BLACK & WHITE PHOTOGRAPHY
There is something appealing about black and white photos. It has a timeless quality to it. A black and white photo can be engaging, breathtaking, and moody. So what can you do to create stunning black and white photography? The fundamentals of photography will only get you so far, but there are a few additional techniques which will help you achieve outstanding black and white results. In this blog, you’ll discover ways you can start making great black and white images today.
See Shadows, Patterns, Textures, & Lines
Some of the most important things you can do in your quest for great black and white images is to train your eye to look for shadows, patterns, textures, and lines. As a photographer, you should be looking for these things anyway, but it’s especially important in black and white photography. For example, with shadows, look for solid blacks as subjects, set against a light background. It can be a person, a car, or a building casting an image on the ground.
Have you ever been walking outside in the early morning or late afternoon when the shadows are long? It’s known as the “Golden Hour”, and it’s a great time to look for interesting shadows which can form the basis of a great black and white photo. There are also patterns and textures. A colorless photo doesn’t have to be bland and boring. Look for interesting textures like brick roads or grass walls.
Shoot In Color
By shooting in color, you can maintain all the original, natural colors of your shot. So you’ll have the original, color version, then you can convert it to black and white during
your editing process. Shooting in color gives you options you wouldn’t have if you started shooting in black and white mode. It may sound like a lot of extra work, but it really isn’t. Chances are, you’re going to be editing your images after you take them anyway. Depending on what software you use, converting to black and white is as easy as one click.
Gray seasons
Fall and winter are great times to take black and white images. Particularly on an overcast day, there might not seem to be much difference from your original, color image. But gray skies, dark pavement, and white snow covering things, alone will get you 90% of the way to having a solid black and white image.
There’s a certain darkness to fall and winter. Depending on the day these seasons can provide a “colorless” quality that will inspire you to create black and white or monochrome photos. Training your eye to see in black and white is a lot easier when you’re actually seeing things in black and white or close to it.
Conclusion
Black and white photography is a timeless art form you can learn, practice, and become passionate about very quickly. Start with the fundamentals of composition, like the rule of thirds, and you’ll be well on your way to taking great black and white photos. If you are interested in learning more about Photography or Videography, please don’t hesitate to reach out! We’d love to hear from you. You can reach The Burnette Agency by email at info@theburnetteagency.com or give us a call at 404-850-2081.
