Abstract:

At this paper, we aim to present teaching and learning methodologies on how we can apply analog image processing techniques, in a digital way, to portrait photography in order to bring out more creativity and innovation.

Photo editing and retouching dates back to the analog era of the film and the darkroom. Photographers used to retouch their photos in order to bring out a better aesthetic result and improve their original shots. With traditional darkroom means, they had managed to apply from simple tonal interventions to the creation of complex compositions and photographic applications.

Inevitably, the development of technology has brought significant innovations in the field of photog-raphy and digital photo processing that have shaped new ways of teaching and learning digital pho-tography and its digital applications.

This paper presents teaching scenarios for adult education in Portrait Photography based on practice-based research methods in post-production. In specific, we encourage students to experiment with the use of high-key effects, the dodge and burn tools as well as several tone edits techniques with the use of non ‘destructive’ methods, in order to enhance creativity, and finally turn portraits into black and white creations.

We suggest that students should try the above techniques first in the analog environment, in the dark-room, and then experiment at a digital processing software. In this way, students gain an experiential understanding in using digital tools. In addition, by comparing traditional analog with digital photo-graphic medium and their techniques, students will be able to experiment in depth and propose new creative perspectives in portrait photography.

In conclusion, the experiential way of approaching methods of retouching in portrait photography in combination with the use of comparative method of approaching the analog and digital photographic medium, creates new learning experiences and strengthens innovation in the way of learning and teaching digital approaches and skills in the field of creative portrait photography.

Keywords:

Digital Photography, B/W photography, Digital Photo Processing, Photography and Teaching methodologies, Portrait photography.