* Google+ Hangout on Air instructions: *
Link to view the event will be available here and on the Google+ Nik Software page on the day and time of the event. Please check back at that time. (If you are not a Google+ member, you will need to sign-up.)

(Note: This is not a ‘training webinar’ but rather a forum to share ideas and inspiration from the Pros. To see a list of our webinars, visit www.niksoftware.com/learnmore)

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Fireside Chat: How to shoot with Black and White in Mind with Dan Ballard (Google+ Hangout on Air with Host Scott Sheppard)

Knowing when to go black and white and when to go color can be a difficult decision, both in the field and on the computer.  Most people simply take the approach of always thinking in color, and then maybe converting a few to B&W later almost at random.  Top shooters generally don't take this approach. They usually have a very good idea which images will be converted and which will stay in color long before they take the shot.  In fact, many times images are shot with processing in Silver Efex Pro 2 in mind that would not even have been taken otherwise.  

This webinar will give you ideas and insight on when to shoot with Black and White processing in mind, and how to decide if images should be converted after the fact.  Dan will cover the steps to take before you get to the processing stage. 

Dan Ballard is an internationally known travel and landscape photographer and keynote speaker. He gives presentations on photography around the world at symposiums, festivals, trade shows and workshops. His work has attracted the attention and praise of some of the biggest names and companies in the photo industry, and he has sold images to clients around the globe, including The National Geographic Society and The Travel Channel. He is also an accomplished and entertaining keynote speaker and gives presentations on photography around the world at symposiums, festivals, trade shows and workshops. (www.danballardphotography.com)

Ice bergs from the the Vatnajokull glacier wash up on the black sand beach opposite the Jökulsárlón glacial lagoon in southern Iceland.

This area in Iceland was probably the highlight of my 2+ week trip. The ice bergs would float in the lagoon, (loudly with splashes and ripples) break apart into smaller chunks and then get washed out to the ocean via a small channel when the tides changed (sometimes they would move slowly to the ocean and sometimes very quickly). Eventually they would be break apart a few hundred feet from the shore and wash up on the beach in smaller ephemeral chunks that would melt away within a few hours.