How to master black and white photography

Learn how to shoot black and white photographs with our experts advice on black and white photography

Black and white photography: See in tones

Our eyes see in colour but to be successful in black and white photography its important to train them to see the
world as tones of grey.
A red flower in a green field may look great in colour, but when converted to mono, if those colours reproduce as
the same shade of grey the result will be a very dull picture.
It takes time to develop an eye for mono. One way to help it along involves taking a photographic grey card out
and comparing it with objects you encounter. Ask yourself, would that colour be lighter or darker than the grey
card?
The best black and white photography exploits the differences in tone between elements in a scene, which can
either be photographed straight or manipulated either by using on-camera filters, or Photoshop. Great black and
white photos also make good use of shapes, textures, lines and lighting, to compensate for the loss of colour.

Black and white photography: Atmosphere

Fog, mist and haze all have the potential to lower

subject contrast and create a soft, romantic feel to an image.
When its misty or foggy out, the world is almost transformed into a naturally monochrome wilderness populated
with enchanting tones and an eerie stillness. Bearing this in mind, why not get out and about next time a mist
rolls in off the sea or a fog settles for the evening?
Remember that objects and features closer to the lens will tend to show heavier tones than elements that are
further away, so bear this in mind when composing your shot.

Black and white photography: The classic subjects

Paring down the image to a range of simple tones often

leads to a purer rendition.
The classic subjects for mono treatment include documentary, landscape and portraiture.
Travel photography lends itself to a documentary approach rather than just a record of tourist attractions.
Alternatively choose a subject close to where you live, and remember to visit often and shoot plenty so that you
can build up a story over time.
Portraits often look stronger in black and white because, without the distraction of colour, the emphasis is on
character, expression, and revealing the soul of the subject.
When reducing landscapes to monochromatic tones the composition becomes more important than ever. Make
the most of your foreground, remember to include a focal point, and use leading lines and graphic shapes where
possible.
Monochrome can make a brooding feature out of an overcast sky so its a good way to go when the weather is
against you.

Black and white photography: Create contrast

Tonal contrast is important in all types of photography,

but especially in black and white photography. Whether a low contrast image a high one the contrast level can
have a profound effect on the mood and atmosphere.
A natural way to add contrast to your image is through choice of subject.
Even if the lighting is dull, a well-chosen muse will offer a striking tonal contradiction. For instance, a black sheep
among a white flock will naturally be a source of contrast.
The quality of the light and its direction are two other important factors that will influence the amount of contrast
present in a scene.
Out of doors direct sunlight creates hard shadows that offer plenty of opportunity to create images with strong
contrast.
You can influence the direction of the light by moving your position and shooting at certain times. Low angled
light, for example, helps define form and makes for interesting shadows, so try shooting in the morning or late
afternoon.

Black and white photography: Using in-camera black and white

Undoubtedly the speediest way to produce a black and

white photo is to let your camera handle the conversion.
Most DSLRs have a monochrome mode so its worth exploring this creative alternative.
Youll need to use your cameras menu system to access the processing parameters. Here, in addition to contrast
and sharpness you can play around with coloured filters. Yellow or green can be good for skin tones, whereas
red can cut through the haze in distant views.
Many models also boast funky toning effects try sepia for a vintage feel, while blue can add a cool tint to an
architectural scene.
In-camera black and white, although the fastest method of conversion, offers the least flexibility. In particular,
saving your image as a monochrome JPEG means that you wont be able to access the separate RGB channels
at a later stage should you wish to.
Therefore, if this is the case it may be prudent to save two versions one as a JPEG that you can use then and
there, and one as a RAW image, which can be processed later on if needs be.

Black and white photography: Shape and form

Concentrating on interesting shapes can be a great way

of crafting a bolder image.
To appreciate an objects outline there needs to be tonal variation between subject and background. Reducing
your focal point to a silhouette is a marvellously effective method to achieve this.
Base your exposure on the bright background, take an average reading, and be sure to select a foreground
subject that is easily recognised.
Understanding the impact of form on your final image is also useful for black and white phtoography. For
example, having the sun at your back certainly ensures even illumination, but sadly produces an image that often
looks flat.
However, simply adjusting your relationship to the light can have a great improvement. Moving to an angle of
between 45 and 90 will give a heightened sense of volume by placing useful shadows on the far side of your
subject.

Black and white photography: Patterns and textures

Following on with the concept of contrast, have a hunt

for striking patterns and textures.
One way that you can make a study of patterns is by keeping an eye out for recurring themes. Looking at
architecture and public structures should yield some promising subjects.
Consider using a telephoto lens to stack up the image elements one on top of the other.
A large aperture can be useful here to help to pick out one plane in particular and thereby establish a focal point.
In order to avoid camera shake when handholding, ensure that the shutter speed equals the focal length.
Alternatively, gain access to longer shutter speeds by using a tripod.
Alternatively to, or in fact concurrently with, textures, many objects and surfaces have interesting textures which
lend themselves to black and white.
However, without the right kind of lighting this can go unnoticed. Imagine for a moment the surface of the moon.
The craters nearest the terminator are the easiest to distinguish because sunlight is striking them obliquely
creating highlights right alongside strong shadows. Scale this down and the same kind of harsh, slanting light can
be just whats needed for bringing out texture. Use direct flash or a spotlight and position it low and to one side.
Effective lighting really is the key to revealing texture.

Black and white photography: Use filters

Coloured filters have long been associated with black and white photography. This is because they have the
remarkable ability to lighten their own colour, while darkening their opposites.
For example, a red filter can turn a blue sky almost black. Its worth noting that digital cameras often offer a
filtering option already built into them, meaning that you can have a play with this effect in-camera before
investing in an expensive set of filters.

The humble polariser is a filter worthy of consideration here too, due to its ability to remove glare and saturate
skies. The impact this can have when it comes to post-processing is striking.
Depending on the situation, a polariser can either heighten or lessen contrast, so sample with the filter and see
what produces the best results.
Another useful filter for black and white photography is a neutral density (ND) filter. Allowing extended shutter
speeds in bright conditions, using an ND filter allows more control when shooting moving water, for example, and
can mean more post-production creative freedom.

Black and white photography: Add selective colour

The second method is to apply selective colour to highlight points of interest. Its as simple as it is effective.
Heres how to do it:
Method 1:
1. Open your image and in Elements.
2. Go to: Enhance > Adjust Colour > Adjust Hue/Saturation (Photoshop: Image > Adjustments > Hue/Saturation).
3. Tick the Colourise box.
4. Adjust the Hue slider for a colour change, the Saturation slider for the strength of colour and the Lightness
slider for overall exposure.
Method 2:
1. If you want to selectively add new colours, create an additional Hue/Saturation Adjustment Layer and set this
to your chosen colour.
2. Now, from the tool bar, choose the rubber and use it to expose the colour beneath, leaving the new hue where
you want it.
3. Use Opacity to control the strength of the rubber.
4. You can add as many adjustment layers as you like this way, just remember to: Layer > Flatten Image, when
finished.

Black and white photography: High-key and low-key

The techniques of both high- and low-key lighting

lend themselves naturally to black and white photography.
A high-key image is conventionally bright, and composed primarily of highlight tones.
To achieve this look, seek out naturally light subjects, being careful to ensure that your camera meter doesnt turn
your bright areas into mushy grey (you may have to set +1 stop exposure compensation or more).
Or overexpose to make your shadows midtones, and your midtones highlights. This technique can be great for
high-key mono portraits.

The opposite is true for low-key images, which are conventionally

dark, comprising of a range of either dark, or completely black, areas punctuated with highlights to complete
images with extended contrast.
Normally a singular, directional light-source in a room with little or no available light will produce the best results.
Again, the technique is suited perfectly to black and white photography, with portraiture and still-life being the
easiest and most rewarding subjects upon which to attempt it.

Tips for Black and White

Photography
0Comments
A Guest post by Elja Trum from Photo Facts.
You might be one of those photographers who decide to convert a photo to black and white
in post production. Trying if it works for a photo you took without thinking about black and
white at the time. Nothing wrong with that, but have you ever tried to go out and shoot
specifically with a black and white photo in mind? Its worth doing so and Id like to give you
some tips for when you do.

Shoot in color
Most cameras have a black and white preset that lets you take photos directly in black and
white. Dont use it. This might sound a bit weird, but you can better shoot your black and
white images in color. A good black and white image will require post processing and the
standard in-camera black and white conversion isnt have as good as your own black and
white conversion.
There is an exception to this rule; if you shoot in your cameras RAW format, you can use the
black and white preset on your camera. When your shooting in RAW, your camera shows
you its poor black and white conversion on your display, but the color information is still
available. If your camera supports a RAW format, Id recommend on using it. It will give you
more control over the end result. The black and white preview on your camera display can
help you to get a idea of how a black and white version might look.

Keeping control over the black and white conversion

Shoot at your lowest ISO setting

I know the grainy film look is popular in black and white photography, but Id recommend on
using the lowest possible ISO setting when taking your shots. Just like the black and white
conversion itself, the grainy look is best added in post production. In the fill days
photographers often used high ISO films to get the grainy look. Shooting in high ISO will give
you enough noise, but the digital noise isnt as sweet as the analog.
Be careful not to get unwanted movement in your shots when going for the lowest ISO
setting. With modern cameras you can go up quite a lot before the noise kicks in. Its better to
get a sharp shot with some noise instead of a noiseless shot where your subject is a blur.

Grain added in post

Shoot on those gray days

You know those dull gray winter days when you feel like staying in bed for the day? Pick up
your camera and go for a black and white shoot! Those grey days are perfect for black and
white photography. The soft light will give you silky smooth transitions in your subjects. And,
when needed, you can always add some extra contrast in post.

Learn to see black and white

The world looks differently in black and white. When you learn to see in black and white
youll easily pick out the situations that are perfect for black and whitephotography. Try to
envision how a shot will look in black and white before you take the shot. Seeing black and
white requires practice. It isnt too easy, but there are several things that may help you.

Differences in color versus black and white

Look for shapes. Shapes cast shadows that bring out the shape of a subject. If the light you
use is hard, the shadows will show it. Beautiful shapes might disappear in an abundance of
color. Black and white helps you to bring out the shape again.
With the absence of color, structure becomes more important. Use (or create) the light to
bring out the structure. Structure can be found in many subjects, like hair, sand, skin or wood.
Too much contrast in a color photo often results in harsh and confusing images. Remove the
color and harsh contrast becomes a great way to attract attention to your subject.

Showing structure

Go out and shoot

So, how often do you shoot black and white?
Its worth trying and Im looking forward to see your results!

Definition of Black & White Photography

By Gwen Wark, eHow Contributor , last updated December 19, 2013

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Black-and-white photography is the creation of monochrome images using

photographic techniques. Through the use of either a traditional film camera or digital
camera, the artist exposes an image media, such as film or a digital image sensor, to
light. The light then affects the image media in such a way as to leave a permanent
imprint of the scene on that media. This media is then processed to create a final image
or photograph.

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The Advantages of Black & White Photography

About Black & White Photography

What Is Black & White Photography?

Black-and-white photography, also called monochrome, is the culmination
of several other discoveries and inventions. The resulting image is limited to
monochromatic hues, although filters may be applied to give a hue or tint. Different
photographic processes and toners may also give a different hue to a black-and-white
photograph; for example, selenium-based toners give a reddish-brown hue, while sepia
toners give an oxidized, brown hue. These chemicals combine with the colloidal
silver in the exposed photograph differently, creating different chemical reactions and
producing different results.

Early Photography

Black-and-white photography is truly the root of the photographic process,

and modern imaging has evolved from the early explorations into monochrome imaging.
Nicphore Nipce produced the first permanent black-and-white photograph in 1826 at
his estate in France, using a modified camera obscura and a plate coated with a bitumen
mixture sensitive to light. This first image took hours to expose; however, it was the birth
of modern photography. Further discoveries, such as the colloidal wet-plate process
developed by Frederick Scott Archer, cut down exposure times and moved black-andwhite photography from being a scientific process toward becoming an accessible
popular art form.
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Developments in Black & White Photography

o

From Nipce's first landscape image and Archer's colloidal wet-plate

process, black-and-white photography still had evolving to do before becoming the
modern art form it is today. The colloidal wet-plate process did cut down exposure times
but was unwieldy and long, requiring the photographer to develop images instantly. The
photographer could not be far from his darkroom, severely limiting applications for
this new art. In 1883, George Eastman introduced photographic film in rolls, and in
1888, Eastman Kodak released the first consumer camera, making the art of
photography accessible to anyone.

Development Processes
o

Early black-and-white photography processes depended upon creating an

image directly on the display media. This changed with Kodak's introduction of roll film,
and the process of creating an image now did not necessitate having a darkroom to hand;
however, it did require that the film be developed and the image transferred to a
specially treated paper. The process of developing film was then born--the exposed film
is washed in a developer, which acts upon the silver halide crystals. Crystals that have
not been exposed to light are washed away, while crystals that have been exposed to light
are darkened. This creates a negative, or inverted, image on the film, which must then
must be converted in the darkroom to a photograph.

Modern Black & White Photography

o

Modern black-and-white photography can be either film-based or digital.

The process remains the same in that the film or digital sensor is exposed to light

through a lens, and then the resulting image is processed either in a darkroom or by
computer to create the final black-and-white image. Despite advances into digital
photography, many artists continue to use and prefer traditional film processes. The
advantage to digital photography is that the process is chemical free; however, film still
has a greater dynamic capture range than a digital photography sensor, allowing more
minute control over the finished print.
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Black and white photography is a rewarding and challenging field of artistic photography.
Even people who dont care about photography can find themselves drawn to a great
black and white image. As a photographer, black and white can allow you to discover a
whole new character in a familiar subject. For many digital photographers, black and
white photography is nothing more thancolour photography converted by software. It is a
matter for your own judgement whether this is effective for your photographs.

The One Tree captured by Colin Jennings (Click Image to Find Photographer)

Often the image you assume will convert beautifully to black and white will prove a
disappointment; sometimes a photo you never imagined will surprise you. However, most
serious photographers will tell you that the best black and white photos are taken when
the photographer deliberately sets out with black and white images in mind. This creates
an entirely different mindset in terms of how you choose and approach your subject. You
may, for example, start to see potential in subjects you would never normally consider
for colour photography.
If you have never had a serious go at black and white photography, here are a few simple
tips to help you get started.
Black And White Photography Tip #1. Choosing A Subject. Some subjects lend
themselves to colour but are not nearly so effective in black and white. For example,
sunset photographs rely on the colour of a great sky for their impact, and rarely produce
a good black and white image. Colourful birds, flowers, fashionthere are many times
when the only logical approach is to shoot your subject in colour. On the other hand,
some subjects are ideally suited to black and white photography.
Because this is an old-fashioned medium, it often works well with old-fashioned
subjects. Rustic items like old farm equipment, a tumble-down shack, an old wooden
fence can all be great subjects for black and white photos.
When photographing people, age can also be a factor. A close-up portrait of an aged face
showing all the lines and creases of their years on earth can have much greater impact in
black and white.

This can only be a short article, so these examples are just the tip of the iceberg. You will
find many great subject once you start thinking in black and white.

Frosty Mornin captured by Michael Edminster (Click Image to Find Photographer)

Black And White Photography Tip #2. Seeing Your Subject In Black And White.
When you first approach your subject, you need to imagine how it will look without
colour. Try to look at it in terms of lines and shapes, shadows and contrasts. You will
begin to see your subjects in a whole new light. You may even find yourself zooming in on
a particular feature, or photographing the subject from an angle you might never have
considered in the past. One thing is for sure; once you get into the black and white
headspace your camera will express the character of the subject in an entirely different
way.
Black And White Photography Tip #3. Use The Light To Enhance Impact. Because a
black and white photo relies so much on shadows to define shapes and details, your
approach to lighting can make or break an image. As a nature photographer, I often
photograph black and white photos quite differently from colour photos.
You have probably heard the rule that the best landscape photography is done early or
late in the day when the sun is low and the light is soft and even. Well, in black and white
photography I often look for just the opposite. To create better definition in a subect I will
often take my photos through the middle part of the day, to create heavier shadows to
emphasise the lines and shapes in the composition. I am also more inclined to take

photos looking directly toward the sun, to produce silhouettes that make the most of
trees, windmills and other strong shapes against the sky.
Earlier I mentioned a portrait of a very old person. If it is the lines on a face that give the
image its character, you need to make sure the lighting is from an angle that produces
shadows in the creases. Thus you may be looking for lighting in a black and white
photograph that would be considered unflattering and unsuitable for a colour
photograph.

Monk captured by Ryan (Click Image to Find Photographer)

So there you have three very simple tips for black and white photography. Notice that
they are all about the creative approach, not about settings and camera techniques. In
fact most of the time, black and white requires no different technical expertise than
colour photography. To take better black and white photographs, you dont necessarily
need to change the way you use your camera. Instead, you are looking to change the
way you see the subject, and how you can use light, shade and composition to capture
the character that black and white photography has to offer.
If you love photography and want to stretch your horizons, I am sure you will enjoy
experimenting with black and white. It may open your eyes to aspects of your world that
have never turned you on before. Good luck and happy snapping!