WPPI - The Take Away

WPPI was an amazing event and a tremendous learning opportunity. We experienced WPPI mostly from the trade show floor, a place where you can get the real story of being a professional photographer at least 100 times a day if you listen carefully. We talked to a lot of great people and these are 5 things we heard time and time again.

1. Be unique. Create your own style. Today anyone with a DSLR can be your competition… if you let them. However, if you develop an individual identity, an original look to your imagery, a special service or services that differentiate you from the crowd clients will find you. Our friends Walter van Dusen and Bob Coates push a fine art side of their business to attract new clients.  A group of photographers from Maine has started the Maine Photographer Coalition to help promote their businesses by selling more fine art images.

 
2. Don’t make price a factor. The top professionals we talked to didn’t figure cost into their success equation. Don’t ask yourself “what is the other guy charging,” but ask “what is the value of my talent and services.” When you know what you are selling, and that your talent and services are something of value, you will know what pricing model is right.

3. Quality matters. Time and time again we were complimented on the excellent quality of our printing. If you take pride in your photographic abilities why settle for an inferior print? To quote a photographer at the show, “There are a lot of beautifully bound albums here (at the WPPI trade show), with some really badly printed photos inside.” The wrapper may be gorgeous but it’s the print that defines your ability as a photographer.

5. Use your resources. Why limit yourself to just a few options. If you need a special lens, camera or piece of lighting equipment why not rent it. Our friends LensProtoGo have just about any piece of equipment you need in stock now. Tired of the same old look get some new backdrops. Need a cool website but don’t have the funds to pay a web designer? Try BluDomain for an extensive selection of websites at great prices. And most important, if you have a question ask your vendors, like Digital Silver Imaging, we know what’s out there and we can help you find it.

We love going to photo events like WPPI because every time we connect with a photographer we learn something. Check in with us in the coming weeks and find out how we put what we've learned into practice. Keep shooting in black and white, and maybe we’ll see you at the SPE Conference in Atlanta March 10-12!

Fall River Camera Club

Owner Eric Luden made a trip to Fall River last night to present his black & white program to over 30 photographers at the Fall River Camera Club.  What I like most about speaking with photographers at these camera clubs is their passion about photography.  They are doing this for fun, pleasure and education, and are not jaded by the demands of trying to make a living with their hobby.

I give an overview of the changes that have impacted black & white photography as digital methods have evolved since the mid- 90's.  I explain how photographers used an LVT film recorder to produce b&w negatives and then made darkroom prints and then the evolution of inkjet printing.  We discussed the evolution of digital enlargers, like the Lightjet or Durst Lambda and how we utilize the Durst Theta 51 to produce real black & white continuous tone prints.

Photographers are aware that black & white photography is making a comeback.  So many digital tools are available to make this possible, including multiple plugins and other software.  More than a third of the members already own Nik Silver Efex Pro and are eagerly awaiting the launch of Silver Efex Pro 2, which is due out at the end of this month.  This plugin makes working in black & white so much easier and produces the cleanest files.  When you combine this with our silver gelatin printing service, you get the best of both worlds. 

Thanks to Lorraine for inviting me down to the club - you have an excellent organization and I look forward to coming back. Congratulations to Richard who won the raffle for a free 11x14 Fiber print!

Collections

Beauty is always in the eye of the beholder. Guests attending last evenings gallery opening of the Griffin Museum of Photography @ Digital Silver Imaging were challenged to view the haunting elegance of anatomical specimens from the Mutter Museum in Philadelpia and the Lazzarro Spallanzani collection in Regio Emilia, Italy. Noted landscape photographer, Neal Rantoul, took a courageous departure by pulling back the curtain on this slice of human experience with grace and candor. Boldly curated by J.Sybylla Smith the 18 images of animal and human studies move beyond voyeuristic curiosity to ephemeral beauty.

A steady stream of seasoned photo educators, staff and board members from Northeastern, Boston's Photographic Resource Center and the Griffin Museum including Glen Ruga, Director of the PRC, George Slade, and Cathy England concurred the work was "Luminous", "beautiful", "striking" and "strong". Represented by Panopticon Gallery, owner, Jason Landry and Neal's colleagues were pleased to see the new work in this intimate venue. A special edition book including extensive images from both collections along with the taxidermy from Cabelas is available for sale. The selenium toned silver gelatin and giclee ink jet prints are available in limited editions.

We are all looking forward to Rantoul's gallery talk on February 3rd. We are eager to hear him take us on the journey prompted by an NPR interview by Terry Gross with Gretchen Warden in 2002 on the Mutter to his international travels to illuminate and record this historic tradition.

You can view the complete collection of images in our online gallery.  Contact Digital Silver Imaging for information to purchase his prints or his book.

A Warm Reception

Friday's opening of Jonathan Stark's France:Chaleur was a celebration of the warmth found in sweeping views of Paris, the French countryside and the depth of character of it's people. Shot on film during successive trips abroad the fiber silver gelatin prints are as soulful as their subjects. Intimate glimpses of Gallic pride shine from the soft eyes of a daper, elderly gentleman and the crisp attentiveness of a grandly mustached geradement. Stark caught Paris from the seat of a famed carousel, which no longer exists, allowing the vantage point of a bird surveying the quiet elegance of Hausmann's orderly and grand design for the city of light. Caught at night the Eiffel tower is it's quintessential playful self. Stark unobtrusively documents the serious pastime of a game of boule and the care and precision given to measuring the competition. These Black & White images exude a reverence of the ordinary while acknowledging the depth of tradition. Powdered truffles, fluted madeleines and red wine aside, these images transport the viewer to a place where time honored craft and care warm the heart.

 

Exhibition dates:

November 18 - January 14, 2011
Friday, November 19, 2010 opening reception 6 -8
Talk at Digital Silver January 11, 7 PM

Visit Digital Silver Imaging for complete details about the lab and gallery hours, or call 617-489-0035

Tom Ashe from The School of Visual Arts and color management

For the past six years in the Fall and Spring semesters I have been teaching a course I created in Digital Printmaking and Color Management as part of the BFA Photography program at the School of Visual Arts in New York City. The aim of the course is to help the students to be knowledgeable about different printmaking technologies and how to produce the best quality digital prints possible. One of the biggest challenges for my students is creating good quality digital black-and-white prints. That’s why an important part of the Black-and-White Digital Printing Assignment is to have the students make a true silver gelatin digital print. Although, most students come to the class not knowing that this is even an output option, they are even more surprised to find out they can get digital output on the same fiber based silver gelatin photographic materials they have loved in the traditional darkroom. Digital Silver Imaging is one of the few service bureaus in the country and the world that produce fiber based silver gelatin digital prints.  Luckily for us, Eric Luden and his staff have been kind enough to help our students to experience their digital black-and-white images on these silver gelatin materials with their unique aesthetic and technical qualities.  

Tom Ashe is the associate chair of MPS Digital Photography Department, School of Visual Arts in New York.  He is also an excellent photographer & consultant to the photographic industry. Visit his website for more information.


One of Tom's students, Azhar Chougle, had this to say about working with us:


"It has been an absolute pleasure to be able to work with Eric on producing digital silver gelatin prints. Working with labs is always a twisted and convoluted ballet, but in this case the process was surprisingly simple and straightforward. Given Eric's vast experience in the field, he demonstrates a firm understanding of his process and requirements. At the same time, he is incredibly personal and accommodating.  The most important factor is of course the prompt delivery and the print itself. The images produced take on a refreshingly analog quality, a welcome deviance from the manufactured predictability of the inkjet process. The papers (especially the fiber) are thick, heavy and feel exquisitely organic, something that would be expected walking out of a darkroom rather than a digital lab. I would say it is impossible to replicate the aura and feel of a silver gelatin print, which makes this avenue of digital output a very worthwhile exploration."

Interesting feedback on Nik HDR software

A few lucky photographers have had their hands on the beta version of the new Nik HDR Efex Pro software that will start shipping this week.  Like us, we're anticipating another great product from the folks at Nik.  They have demonstrated great products and some of the best web tutorials and support.  We believe that when utilized properly, this will be another enhancement to our true black and white silver gelatin printing process.

Here is what one photographer had to say about his experience:

"I have been playing with CS5 HDR becuase I've been very disappointed with my current HDR software. But still I had not been able to get any HDR images that I like better than a straight shot with some localized adjustments using Nik Viveza.  Maybe all user error.  But I could not get good HDR images like they show in the HDR books with Photoshop or Photomatix.  Lots of other people have fantastic results with these I know.  I've failed.

Last week I tried the demo version of the NIK HDR program (I am on their email lists, since I already have some of their products). Wow!  With only watching the 3 minute Nik video, I was making HDR photos that were so much better than the junk I had before."

We are excited to be one of Nik's top resellers in the country.  We work very closely with them and have provided B&W silver gelatin prints for their trade shows. DSI is offering a workshop on HDR on November 3rd from 6-8PM at the Griffin Museum of Photography in Winchester, MA.  Join Victor Ha of Nik Software as he reveals the technology and creative possibilities behind Nik Software’s latest creation, HDR Efex Pro! Victor will explain the techniques of how to properly shoot HDR for the best results, demonstrate the uses of HDR Efex Pro’s revolutionary features, and show how it integrates into Nik Software’s complete workflow solution of photographic products. Registration is required, so please visit the DSI registration page for complete details and information.

Digital Silver Imaging creates true black and white silver gelatin prints directly from digital files.

Check our special software pricing for great deals on Nik Software!

Nik Software Announces Availability for HDR Efex Pro™

Köln, Germany, September 21st, 2010 – From the Nik Software Press Release

Nik Software today announces that its highly anticipated HDR Efex Pro software will be available October 11, 2010. This completely new HDR solution is designed to help professional and amateur photographers quickly and easily achieve the full spectrum of HDR enhancements from the realistic to artistic. The company is showcasing HDR Efex Pro with live demonstrations of the software at Photokina 2010 at booth H09 in hall 4.1.

“Our HDR Efex Pro beta group has over 500 photography industry professionals and HDR enthusiasts and the feedback from this group has been both comprehensive and incredibly positive,” said Michael J. Slater, President and CEO of Nik Software. “We have incorporated many of the recommendations from this group and I am confident that this product will truly advance HDR imaging.”

HDR Efex Pro brings innovative and best-in-class technologies to HDR, including proprietary unrivaled tone mapping, Nik Software’s award-winning U Point® technology, and powerful ghost reduction, all of which have been developed specifically in response to photographers’ requests. HDR Efex Pro overcomes limitations in other software products with a revolutionary all-in-one approach that enables both realistic and artistic effects to be applied within a single tool. Photographers looking to explore the new realm of HDR will find that HDR Efex Pro offers a complete solution that takes HDR to new levels and offers new possibilities to fine-tune and finish HDR images with a simple and intuitive workflow.

Nik Software’s U Point® technology provides, for the first time, precise selective fine-tuning of HDR images without the need for complicated selections or layer masks. Photographers will find that the ability to control adjustments exactly where they want them provides unprecedented power and will further enhance their ability to create amazing HDR images.

Key Features
· Intuitive interface, with easy to understand photographic terminology and the actual processed results always displayed
· U Point powered selective tools for fast, precise enhancements of contrast, shadow, structure and saturation adjustments
·  Multiple proprietary tone mapping algorithms enabling a wide range of HDR styles and capabilities
· Visual presets that produce amazing results in a single-click
· Ability to create the HDR look from a single exposure
· Advanced technology for automatic image alignment and reduction of subject motion artifacts known as “ghosts”
· All-in-one workflow enabling the creation of professional HDR images

Pre-Launch special from Digital Silver Imaging is $139.95 plus receive 50% off your first print order when you purchase the software from DSI.  HDR Efex Pro is Free with either of the Complete Collections. Visit the DSI Nik Software page for our special offer.

Jon Lester: 5 Pitches by Steve Wilstein

Ever wonder how baseball pitchers make the ball dance up, down, in and out to baffle batters? Boston Red Sox left-handed ace Jon Lester showed photographer and sportswriter Steve Wilstein how it's done with the positioning of his fingers on the five pitches in his arsenal: four-seam and two-seam fastballs, change-up, cutter and curveball. Wilstein photographed Lester in spring training this year using a Nikon D700 and a 105mm micro lens. Working with Christopher and Eric from Digital Silver Imaging, Wilstein created a 4-foot wide composition of five square close-up images, printed in color on HARMAN inkjet paper and framed by DSI . A framed print sold recently at Panopticon Gallery, which also is showing Wilstein's other color images of the Red Sox and fans in spring training, as well as black-and-white images of Muhammad Ali that Wilstein made in 1978.

Wilstein, a longtime sports columnist for the Associated Press, can be seen discussing baseball's steroids era in Ken Burns' and Lynn Novick's two-part documentary, "The Tenth Inning", on Sept. 28-29, on WGBH public television.

Contact Jason Landry at Panopticon Gallery to purchase this image.

Tradition: Innovated

Our new show featuring photographs by Charles A. Meyer captures a slice of life rarely seen by anyone not buying or selling a mule. Vintage in feel and intimately voyeuristic the images were shot over the past five years at the Dickson Mule Auction, the countries oldest and largest, held outside Nashville TN. Meyers’ explores the intersection between commerce and community, tradition and innovation, supply and demand, humility and profit.

Who knew these sterile crossbreeds to be such a complex and current topic? See Susan Orleans’ New Yorker article, Riding High: Mules in the Military, in the February 15 & 22nd issue.  Alongside the Mennonite, Amish and Mid-American family farmers buying and selling these exceedingly strong, intelligent, and endlessly tolerant, pack animals is the U.S. military - looking to fly some to Afghanistan.

Our opening was full of it’s own intersection of tradition and innovation, including friendship and state-of the-art technology. Charles A. Meyer taught Digital Silver Imaging’s owner, Eric Luden, traditional darkroom photography at Boston College twenty-seven years ago. Meyer shoots with a traditional medium format Hasselblad fitted with a 645 back and Ilford Delta 3200 film. DSI scanned his negatives to create digital files and used Nik Silver Efex Pro to retouch, edit and enhance the detail of his warm and moody images.

The crowd was filled with fellow photo professors: Peter Laytin, Lisa Kessler, and Rachel Loischild. Barbara Hitchcock, former Director of the Polaroid Collection and painter, Mark Cooper, joined Griffin Museum staff and Griffin family members at the show.
We were pleased to welcome newcomers to our gallery including the in-coming PRC director, Glenn Ruga, Stan Trecker, Director of The Art Institute of Boston, and freelance writer Delia K. Cabe. BC students came to see Meyers’ work and were introduced to the new technology by DSI production manager, Christopher Bowers. They stated; ”It smells like a darkroom in here” and were “blown away” by the capability of DSI’s Durst Theta.

The exhibit is on display through June 6th and the gallery is free and open to the public Mon - Fri from 9 - 5:30.  All of the images are custom framed by Ava Art of North Andover, MA.

Black & White workflow using Nik Silver Efex Pro-Wed April 21st

Digital Silver Imaging is pleased to announce our 2nd FREE Webinar on Nik Software and Silver Efex Pro.

When: Wednesday April 21st 1PM Eastern Time
Where: Your Computer

Registration Required at the DSI Site

Join Victor Ha of Nik Software and Digital Silver Imaging for an in depth training on the award winning Nik Silver Efex Pro. Silver Efex Pro from Nik Software is the most powerful tool for creating professional quality black and white images from your digital files. For the first time, all the advanced power and control required for professional results have been brought together in one convenient tool. We will demonstrate how to work with your digital files from RAW to print in an easy to follow online training.

Digital Silver Imaging's exceptional silver gelatin prints are enhanced by the excellence of Nik Software Photoshop plug-ins.  We have been using Silver Efex Pro in our lab since Nik Software launched the software in July 2008.  It has revolutionized the way we worked and saved us many hours of wasted production time.  It provides an excellent conversion from color RGB to B&W RGB and preserves all the necessary information in the channels to provide smooth transitions form highlight to shadow in our silver printing process.  In addition, the Upoint Technology developed by Nik Software makes use of the Control Points in their plugins for precise control of specific areas of your files, without having to make multiple masks.  In addition, the film grain simulation that is built into Silver Efex Pro is phenomenal!

We have printed images for Nik Software, for their trade show booths, and made many successful black & white prints for clients around the world.  As a result, we have become a reseller of the Nik Software and have excellent pricing on all of their plugins. 

Be sure to join us for the free webinar training on Thursday April 21st at 1PM Eastern Time.

Evolution of the Revolution

Over the past 6 months, we have converted close to 100 cameras to digital Infrared for our clients.  These conversions are usually at 715nm, which produces files that are very similar to the classic black & white infrared images we had with film photography.  Our continued partnership with Precision Camera has enabled us to provide an outstanding service to our clients who are looking for solid advise and experience. Precision Camera has also selected Digital Silver Imaging as their preferred partner for Infrared Conversions.

Once we have converted the cameras, we can then advise people about how to work with their files.  The images that come up in the camera and in your photo editing software will still have to be adjusted to produce a true Infrared image.  This is what you can expect your digital file will look like:

The file looks red or magenta.  We have found that working with Nik Silver Efex Pro software yields the best results for all of our black and white digital work, and especially when we're working with digital infrared files from our clients. 

We open our RAW file in Photoshop and then launch Silver Efex Pro and look at the preview file again.

In this side by side comparison, we can still see the RAW file on the left and the initial black and white conversion on the right.  Nik gives you some basic presets on the left hand side as a good starting point.  For many of the Infrared files we have received, we have found that the preset for "High Structure" yields great results.  You may have to reduce the amount of structure depending on the individual file.

Neutral Setting                              High Structure

Of course you can continue to tweak and edit the file according to your own needs.  We like to add in one of the preset film types that comes with Nik Silver Efex Pro.

 

Digital Silver Imaging is offering a special package price on Infrared Conversions and Silver Efex Pro software.  We can provide conversions on most major digital cameras, from compact point & shoot models to full frame DSLR's like the Canon 5d.

Save $10 on any compact camera model or $25 on any DSLR model when you buy Nik Silver Efex Pro from Digital Silver Imaging.

DSI to Sponsor Eugene Richards at ASMP Tues Nov 10th

An Evening with Eugene Richards

Eugene Richards is a photographer, writer, and documentary filmmaker who is best known for his books and photographic essays on such diverse topics as breast cancer, drug addiction, poverty, AIDS, and emergency medicine. He is the author of fifteen books, the most recent being The Blue Room (Phaidon, 2008), a collection of his photographs on abandoned houses in rural America, as well as A Procession of Them (University of Texas Press, 2008), which confronts the plight of the institutionalized mentally disabled. His current book project, War Is Personal, is a documentation in words and pictures of the consequences of the Iraq war.

In his talk, Eugene Richards will discuss the many book projects he’s undertaken since becoming a photographer nearly forty years ago, as well as his forays into filmmaking and advertising work. His main focus will be his latest publications, A Procession of Them and The Blue Room, both published in Fall 2008.

Location: MASS BAY COMMUNITY COLLEGE, WELLESLEY HILLS CAMPUS | 50 Oakland Street, Wellesley Hills, MA 02481
(781) 239-3000 | directions

Parking: Parking is free with permit. Please download and print the permit PDF, and remember to display it on your dashboard.

Time: Social hour begins at 6pm. Presentation begins at 7pm.

FOOD, DRINKS & DOOR PRIZES INCLUDED.
* You must pre-register to be eligible to win a door prize.

Pre-register Online Now!

Pre-registration:
$10 members and students
$20 for non-members

At the Door:
$15 for members and students
$25 for non-members

Sponsored by Digital Silver Imaging and Ava Art

Mojica Photography blogs about DSI

They don't make cameras like they used to--literally! Digital photography can be both a blessing and a curse. While amenities such as printing images on a printer instead of a dark room and Photoshop instead of an airbrush can cut down on costs for prints and photo restoration or manipulation, the quality of a true black and white picture has all but faded away like antiquity--until now. Digital Silver Imaging has brought back one of the keystones of traditional photography, the silver gelatin print! Silver gelatin is superior in every way to run-of-the-mill digital prints. It is the material that is warranted when you have a true piece of art. Like Durer making wood-cuts of his creations, DSI uses a medium that stands the test of time. Too many beautiful images are spoiled by sunlight and exposure to humidity. The problem is, if you have a beautiful picture, you want to display so it can be enjoyed. When you chose DSI for your black and white prints, you get the best of both worlds: the longevity of silver gelatin and the definition, clarity, and emotion of black and white. We recommend Digital Silver Imaging prints for your most cherished images. You may have save your wedding cake in the freezer or store your wedding dress in the closet, but your wedding pictures should be out in the open. DSI prints let you keep your pictures out in the open without having to worry or fuss over having reprints or restorations done. And the clarity of silver gelatin is unparalleled!

Joshua & Loraine McCall from Mojica Photography
www.mojicaphotography.com

DSI Announces Agreement with Nik Software

Photo Plus Booth 863 – Eric Luden, owner of Digital Silver Imaging, was a user of Nik software before he became a reseller.  “Nik’s Dfine 2.0, Sharpener Pro 3.0 and Silver Efex Pro saved us many hours of Photoshop time and helped us produce some of the finest B&W images we’ve printed”, says Luden.  “Our relationship just continued to grow from there, and we became an authorized dealer of Nik software.  We’ll have co-operative displays at Photo Plus and will launch a joint webinar and field training seminars after the show.”

Luden is scheduled to present on the software, particularly Silver Efex Pro, at an upcoming B&H Photo event scheduled for Monday, November 2.  Per Luden, “The Silver Efex Pro is a remarkably complete package for those working in black and white.  The software gives the user total control of tonality and contrast.  The software emulates most of the common B&W film types, allowing the user to choose grain, color sensitivity and tone curves as needed.  In addition, Silver Efex Pro gives additional brush and filter tools when used on conjunction with Adobe Photoshop.  It really is a package that can be used by professionals and hobbyists alike.”

To promote the software at Photo Plus, Digital Silver Imaging is offering special show pricing on Nik Software purchased at the their booth during the show.  Details on the offer, including an additional discount on printing services through DSI, can be found here.

In addition, DSI plans to raffle off two packages containing a Canon G series camera, converted by Precision Camera to shoot in infrared, plus a copy of Nik’s Silver Efex Pro.  One package will be raffled off on Thursday, October 22 and one on Friday, October 23.

Join our FREE Web Training session for Silver Efex Pro on Wednesday Oct 28th from 3-4PM Eastern Time.



Click here for free registration.

Off the Wall Opening Celebration

Magnifique!

It's a unique event which brings a Boston Globe international war correspondent, a visiting Neiman Fellow and member of Vii - together with Marilyn Riseman, the doyenne of style -  to celebrate fashion! The packed opening of Off the Wall brought 200 plus photographers, designers, academics, stylists, journalists and revelers out to view the work of 11 area shooters to the Griffin Museum @ Digital Silver Imaging. Ennis, Team and other agencies who represent the talent behind the photographs joined their freelance artists in celebrating their work.

Accolades are still pouring in: "Paris in Belmont". "Never saw such glamour in Boston".  "The opening was lovely, I think the show was so smart and exquisite". "I have been out all fashion week and never saw such a diverse crowd"."How did you get all these people here?". An outdoor tent and self-portrait gallery managed the overflow crowd and added to the festive vibe.

While heavy on the female, the show covers subjects ranging in age from 6 - 81 including Savannah youth in their Sunday best, abstract close-ups of accessories, witty and sublime takes on the act we all do everyday - dress. A unifying factor is the handsome custom framing provided by Kathy Skarvan of Ava Art. A guest described the beauty of the frames as "standing on their own without taking anything away from the image." It is a masterful balance to strike.

A poster asking "Are you ready for your close-up?" , led guests to a studio set up for their own shoot. Individuals, couples, families and groups captured themselves in all manner of fun.  The photographers in the show suffered through being on the other side of the camera for a group portrait. We edited 250 raw files and posted the results in the OTW Studio Gallery.

It is a stellar show pulled together in a short amount of time. Thanks to the confidence of Paula Tognarelli, The Director of the Griffin Museum, and the inclusiveness of Jay Calderin, The Founder of Fashion Week, we were able to create a "perfect storm" of interest and excitement. I had the challenging task of deciding what to eliminate. It was a pleasure reuniting with colleagues I have worked alongside at various times over the past 15 years and to meet the new breed of talent lending their eye to the art of fashion photography.

Wanting to preserve this special collection of photos, we created a custom book bound in platinum Japanese silk. The show is up until November 1st. All images are for sale and the book can be ordered.

DSI and Nik Software to present at B&H Photo 11/2/09

Complete Control for Professional Quality

Black and White with Nik Software and Digital Silver Imaging

November 2^nd 2009 3-5 PM at B&H Photo Event Space

Silver Efex Pro from Nik Software is the most powerful tool for creating professional quality black and white images from your photographs. For the first time, all the advanced power and control required for professional results have been brought together in one convenient tool.

Featuring Nik Software’s patented U Point® technology to selectively control the tonality and contrast of the image, Silver Efex Pro includes advanced imaging algorithms to protect against unwanted artifacts, a comprehensive collection of emulated black and white film types, a variable toning selector for adding traditional toning techniques, over 20 one-click preset styles, and a state-of-the-art grain reproduction engine that help produce the highest quality black and white images possible from your color images while providing more freedom to experiment.

Janice Wendt from Nik Software will demonstrate how to best work with your files, from RAW capture to output using the award winning Nik Software tools. You will learn how to easily work with your files to create stunning black and white images. Techniques that will be taught in this lecture will remove the need for tedious selections and endless numbers of steps. Janice will teach how to get the most out of your workflow, optimizing raw images, noise reduction techniques, global adjustments vs. targeted adjustments, selective enhancements, bringing out detail, applying traditional techniques, black and white images from color capture and creating a style with your retouching.

Eric Luden, Owner of Digital Silver Imaging, will discuss more about output and their unique black & white printing methods. DSI incorporates cutting edge laser printing technology from Durst with true gelatin silver papers from Ilford Photo to produce stunning black & white prints. DSI was an early adopter of Silver Efex Pro and has been recommending the software to their clients for the past 15 months. “Silver Efex Pro takes the mystery out of the black & white digital workflow and allows the photographer total control, without all the headaches.”

Gallery Talk with J. Sybylla Smith "Off the Wall - Fashion in Black & White"

October 4, 4 PM
The Griffin Museum at Digital Silver Imaging
11 Brighton St., Belmont, MA

Photos: Marilyn Riseman by William Huber

Inspired by famed fashion and portrait photographer, Richard Avedon, who shot and edited for the wall rather than the page, this exhibit showcases black-and-white images by area fashion photographers. Curator J. Sybylla Smith gives a brief tour of the exhibit, followed by an intimate behind-the-scenes discussion on style and fashion concepts in today's fashion photography

Boston Globe Store - Photo of the Week - Revere Beach

This shot was taken in 1962 and has been another great black and white photo from the Boston Globe Store. This famous shot of Revere beach with cyclone roller coaster in the background can be purchased directly from the Boston Globe Store. Digital Silver Imaging will print the image on true black and white silver paper to give the print its true beautiful black and white quality and longevity. We can even frame it for you. Order your copy today from the Boston Globe Store.

Another successful opening reception at the Griffin/DSI Gallery

Thanks to everyone that came out last night to our gallery reception with photographer Ron Rosenstock. Despite the heavy rain that started around 4:30, we had a great turnout for the event. This is our second opening and I am pleased with how successful the response has been for our gallery. We had well over 75 people during the evening. Dave's Fresh Pasta of Sommerville provided us with some excellent hors d'hoeuvres and wines.


Ron spoke with many of the guests and had an opportunity to discuss his new work in digital infrared photography. The 11 gelatin silver fiber prints represent a new direction for Ron. He was a student of Minor White's at MIT from 1967 - 1973. White did a lot of his work using Kodak 4x5 infrared film, but Ron did not start working with infrared until he converted a Canon digital camera to shoot in IR. "The ability to shoot IR digitally, without all the hassles of shooting it on film, gives me a new found freedom", say Rosenstock. "The fact that I can then have them printed on one of my favorite black & white silver papers at DSI is a perfect match."

To view all of the images in our gallery show, please click here. Images are all 17" x 22" and can be purchased for $650 matted or $750 framed. Please contact the gallery at info@digitalsilverimaging.com

For more information about digital camera infrared conversions, please click here

New sign for Griffin Museum Gallery at Digital Silver Imaging.

Our building is on a busy street, but our first banner sign didn't make it easy for people to find us or know anything about what we're doing. So, we went through the small town bureaucracy of applying for a sign permit for the town of Belmont. Keith Gaffney, Jay's brother, helped us design and construct a large sign that now hangs perpendicularly off the front of our building. The sign features the new Griffin Museum Gallery at Digital Silver Imaging.
Keith started to hang the sign just as the storm blew through the area. The high winds slowed him down for a few minutes, but he finished hanging it in the pouring rain just 30 mins before our gallery reception started at 6:00 PM!