Film Noir: Seeing in Black & White Evening Seminar with Musselwhite Photography
An evening of dramatic black and white portrait photography
Join award-winning portrait photographer and NoFussMuss YouTube tutor James Musselwhite for an atmospheric and practical evening exploring the visual language of Film Noir photography.
This beginner-friendly session looks at how to create dramatic portraits by thinking in black and white from the very beginning – rather than simply converting a colour photograph to monochrome afterwards.
James will explore how to see, light and shoot with monochrome in mind, using light, shadow, contrast and negative space to create striking portraits inspired by the classic Film Noir style.
Workshop Outline
7:00 – 7:30 PM | Welcome & Networking
Arrive, settle in, and connect with other photographers. A chance to chat, ask questions and get familiar with the studio before the evening begins.
7:30 – 8:15 PM | Film Noir: Seeing in Black & White
An introduction to the visual language of Film Noir and how to approach creating dramatic portraits with black and white in mind.
We’ll look at:
- Using light and shadow to create atmosphere and drama
- The importance of direction, contrast and negative space
- Choosing and positioning a light modifier to shape the subject
- How small changes in lighting can dramatically alter the mood of an image
- Learning to visualise the final monochrome image before pressing the shutter
- Thinking about black and white at the point of capture rather than relying on colour conversion afterwards
8:15 – 8:30 PM | Refreshment Break & Cameras Ready
A quick break before we move into the practical part of the evening and start shooting.
8:30 – 9:15 PM | Live Shooting
Watch the Film Noir lighting setup come together and see the effect of the lighting in real time.
There’ll be an opportunity to photograph the setup yourself, with James demonstrating how changes to the light, its position and the subject can transform the final portrait.
9:15 – 9:30 PM | Q&A Roundup
A chance to ask questions, share images and finish the evening with some practical takeaways and ideas to try in your own photography.
Date and Venue
Date: Thursday 8th October 2026
Time: 7:00 PM – 9:30 PM
Location: Musselwhite Photography, 17 Fairway Business Centre, Portsmouth, PO3 5NU
Places Are Going Fast!
This event is proving popular and places are limited.
Don’t leave it too late to book your place. Once the remaining spaces have gone, we may not be able to add any more.
Book now to make sure you don’t miss out.
Book Now
Tickets £37.50 each, including refreshments.
Limited to just 10 delegates!
All bookings are final. Refund Policy – No Refunds
