Since I really like black & white photographs I decided to read an article about the Key Ingredients for Black and White Images. This article is a summary of a longer article in Digital Camera Magazine (UK). Darren Rowse is talking about the key points that was in that article and also his own thoughts about it. When taking black and white image you can't use the color to distinguish every element, therefore, the tonal variance is much more important. Before taking the picture one should look for the contrast between the colors, however, as Rowse points out, there is no need to look for stark contrast for every image you're taking and planning to convert to black and white. Another important point to this is that in Photoshop, we can convert each color separately, and make the contrast between each color bigger or less, how ever we want it. Linked to the contrast is light, when you have the "right" light you also get the best amount of contrast in the picture and between the colors. For example, if you have direct lightning, it will often add to contrast. Side lightening reveals any texture that the subject may have and with that create shadows. As with any kind of image, shadows and light can be either amazing or distracting, therefore "play with light with care". One thing that can be unseen in a color picture (due to the color drawing attention itself) but really comes alive in black & white images are shapes and patterns.
Darren Rowse also give a tip while taking black and white landscape photos. Simply, look for "active skies", this adds so much more life and 'action' to the picture.
I also looked up some black and white photographs and found this website with 60 inspiring Examples of Black & White Photography. Below is three of them that I like.
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| Sally Mann |
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| MisterKey |
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| Ronald Koster |
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