August 2010]

Black and white photography - thoughts and influences
From a specialist black and white photography magazine article, this extended version discusses some of Keith's thoughts about his approach to black and white landscape photography. [September 2010]

Image manipulation

Making of the large 14m Leicester print Keith's May 2012 exhibition in Leicester features a single print just over 14 metres long. This article covers all aspects of creating this image, from Keith's initial experiments with panoramic photography, through to the problems of printing and mounting such a photograph [May 2012]

Nik Silver Efex for colour photos
A way of using a specialist Black and White conversion pluginn for contrast enhancement of dull colour photos. [January 2012]

Jane Fonda and Me... A print from previously unseen photographs taken on the set of the making of Barbarella in 1967 - points out how producing prints from scanned film needs different techniques to images from digital cameras.

Producing a black and white print
An article describing the full process Keith went through in producing a black and white landscape print. From taking photographs, through editing the image and final printing. Includes a downloadable version of the original colour image as an example to work on.

Move your mouse over the image below to see the effects of altering a curve on a masked adjustment layer. An example from the article.[May 09]

Converting Colour images to Black and White
A collection of examples showing different ways of converting a colour image into Black and White. There are many subtle differences that can produce much more satisfying results than simple desaturation. Some of the methods are covered in our Photoshop Elements tutorials

Photoshop Elements -basics
A collection of tutorials based on Keith's locally taught courses. Eight simple techniques enable you to dramatically improve many digital images. Takes a pragmatic results based approach, rather than the usual description of all the functionality and features. Applicable to older and current versions of Elements

Photoshop Elements - removing colour casts and converting to black and white
Two more examples from Keith's courses. Correcting colour casts caused by awkward lighting and an introduction to getting black and white from colour

Digital after two years
Keith has written about his travels in Colorado in April/May 2006. The article includes examples of how he went about producing some black and white photographs from the colour originals from his Canon 1Ds

Colour management

Viewing tips
Our Monitor set-up page with greyscale test images and information on monitor calibration.

Spyder4Express review
Shows how the calibration process works, and why it matters

Printing

DIY Black and White Inkjet printer profiles
A simple way of generating a 'profile' for better digital black and white printing. Using Photoshop curves and a scanner, Keith explains how to get much better monochrome prints. Not the precision of a full ICC profile, but it works -- and gives an insight into how profiles work.

Using i1Profiler to measure QTR linearising targets. [June 2012]

Using the i1Pro 2 for linearising B&W printing - Making use of ColorPort and QTR. [June 2012]

Test images
Our collection of test images and links for downloading. When you are testing printer systems, it really does help to use a known test image.

Swapping black inks on a 7600 or 9600
How not to waste loads of inks doing it the official 'Epson Way' [See also Printer Info articles for more]

The web

Web colour management and Web photo galleries
A discussion of the various options for compression, sharpening and colour management when putting photographic images on the web.

Diversions - DIY photography equipment and modifications / hacks

A home made x5 macro lens - making use of old lenses for real work [July 2011]

Making a cardboard lens for your DSLR - experimenting with alternative lenses [June 2011]

Autofocus accuracy check
A method for checking the autofocus (AF) accuracy of your lenses and digital camera body. A (downloadable) test image, when shown on a screen allows precise testing of focus accuracy through the moire patterns caused between the pixels of your screen and camera sensor. For Canon 1Ds Mk3 and 1D Mk3 cameras this enables rapid (15 minutes for 5 lenses) customisation of AF corrections (AF Microadjustment) [February 2008]

How to install Canon EOS software without the original CD - A collection of tips for Mac and PC [current]

Shift lens modification
A short 'How-to' article showing how to modify a Canon tilt/shift lens to line up the tilt and shift axes [May 2007]

Using Old lenses on a DSLR - a series of short tests of assorted old lenses found in an office clearout. Some are surprisingly good, others are on a par with the ends of Coke bottles. [May 2009]

Olympus Zuiko 24/2.8
Purchased in the 1980's, this lens still gives anything else we've got at 24mm a run for their money [May 2009]
Zeiss Flektogon 20/2.8 on a 1Ds Mk3
Using an old manual focus M42 screw fit lens on a modern digital SLR. Works well, even if a bit soft at f/2.8. Having a go with manual focus lenses is (IMHO) a good way to help think differently about some aspects of your photography. [May 2009]
Mamiya 645 lenses with a shift adapter
Using some medium format lenses with an adapter, allows them to be used as shift lenses on a Canon 1Ds3 35mm / 55mm / 85mm and even 210mm [July 2009]

Canon View Camera
An adapter ($20) to use an old MPP 5x4 view camera with a Canon 1Ds. Article shows details of construction and just what it can be used for. Could be adapted for any DSLR and many old large format cameras.

Using an Infrared converted Canon 5D mk2 - Introduction to digital infrared photography [November 2011]

Photomicroscopy on the cheap
An alternate use for your high cost film scanner. Includes a very nice photo of a Honey bee wing. Based on Keith's experiments one afternoon, when he got bored :-)

The 1Ds digital pinhole SLR camera
Keith converts his Canon 1Ds into a pinhole camera, making a 50mm 'standard' pinhole and a 200mm zoom version - results are compared to a lens £1400 more expensive.

Photography training for Businesses

Northlight Images provides commercial training (and trainers) for a range of photographic skills

Specialist areas include:

General photography and Photoshop skills
Photography training for estate agents and property professionals
Product photography courses
Digital Imaging Technology
Colour Management

Personal Photographic training and tutoring

Keith Cooper's '121' photography courses are based around Leicester, in the East Midlands, and Keith is available for one-to-one sessions at locations in the Leicestershire and Rutland area.

Architectural photography (Leicester city)
Understanding tilt and shift (Leicester city or in the county)
Elements of Landscape (Leicestershire - multiple locations available)

We have a directory of other professional photographers offering training is different locations.