Photography

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]

Image manipulation

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. [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.

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.

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.

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.

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 - making use of different equipmrnt

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]

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.

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.

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.

Explore our site... Digital Black and White photography and printing - some of Keiths thoughts, techniques and tips for those interested in a digital approach to black and white. We've lots of original Photography Articles and Photography Reviews on the site to help anyone interested in photography. New site content appears on the What's New page.

Thanks to the visitors who've made Amazon purchases (any kinds of items whatosever)
via: Amazon UK/Amazon France/Amazon Germany/Amazon USA/Amazon Canada
It won't save extra money we're afraid, but it does help in the running of the site, and we really appreciate it...

Northlight Images is based in Leicester in the UK and supplies Commercial Photography services
Visiting Leicester or wondering where it is? We have views from the Leicester traffic cameras.