Tip #4214 - Better Black and White Photos
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Better
Black and White Photos
In the days of
color photography, there are many who still swear by black and white
photography, because the world changes when it is in black and white.
If you really want to define a subject’s form, switching to
black and white to take a photo will emphasize all the details you
miss in color. Much of that is largely because, with black and white,
you can hide what you don’t want to reveal. It could be the
marks on a face, the dirtiness of your surroundings or the sheer garishness
of a place, person or thing. Whatever your case may be, here are a
few simple ways of going about it!
1.) Choose
Your Subjects
Before you get
down to taking pictures, it’s important to know what subjects
are best suited for black and white photography. If your subject has
texture that is naturally dramatic, you have the first step to a good
black and white photo. Since this kind of photography is all about
darkness and light, pay attention to form, shading, pattern and tone.
The simplest example would be that of raw, natural materials, like
rocks or metal. Black and white is all about capturing a sense of
the dramatic. Textures such as wood grain, stark metal, repeated patterns
in nature, like waves or spirals, seem to work well in black and white
as well.
2.) Time Your Shoot
Many digital photographers
actually prefer to shoot images for black and white in low contrast
situations. So, a dark or overcast day can be a great time to shoot
outdoor pictures. Ironically, these are the days when those who shoot
only in color sit at home complaining about the "poor light."
So, the next time you find yourself with a dark and gloomy day, shoot
some black and white shots and see what happens!
Composition Matters
In black and white
photography, you can’t use color to lead the eye into or around
your shot. By that, I mean you need to train yourself to look at shapes,
tones and textures in your frame as points of interest. Pay particular
attention to shadows and highlights as well, which will become a feature
of your shot.
3.) Shoot Stark Colors
Start with high
contrasting colors in your everyday subjects at home. Stark colors
such as red, deep purples and bright yellows can make a really good
starting point. With bold colors such as these, your camera will interpret
them differently. It’s almost as if the camera leaves out what
the eye distinguishes as that particular color and keeps the intensity
there. If you can’t find these colors around your home, try
going out into your garden and taking shots of flowers that have these
colors. Or, go to a shopping complex, a department store, a nursery,
a plant store or a public garden. Those are all good places for some
great pictures.
4.) Go for Symmetry
With black and
white, try to keep some symmetry in your texture. It’s easier
to create stunning black and white photos when you have symmetry in
your texture, because it can sometimes be lost in color. Symmetrical
textures in black and white are consistently beautiful and offer something
the eye cannot capture as well when you are working in color.
5.) Set to a Low ISO
Shoot with the
lowest possible ISO. This is because "noise" (the graininess
in the picture) created by the ISO can become more obvious in black
and white photography than in color.
Happy shooting!
~ Zahid H. Javali
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