Aims

This model seeks to create black and white photos, with an emphasis on formal photography (think Magnum or Vogue covers). The use of lighting (high contrast) and composition, particularly in portrait and fashion photography, emphasizes a refined, timeless quality. All photos in the training set are from professionals from the 20th century, with an emphasis on French photographers and the new wave style. The techniques most represented (but not tagged) in the sample are:

• vignetting. Edges of the photos are darker or out of focus, to emphasize the main subject.

• burning and dodging. These effects are applied during the printing process. For portraits, they create a soft glowing light behind the main subject (it is not the same as rim light photography).

How to use

• for landscapes, you only need the keyword backinblack and the description of your landscape. It has a high probability (>=50%) of giving you the distinctive black and white feel of the Lora.

• for portraits, you may need to double down on the black and white effect by using the list (backinblack, grayscale, monochrome).

Related artists

• Jeanloup Sieff (portraiture, fashion, some landscapes)

• Henri Cartier-Bresson (photojournalism)

• Richard Avedon

• Raymond Depardon (landscape photography)

• Robert Doisneau (street photography)