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Black
White Photography
Sometimes The Subject
Looks Better in Black and White
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In the
early days of photography there was only black and white prints.
There were several methods that were developed in the 1800s but
most were far and above the average photographer. In the early
1900's new processes were developed but it wasn't until the mid
1930s that color photography became available for anyone with the
invention of color film. Agfa was first and Kodak soon followed.
But even
after color was available many photographers stuck to black and
white since it was cheaper and easier to create prints. Cost was a
big factor in the early days of color prints. Some photographers
preferred to shoot in black and white due to the artistic elements
too. A famous black and white photographer, Ansel Adams, developed
a new method of black and white photography using large format
cameras and a zone system. This method produced unbelievable
landscape photos with an unusual array of shades and detail. If
you ever have a chance to see Ansel's photos at an exhibition (no
copies really do them justice), they are well worth the effort.
Many people
don't realize it but most digital cameras have a black and white
setting that allows you to take photos in black and white. And
some subject matter does lend itself to using this method to add a
little impact. I think some portrait settings, architectural
subjects, and even candid shots of events can be expressed quite
well in black and white.
A couple of
good tips about shooting in black and white:
-Look for
shots that have high contrast, patterns or some type of object or
effect that will stand out in black and white.
-Dramatic
sky settings, both rain and snow storms, overcast days where color
is washed out anyway, or bleak environments like fog and mist.
-Strong
light from specific direction or angle. High contrast that creates
dark shadows and well lit areas, especially when looking at candid
shots.
-Buildings
that have sharp angles, different points of focus, and stark
surroundings. Pick different perspective to shoot that are out of
the ordinary.
Don't over emphasize
but try to visualize without color and shoot accordingly. Use low
ISO settings (under 100) to bring out the subtle details in both
shadow areas and bright white areas. If you don't have time to
change to black and white mode on the camera, do it with your
favorite photo editor.
It's always
a personal call when to give black and white a chance to bring out
something special in a photo. I've seen exhibits that show photos
in both color and black and white and sometimes the black and
white photos actually work better in telling the story. That's
what photo's are for, and obviously where the famous saying "a
picture is worth 1000 words" came from.
You can
also use photo editing software to take any color photo and turn
it into a black and white photo. I think that if you use your
camera to shoot in black and white you may get a little better
exposure but photo editing software can let you take a look at the
image in black and white to see if it works or not. Plus you do
have the ability to do some powerful editing when converting to
bring out the best possible end result. You can some good free and
easy photo editing programs here: easy
photo editing programs.
If you
would like to look at other photographers who are both well known
for their black and white photos, look up Alan Ross, Bob Kolbrener, Henry Gilpin, Jeffrey Conley, Jenny Ellerbe, John Sexton, Patrick Jablonski, or Kerik Kouklis.
All are very well known for their skill and excellent results with
black and white photography.
However you
try it, whether shooting in black and white or using a photo
editing software program afterwards, give it a try. I think you'll
find that there are many ways to take pictures and get good
results. And sometimes it's a good thing to try a new approach.
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