Today’s inspirational how-to video from The Photographic Eye YouTube channel takes a close look into why some scenes literally beg to rendered in b&w, with a specific emphasis on the interplay between deep shadows and other areas within the frame. The episode begins with a request that you “think about the first time you fell in love with photography.”

What comes to mind may be determined by your age, and for longtime pros like Alex Kilbee the remembrance goes like this: “For me it was seeing my first black-and-white photographs emerge from the watery birthing pool in the darkroom right before my eyes.” Whether you make a living with a camera, or you approach photography as a creative outlet, Kilbee’s straightforward lesson have plenty to offer.

The goal of this 13-minute episode is to help you “add a whole new layer of interest and intrigue to you monochrome images.” Kilbee is a notable photographer in his own right, but he decided to use images in Scott Olsen’s fantastic self-published b&w photography book “Fargo” to describe a variety of b&w techniques that he considers so powerful.

Kilbee discusses all facets of the art, concentrating on his penchant for “running with the shadows of the night.” The methods you’ll learn could also be referred to as the power of emptiness. As Kilbee says, “once you learn how to embrace shadows you’ll develop the ability to convey the world in a way that’s unusual to us.”

Olsen’s book contains an eclectic mix of street photography, artistic portraiture, and even a bit of sports/action. Kilbee says the photos that stand out the most to him are the ones where Scott utilizes shadows with attention-grabbing silhouettes and other dramatic monochrome effects that simply can’t be ignored. In fact, some of Olsen’s work could be misconstrued as photos of sculpturea rather than real life subjects.

This video offers a variety of helpful insights and observations that will enable you to mimic Olsen’s stunning imagery and experiment with making some truly outstanding photos of your own. There’s even some post-processing advice for getting the job done to perfection.

Once the video concludes be sure to visit The Photographic Eye YouTube channel for more thought-provoking tips and techniques.

Then take a look at an earlier tutorial we featured with another accomplished pro who demonstrates how using a simple flash can drastically improve yours results when shooting environmental portraits and other subjects outdoors.

It may still be a bit cool for a swim at the beach, but that doesn’t mean it’s too early in the season for a sensuous boudoir shoot on a nice day. And that’s what you’ll learn how to do in this behind-the-scenes tutorial from acclaimed expert Michael Sasser.

Sasser is a West Coast pro based in Orange County. CA and his instructional YouTube channel is a great source of information on this unique from of portraiture, whether you’re new to the game or just want to upgrade yours skills. Sasser’s videos also include helpful information for monetizing your work once you’re ready for a side gig.

It was an early wake-up call for Sasser and his model so they could arrive at their Hawaiian location before dawn. As Sasser says about this French-inspired lingerie session, “I died and woke up in Heaven” on a perfect day.

Sasser positions his model on a balcony with a crazy breakfast spread on a table as the sun begins to peak above the horizon. Then you’ll see the amazing images he captured, long with the required techniques, so you’ll understand how to create some unique boudoir imagery of your own.

This isn’t technically an available-light shoot because Sasser employs a small battery-operated lamp to help illuminate the area surrounding the table. He explains why he pushed his lamp as far back as possible, and how he determined the best place for posing Amanda to arrive at a well-balanced shot.

In essence, “we’re creating a light triangle between Amanda, the camera, and that light. And that’s what’s allowing for all the beautiful highlights on her body for a three-dimensional shape.”Sasser walks you through a variety other key considerations as the video proceeds. You pick up some great advice for impactful compositions, the appropriate camera settings, and other technical matters. There’s also the critical interplay between foreground and background tones.

It’s interesting to watch how Sasser and his model collaborate on a variety of alluring poses that take great advantage of her striking form. There’s much more to learn about various boudoir photography techniques on Sasser’s YouTube channel, so pay a visit when you have time to explore.

And don’t miss a related tutorial we featured with another accomplished pro who demonstrates a straightforward Lightroom process for enhancing Golden Hour tones or creating them yourself when none exiat.

Nikon just announced the Nikon Z5II, a full-frame intermediate-level mirrorless packed with high-end, high-performance features and priced at SRP $1999.95 with Nikkor Z 24-50mm f/4-6.3 lens ($1699.95 body-only).

Certain to be a market disrupter, the new Nikon Z5II features film-inspired “looks” that instantly change the color characteristics of a scene and are conveniently accessible via a dedicated Picture Control button. To sweeten the pot, customers who purchase the Nikon Z5II and register their camera will also get one year of Lightroom + 1TB of Adobe Creative Cloud storage (Limited Time Offer). Note that Lightroom is typically billed at $11.99 per month, so this represents a significant added value.

Key Features of the Nikon Z5II
Front, back, top covers made from magnesium alloy
Full-frame (FX)
24.5-megapixel BSI CMOS sensor
EXPEED 7 processor (same as Z8 and Z9)
5-axis in-camera vibration reduction (VR) system
Focus-point VR function
OLED EVF with 3000 nits brightness (“nits” = cd/m2)
3.2-inch Vari-angle touchscreen LCD monitor
14-bit Raw
3D tracking AF
Auto switches from AF-S to AF-C when needed
Bird detection mode

Key Features of the Nikon Z5II (cont.)
14 fps burst (mechanical shutter) up to 30 fps (electronic)
Optional Pre-Release Capture function
Autofocus detection down to -10EV (up to +19EV)
ISO sensitivity 100 to 64,000, expandable to ISO 204,800
Extended shutter speeds up to 900 seconds (15 minutes)
Pixel Shift shooting options
Dual SD card slots, SDXC UHS-II compliant
Dedicated Picture Control Button
Full array of Creative Picture Controls
Compatible with Nikon Imaging Cloud
Extensive in-camera image editing, Raw processing
Robust weather-resistant seals
EN-EL15c Rechargeable Li-ion (accepts EN-EL15a & EN-EL15b)

Nikon Z5II Key Video Features
4K/30 UHD video with no crop
12-bit N-RAW video (first camera to record N-RAW on SD)
N-Log
Full HD/120p
UVC/UAC-compliant USB port
Headphones & microphones port

Nikon Z5II Dimensions
5.3 x 4.0 x 2.9 inches (134 x 100.5 x 72 mm) WxHxD
24.7 ounces (700 g) with battery and memory card

Price & Availability
The new Nikon Z5II full-frame mirrorless camera will be available in April 2025 for the SRP of $1699.95 for the body only. Also available with a Nikkor Z 24-50mm f/4-6.3 lens for $1999.95 or a Nikkor Z 24-200mm f/4-6.3 VR lens for $2499.95.

Read our review of the Nikon Z6III here.

∞ Shutterbug Staff