Welcome back to Perspective! Not that you’ve got all those confusing settings on your camera all worked out, it’s time to put them to work!
As counterintuitive as it may sound, taking something away from a picture is not always a bad thing. Today, we’re taking away the colour. Yes, all of it. Black and white photography can be quite dramatic (such as the famously powerful and disturbing photo after the jump from the Vietnam War taken by photographer Nick Ut, which won him a Pulitzer Prize), and many great and renowned pictures were taken in this colour-less format. Take a look:
Here are some tips for shooting Black and White pictures:
1. If your camera allows it, shoot in RAW. This will give you much more control over the picture after you’ve taken the shot
2. Shoot in colour, then remove it on your computer. You’re essentially doing the same thing the camera does, but with more computing power.
3. Remember ISO and picture noise? Shoot with as low an ISO as possible, because noise is much more noticeable in black and whites. That is, unless you’re going for a “noisy look” for your picture, then good luck to you!
4. Look for high contrast scenes – these tend to yield the best black and whites.
5. Also look for textures, such as stone, glass, plants, etc. as these turn out really well in black and whites.
6. Don’t be afraid to make your picture too dark or too bright. These can both lend to the effect.
7. Experiment! Make the shot is your own! If you think something’s beautiful, take a picture. If you think it’s hideous, take the picture anyways! You’ll never know how it’ll turn out.
Happy shooting!