Color
photography is beautiful, but there is just something about a black & white
photo that says so much more. You see
the object in its natural form with no preconceived meaning. I have always loved black & white
photography and the feelings in brings to the observer.
This month I
have been working on taking black & white photos. As I have been working this month I have been
trying to implement several tips on taking black & white photos.
1.
Practice. Practice. Practice. – An experienced
black & white photographer can see the world without color. They have trained their mind to pick up
contrast and tone while blocking the distraction of color. I am not experienced enough to be able to do
that. That is where the practice comes
in. I want to be able to look at a scene
and see it in black & white.
2.
Focus on contrast – Black & white
photography is about the black, the white and all the tones in between. When you take color out, your eye becomes
more sensitive to the light intensity. I
want to be able to find those scenes that naturally show signs of high
contrast.
3.
Focus on texture – Texture is a form of
contrast, but is perceived quite differently.
Black & white photos lend themselves to texture because color
generally adds another layer of complexity hiding subtle textures.
4.
Capture in color – With a digital camera I have
the option to shoot in black & white or in color. I took some pictures in black & white and
some in color which I converted to black & white in post-processing. I feel that taking pictures in color and then
converting them is the way to go. I will
share some of the pictures I took in color, in black & white and those that
I converted from color to black & white.
Taking good
black & white photos takes thought and skill because anyone can take a
black & white photo. I need to
really think about these things before, during and after each shot. I want to be able to take good black &
white photos. The only way I can do that
is to practice, focus on contrast and texture, and capture in color.
I have been
having so much fun thinking about black & white photography and trying to
become better at it that I will continually work on throughout the years.
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