How to black and white photography
Complete Guide to Black and White Photography
A black and white image of a landscape
The art of black and white photography is surprisingly difficult to master. You can’t just slap a “noir” filter on your images and call it a day!
In this article, I will introduce black and white photography, also known as monochromatic photography, and explain how to take better black and white photos – including how to convert B&W images properly in software like Lightroom and Photoshop.
Table of Contents
1. What Is Black and White Photography?
Black and white photography is the art of using different tones of gray, ranging from white to dark, to create compelling images. This genre has a very long history – as long as photography itself. By the time photographers captured the first permanent color image in 1861, monochrome photos had been around for 35 years.
Still, although color is the new kid on the block, it hasn’t replaced the art of black and white. Color can be a distraction; it can be dull and lifeless. One of the tasks of photographers is to simplify an image, distilling a scene down to its essence. Sometimes, that essence is colorless.
Ansel Adams, discussing the differences between the two types of photography, said, “I can get a far greater sense of ‘color’ through a well-planned and executed black and white image than I have ever achieved with color photography.”
Wow. Ever thought of it that way before?
Of course, in today’s world, the vast majority of photographs are taken in color. Perhaps this means we have lost some of the beauty and imagination that Ansel Adams wanted photography to convey. Hopefully, the techniques in this article will help you gain it back.
NIKON D7000 + 24mm f/1.4 @ 24mm, ISO 200, 1/80, f/2.52. The Proper Way to Do Black and White Photography
A good black and white photo is also just a good photo, period. You won’t be able to rescue a disastrous image by slapping a “Noir” filter on it, although that’s a popular thing to try.
There are seven essential elements of top-notch black and white photographs, which you’ll see shortly. First, though, is the most important thing to remember: You need to have a reason for shooting in black and white.
Not every subject works well in black and white. So, always ask yourself: Why are you eliminating color from a particular photo? What makes it so important to shoot your subject that way?
Black and white photos can look great, but they don’t always. You need to know ahead of time why you are taking a picture in black and white rather than color. If you can’t pinpoint a good reason, maybe your photo is not meant to be monochromatic.
NIKON D800E + 14-24mm f/2.8 @ 14mm, ISO 100, 1/8, f/16.03. Black and White vs Monochrome
Perhaps you have noticed that there are two common terms which refer to the “same” thing: black and white (B&W) and monochrome. However, even though you may see these words used interchangeably, they are not identical!
The word monochrome means “of a single color.
” So, monochrome photos can have a color tint, assuming it is just one color. Take a look at the photo below. It has a brown hue to enhance the character, but all the other colors have been removed. Although this counts as monochrome, it is not black and white. True black and white photos have no color at all. They are entirely black, gray, and white.
The good news is that you generally can use either term without causing confusion. But if you want to be perfectly accurate, it is better to use the phrase “black and white” for photos without a tint.
4. Camera Equipment
In general, when you take pictures in black and white, you should just keep using the camera you already have; it will work equally as well for monochromatic images as in color. But there are still a few camera equipment considerations that matter for black and white photography, which we will cover below.
4.1. Cameras
First, it is important to mention that there are some cameras which shoot monochrome photos only.
They tend to be very high-end and expensive, such as the Leica M Monochrome, which sells for $8000. Although you will occasionally find people who modify regular cameras to shoot only black and white, that process is expensive and difficult to do, so it isn’t common to see.
Why would anyone go to such effort for a camera that only shoots B&W? Well, most people don’t. But monochrome-only cameras do offer sharper and cleaner black and white images than what you can get from a color camera, so it’s not as though there are zero benefits. For most people, though, the practicality of a regular color camera makes it the obvious choice.
The Leica M Monochrome4.2. Shooting in Black and White vs Shooting in Color and Converting
Most cameras have a black and white mode, which brings up an interesting question: Is it better to take pictures in color and convert them in post-processing, or go with monochrome mode from the start?
The simple answer is that you should always take pictures in color first, and convert to black and white later in post-production, just because there’s no real penalty for doing so.
And, if you ever change your mind and want the color version instead, you always have the option to go back.
Also, if you start with a color file, you gain a huge amount of flexibility – because you’ll still be able to adjust “colors” in post-production, even after converting to black and white. For example, you can darken the blue channel to make the sky appear darker in your monochrome images. This isn’t possible if your out-of-camera file is already black and white.
NIKON D7000 + 24mm f/1.4 @ 24mm, ISO 180, 1/100, f/1.44.3. JPEG vs RAW
The previous section was actually a bit of a false dilemma. Quite simply, it isn’t relevant to many photographers in the first place. That’s because – hopefully – you will be shooting RAW files rather than JPEGs, and RAW photos taken with a color camera always retain color information.
If you haven’t heard of the RAW vs JPEG debate, take a look at our specific article on the subject. But the basic overview is that RAW files have more information and image quality, whereas JPEGs are smaller files with less data.
For obvious reasons, then, photographers looking for high-quality images tend to shoot RAW.
So, if you are shooting RAW, you can enable “monochrome” on your camera and start taking pictures. The images will appear black and white on the camera’s LCD screen, but when you open them in post-processing software, they’ll flip to color! The RAW file doesn’t throw away any of that data.
You can use this to your advantage. Say that you’re out taking pictures, and you expect to convert most of your RAW photos to black and white. If you enable monochrome mode, you’ll see a black and white preview on your camera’s LCD, which can help you visualize your image better. But the key is that all these photos are actually in color, since they’re RAW files, so you aren’t losing any flexibility if you later decide you prefer the color version.
NIKON D7000 + 17-55mm f/2.8 @ 17mm, ISO 100, 0.6 seconds, f/8.04.4. Filters
When you’re learning about camera equipment for black and white photography, you may come across some information on filters.
With black and white film – or if you shoot with a monochrome-only digital camera – it is important to use filters on the front of your lens to alter the contrast and tones in your images.
Take a look at the comparison below to get a sense of how color filters affect an image. These photos are taken with blue, green, and red filters – physical glass filters attached to the lens.
As you can see, the choice of filter has a major effect on each black and white photo. The blue filter blocks red light, darkening things like the leaves and ground. The green filter brightens everything that is green (which, above, includes small elements of the tree). Lastly, a red filter darkens the sky and other blue elements of the photo, while comparatively brightening anything that is red.
Despite the major differences shown above, digital photographers today rarely use color filters for black and white photography. The reason is simply that they have too much impact on color photos, potentially making it impossible to convert back and get something that looks good.
Also, you can mimic many of the same effects in post-processing by adjusting individual color channels.
Purists still use color filters for their black and white photos, since the effects are not perfectly replicable in software. But it is becoming less and less common, and you most likely don’t need to invest in a color filter system for your own monochrome photography.
5. The Seven Elements of the Best Black and White Photos
When you shoot black and white, you need to “pull an Ansel Adams” and convey the essence of your subject – including its colors and other characteristics – through shades of light and dark alone. The best black and white photos accomplish that by perfecting the seven elements below.
5.1. Shadow
One of the first things to remember when shooting black and white is that shadows have an out-sized impact. They are no longer just darker regions of a photograph – they are major elements of composition, and sometimes your subject itself.
Your treatment of shadows in black and white photography affects every other aspect of how a photo appears. Are the shadows black without any details? That signals a feeling of intensity and emptiness. Or, on the other hand, if your shadows are subtle and detailed, it may make for a more complex photograph overall.
NIKON D810 + 70-200mm f/2.8 @ 70mm, ISO 140, 1/500, f/9.0Note that nothing about black and white photography requires regions of pure black in order to look good (or pure white, for that matter). It is a bit of a myth that you need the complete range from deep shadows to crisp highlights before a black and white photo is optimal.
Instead, just do what looks the best to you, but keep an eye out for the shadows in your frame. They often have a stronger “pull” in black and white than in color, and your composition may need to change accordingly.
5.2. Contrast
Many people think that contrast is just the difference between the brightest and darkest portions of a photograph.
However, by that definition alone, this soft gradient has extreme contrast, since it contains both white and black:
Instead, contrast also includes a component of proximity. The difference in brightness between two objects is exaggerated when they appear side by side. In the photograph below, the bright Eiffel Tower is directly in front of a black background. This image has far more contrast than the gradient above.
NIKON D7000 + 24mm f/1.4 @ 24mm, ISO 800, 1/30, f/1.4Contrast matters in black and white photography because of the message it sends. A photo with high contrast, like the one above, conveys a sense of dynamic intensity – often, again, because of the dark shadows. This is why photographers like adding contrast to monochromatic photos. It helps the images stand out.
Low contrast photos don’t attract as much attention, but their softer, muted quality can work equally well. Some of my favorite black and white photos of all time have just a few silver mid-tones, and their subtlety is what makes them work so well.
The key is that a photo’s level of contrast needs to make sense for your subject – which is something you can finesse, at least to a degree, in post-production. Perhaps it is a mistake to photograph a gentle, spring day with intense contrast that distracts from your mood. Likewise, if you are taking monochrome photos of a powerful landscape, high contrast is a natural choice in order to make the subject stand out.
5.3. Tones (Dark and Light)
Not all photographers use the word “tone” in the same way. Here, you can take it to mean the underlying brightness, darkness, and shades of gray that appear in an image.
Tones are the cornerstone of every black and white image. If you have ever heard the phrase “high-key” or “low-key” in photography, you’ve probably seen examples of tones taken to the extreme.
Although most photos are neither especially bright nor especially dark – they’re somewhere in between – you still need to pay attention to tones when you take a photo.
That’s because, just like contrast, tones can send a powerful message about your photo’s mood.
Take a look at the two photographs below.
NIKON D800E + 20mm f/1.8 @ 20mm, ISO 100, 1/30, f/16.0NIKON D800E + 20mm f/1.8 @ 20mm, ISO 100, 1/30, f/16.0This is the same image, of course, but two different versions – dark and light. The darker image is more mysterious and foreboding. The lighter image is more etherial and happy.
Although the differences above are extreme, even tiny variations in the tones you capture can swing a photo’s emotions significantly. Personally, I like the appearance of dark, moody photographs, both monochromatic and in color. But the specific tones that work the best depend upon the scene you are photographing, and in the image above, I prefer the lighter version.
The most important thing to remember is this: The tones of your image – whether dark or bright – should harmonize with the character of the subject itself. Use them deliberately to tell the story you have in mind.
5.4. Shapes
Every photo is a collection of shapes, simple or complex. When you remove color from your toolbox, shapes become even more important as a part of the story you tell.
Take a look at the photo below. Yes, it depicts a waterfall with trees and rocks. But at a more abstract level, it is a series of shapes placed together on a canvas. The waterfall is a rectangle surrounded by lines and polygons. The large tree, anchored in the river, resembles a music note.
NIKON D7000 + 24mm f/1.4 @ 24mm, ISO 100, 1 second, f/11.0People are drawn to shapes automatically. If there is no color to an object, the only way we recognize it is by its shape. Imagine a monochromatic photo of a lamp, silhouetted. The only tones in the photo could be white and black. There are no shadows or texture to indicate what the photograph shows. But is there any doubt that you are looking at a lamp?
Shapes anchor and simplify a photograph. Some famous overlooks are photographed by thousands of people each year simply because they contain a mountain or river with a pleasing shape.
Personally, when I took the image below, I waited several minutes for fog to pass so that viewers could see the shape of the whole mountain. If part of the triangle were covered, the photo would not work well in the first place.
NIKON D800E + TAMRON 15-30mm f/2.8 VC @ 21mm, ISO 100, 8 seconds, f/10.0And do I even need to mention the shapes of people, instantly recognizable and deeply emotional?
NIKON D7000 + 50mm f/1.4 @ 50mm, ISO 450, 1/400, f/1.4With black and white photography, there is no color to make an image more familiar (or more abstract, if that’s your goal). So, shapes are especially important – they’re one of the primary ways for a viewer to make sense of a photograph at all.
5.5. Texture
While shapes create the “big picture” of an image, texture fills in the rest. And, like all the elements of black and white photography we have covered so far, the textures you capture have the power to affect a photo’s mood and emotions.
From smooth pebbles to coarse grass, and sleek aluminum to dull rust, texture is the foundation of an image’s personality.
It is very tricky to take harsh photos of a gentle stream, for example, in large part because of the water’s soft texture. (But if you did have such a goal, you might want to boost contrast and capture deep shadows – balancing out the soft texture by making the overall photo more intense.)
Take a look at the textures in the two images below, and think about how they impact the mood of the photos:
NIKON D5100 + 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 @ 32mm, ISO 100, 6 seconds, f/22.0NIKON D800E + 70-200mm f/4 @ 86mm, ISO 100, 1/10, f/16.0The chaotic waves in the first image add to the intense, foreboding mood. By comparison, the second photo has smoother, repetitive textures that lead to a sense of harmony and balance. When you can’t rely on color to form the emotional backbone of an image, texture is even more crucial. It simply has a major impact on the way your black and white photos feel.
5.6. Composition
The best photos tend to have an underlying sense of purpose – a hint that the photographer deliberately captured the scene in this particular way rather than another.
The image has structure and order. It isn’t just a snapshot. In other words, it has a strong composition.
We have written much more extensively about composition in the past, but the key in this context is that elements of your photo will change in black and white versus color. If you are taking portrait photos in color, for example, your subject may have vivid eyes that affect your composition significantly. The same is true in landscape photography, in which case a golden sky can draw the entire image upward. In both cases, you would need to compose your photo differently if you shot in black and white instead – and these are far from the only examples.
NIKON D800E + 35mm f/1.8 @ 35mm, ISO 100, 1.3 seconds, f/16.0Other times, you may want to use the more imagination-driven nature of black and white photography to your advantage. In the example below, the tight composition eliminates some of the scene’s context. A lack of colors adds to the sensation, making viewers spend a moment longer looking at the photo to recognize what’s going on.
This sort of effect is easier to accomplish in black and white than color.
Of course, it is crucial to compose your photos well no matter what, color or black and white. This isn’t something that changes when you convert a photo. Still, when you take pictures in black and white, it helps to think about the scene from a monochrome mindset. When you do, you’ll often find yourself making different decisions about your composition – and that can turn a decent shot into a portfolio piece.
5.7. Emotion
At some level, emotion is the most important part of photography – which makes it the perfect way to round out this list. All the elements we have discussed so far are important primarily because they are tools of emotion; they help you pin down the mood and message of your black and white photos.
For a case study, take a look at the two photos below, which showcase completely different scenes. The first is an image of architecture in Paris, and the second is a photo of mountains in New Zealand.
Yet, despite the vastly different subjects, the emotions of these photos are quite similar:
Why is that? Hopefully, the answer is obvious – they are both crowded, high-contrast photos with harsh textures and deep shadows. Both compositions contain similar jumbles of shapes and tones. Who cares that the subjects are different? The feeling of each image is bound to be similar, since their underlying elements are very much alike.
Compare that to the photo below, which is the opposite in many ways. As you would expect from the sparse composition and lack of distractions, the emotion in this photo is completely different – isolated and lonely:
NIKON D800E + 70-200mm f/4 @ 200mm, ISO 140, 1/800, f/7.1Emotion is not some separate variable that you need to get right in order to capture good black and white photos. Instead, it is the culmination of the tools we have discussed so far.
Used well, the other six elements of black and white photography let you sculpt your emotional message in a way that resonates with viewers and shows them something worth seeing.
6. Post-Processing
Let’s take a look at how you can post-process color images to black and white using Lightroom, Photoshop and other software.
6.1. How to Make an Image Black and White in Lightroom
There are a few ways to convert photos to black and white in Lightroom, but the easiest is just to toggle “Black & White” treatment at the very top of the Basic panel, or just press “v” on your keyboard.
You can also convert a photo to black and white by reducing the saturation to -100, or (with some cameras) by changing the profile under “Camera Calibration” to monochrome. But these methods are not optimal, since they eliminate some options under the HSL tab to adjust individual colors in the black and white mix.
Although the HSL tab is very valuable for fine-tuning black and white photos, be aware that extreme adjustments frequently add high levels of noise to your images.
This can be minimized somewhat in the noise reduction panel (specifically the “color noise” reduction), but it is best just to keep your adjustments minimal.
6.2. How to Make an Image Black and White in Photoshop
You have even more flexibility converting a black and white photo in Photoshop than in Lightroom, to the degree that everyone has a different preferred method. Personally, I like using the “Camera RAW Filter” in Photoshop CC, which opens up the same editing options found in Lightroom and applies them as a filter. That’s because I like Lightroom’s HSL adjustments for black and white photos quite a bit!
Still, you have plenty of other options as well. One popular method is to create a “channel mixer” adjustment layer, which gives you control over the red, blue, and green channel in your black and white image.
You can also go with a black and white adjustment layer, decrease saturation completely, or even open the photo in a plugin that does black and white conversion.
In short, there are many ways to get a black and white image in Photoshop, and it’s helpful to test out some of these methods for yourself to decide which one you like the best.
6.3. Converting Photos in Other Post-Processing Software
These days, it is very popular to use dedicated, third-party software to convert a photo to black and white. The most popular is Nik Silver Efex Pro, which many photographers already happen to own, since it was free for a few years in a row. (It now costs $70 as part of the Nik bundle, since DxO bought it from Google.) It works on its own, or as a plugin for Lightroom and Photoshop.
Personally, I tend not to use Silver Efex Pro or other third-party conversion software, since saving the black and white version eliminates color information, meaning that there is no way to convert back to color from that point on. (Though you can always re-edit the original RAW for a color version.) Still, software like Silver Efex does a noticeably better job of handling extreme adjustments without adding noise, so it can be very useful for some photos.
And there is no denying that plugins like this have much more flexibility than Lightroom’s built-in options.
7. Inspiration and Ideas
If you want to take some great black and white photos, just go out and do it! The best way to improve your skills is to practice, both in the field and in post-production. Soon, you’ll find yourself looking at the world in monochrome, visualizing exactly how the scene in front of you will look in black and white. Here are a few brief ideas to get you started.
7.1. Black and White Portrait Photography
Because of how accessible portrait photography is, it’s one of the best ways to start taking black and white pictures. Pay special attention to the interplay of light and shadows when you take monochromatic portraits. You can use careful lighting to sculpt the shape of your subject’s face or draw attention to certain features, such as the look in their eyes or the texture of their hands. Done well, the results will speak volumes.
Also, you can use black and white as a way to distill your subject’s emotions. If you shoot color portraits, any clothing in the photo may draw more attention than it should, taking away from your message. Monochrome helps you focus on things like facial expressions and gestures instead.
NIKON D7000 + 17-55mm f/2.8 @ 34mm, ISO 360, 1/100, f/2.87.2. Black and White Landscape Photography
Monochromatic landscape pictures have a sense of rawness that helps them draw attention. They rely on the fundamental characteristics of the scene – light and land – to tell a story. Along with that, it is common for landscapes with countless colors to become unruly, distracting from the message you want to convey. Often, black and white is the best solution.
Still, there will be times when the colors in a landscape are perfectly fine, but the image still looks better in black and white. That’s because, as a photographer, you are often trying to capture the essence of a scene more than just a precise replica of what you saw.
Sometimes, that essence is more about shadow, texture, shape, and contrast than it is about particular hues.
7.3. Black and White Street Photography
Last is street photography – perhaps the only genre of photography where people are more likely to shoot in monochrome than in color. Why would this be?
In some sense, it is down to the history of street photography. People like Henri Cartier-Bresson and Vivian Maier captured street life exclusively in black and white, and their influence has carried over to many people taking pictures today.
But at a deeper level, color can distract from street scenes in a way that is rarer in other genres. If you want viewers to focus on an interaction or subtle visual pun that you have captured, you certainly wouldn’t want to draw their eye away from the action with splashes of color (particularly in cities, where the position of colors in the frame is often haphazard).
This is not to say that all good street photography must be black and white, but it shouldn’t be surprising that so much of it is.
8. Conclusion
Black and White Photography is deceptively difficult. Although you don’t have as many variables to juggle when you remove color, you’re creating a new challenge instead: taking powerful photos without an important tool at your disposal! If you shoot regular photos in color, you might be able to rely upon vivid clouds at sunset in order to capture a striking image. Or, for portrait photography, you can make your subject more lifelike by depicting the color of their eyes, hair, and skin with a greater sense of realism.
None of that is possible with black and white photography. Instead, you need to work with light, shadow, and the elements of composition to tell a story and capture the emotions you have in mind. Although that takes practice, it is worth the effort. Some messages are simply meant to be conveyed in monochrome.
Black and White Photography - Top 10 Tips for Black and White Pictures
Even though we have come a long way from the era of film photography, black and white photography still holds a special charm. This guide will answer all your questions about how to capture beautiful, clear and well composed black and white photographs.
There is just something magical about black and white photography, isn’t there? The timeless beauty of black and white photos, the emotion that they bring, the different lighting contrasts that come to life.
For the longest time, black and white film photography was the only medium available in photography. While color photography has also been around for a long time (the first color photo was taken in 1861), it was not until the 1960s when color truly started to dominate the world, and it has been that way ever since. Some people might think that black and white pictures are antiquated and have no use in the modern world.
However, there is a reason why black and white photography is still popular.
Black and white creates a strange dreamscape that color never can.
Jack Antonoff
Sure, shooting in color is great, but understanding how to shoot black and white pictures can bring a new perspective and aesthetic to your photos that can’t be expressed through color.
I’ve been shooting in black and white for a while, and here are some things I’ve discovered that can make your black and white photos even better.
- Get some inspiration from black and white photos
- Emphasize the contrast in your black and white pictures
- Shoot in RAW and Look at Your Camera Options
- Experiment With Exposure to create impactful black and white photos
- Black Makes White Pop
- Look for Patterns
- Experiment With Filters
- Use Software to Enhance Your Black and White Photos
- It's about expressing emotions through black and white photography, not just removing colors
- Don’t be Afraid to Use Flash
Tip 1: Get some inspiration from black and white photos
Here is an obvious one that many people forget to do.
If you want to be good with black and white photography, you must look at old black and white photos and movies for inspiration. Back when people were limited with their coloring, they had to create some fantastic shots to get people hooked. Look at some vintage films and photos for some ideas. You can look at contemporary photos in black and white as well.
Best of all, these black and white images and videos are readily available. Old movies can be found online without many hoops to jump through, and old photos are just a Google search away. There is no excuse not to look at past black and white media, and in the present to get some inspiration.
Find a photo or a movie shot that attracts your eye. Why does it draw your eye? The contrast? The texture? Find the reason why and take note.
Tip 2: Emphasize the contrast in your black and white pictures
Since black and white photography is all about playing with only black, white, and shades in-between, always emphasize the contrast in the photos you take.
When taking a photo, think about how it will look in black and white. A bright sky will look interesting when contrasted with a dark object. Having a silhouette of a person or object in front of a light background will create some stunning contrast.
Contrasts are also used in black and white fashion photography; the options for creative experimentation are limitless. Take a few photos and look for the contrasting elements. This can help you figure out how you can take the perfect shot. Here are some tips how to master silhouette photography.
Tip 3: Shoot in RAW and Look at Your Camera Options
RAW should be your go-to format if you’re a professional photographer, but it’s especially important if you’re shooting in black and white. With RAW, you can be able to tweak the photo to the best of your ability and be able to change it back to color should the image not work in black and white.
Tip: Your camera may have a black and white option as well, which can give you a good idea of what the photo will look like in black and white.
If you are doing black and white flower photography and you want to understand the effect of light and the shape that is coming out, the black and white or monochrome option will help you better understand.
Tip 4: Experiment With Exposure to create impactful black and white photos
With photography in general, you don’t want to stay on “normal” exposure forever; black and white portrait photography is a good area to experiment with exposure. Sometimes, over or underexposing, your photos can add some dramatic effects. This is especially important with black and white landscape photography.
Whenever I find a shot I want to use for a black and white photo potentially, I always experiment with various levels of exposure and see which one turns out the best. Also, look at the exposure of natural lighting. Flat light, where there isn’t much exposure, can enhance your image by quite a bit. I recommend trying different levels of light.
Tip 5: Black Makes White Pop
When shooting black and white, the darks can never be too dark in most cases.
If you shoot some dark darks (what a fun thing to say,) be it on your camera or editing them in post-production, you can be able to make the whites stick out more. In fact, the whites and the grays will pop even if they are weak.
Making your photos pop is essential. You want your viewer to eye a subject that pops out, and then look at the rest of the photo for any other details they may have missed. Black and white photos are really good at popping, but you need to take some extra care.
Tip 6: Look for Patterns
A good photo typically has some pattern to it. Something that makes the viewers’ eyes follow the pattern and look for more patterns. Patterns can be rocks on the ground, blades of grass, cars going from left to right, and any other repeating object, texture, or design.
For example, capturing patterns in black and white street photography can make your images distinct and make the main subject really grab attention. Patterns work really well in black and white photography because there are no colors to distract you.
If you are interested in learning about car photography here is the guide.
When taking a shot, look for patterns. If your eye follows a pattern, this may be a good sign that you should take that shot. Give it a try and see what you come up with.
Tip 7: Experiment With Filters
Using filters, you can control the amount of light entering your camera. This can be a great asset to use in black and white landscape photography to make the picture a bit darker or add even more contrast. For example, I put a polarizer on my camera and shoot a black and white landscape photo, the brights will become a bit darker, and this can contrast even better. Partial filters on your camera can help out as well. If one corner of the frame is bright, try darkening it with a filter. Experiment with the filter on and without it. This will allow you to see what photos will look better with a filter and which don’t. A photographer can’t succeed without some experimentation, so make it happen.
Tip 8: Use Software to Enhance Your Black and White Photos
With black and white photography, you need to think about the post-production. Photoshop and Lightroom can definitely help make your black and white photos even better, but there are programs designed specifically for black and white photos. There is one program called Silver Effex Pro 2. This is a plugin for Photoshop and Lightroom that enhances your black and white photos. It streamlines your post-production photographic process and makes it much easier to make a good photo. It’s a great little tool to have.
Smartphones today are also capable of handling an intensive photography workflow thanks to intuitive apps like Instasize. Instasize can help you adjust the levels of light and shadows in your black and white photo while also sharpening important details. It also has a free BW filter. To access the complete set of filters for desaturated images, you can subscribe for only $4.99/month. Instasize is available for download in both the iOS and Android app stores.
Tip 9: It's about expressing emotions through black and white photography, not just removing colors
There are some photos that you may think will look great in black and white because they lack color, to begin with. A photo of a black and white checkered floor. A close-up of a zebra. A dark, gray sky. You may think that these photos will benefit from a black and white filter, but the truth is that great black and white photography is all about telling a story, highlighting a subject, and expressing emotions, without the distraction of colors. It is not about shooting subjects that lack color to start with.
“One sees differently with color photography than black-and-white… in short, visualization must be modified by the specific nature of the equipment and materials being used.”
Ansel Adams
Tip 10: Don’t be Afraid to Use Flash
Flash is a bit of a taboo when shooting natural photos, isn’t it? However, photographing black and white, a flash may be essential.
See, flash creates varying shades of gray when you turn that photo into black and white. This allows for more contrast. You may not think much about it as you’re shooting, but in post-production, that flash can add some contrast to your photo by showing off all the varying shades of gray. Give it a try and see what you can come up with.
In summary, black and white photography is all about searching for a new perspective and creating a visual that’s better told without the use of colors.
Here are a few reasons why a black and white photo needs special attention:
No distracting colors.
Colors are great, but they can add some distractions to your photos. The magic of black and white photography is that it lacks those distracting colors and allows you to see contrast and patterns that you may not have seen in a color photo.
It can bring out emotion.
When you look at a black and white photo, you may think of timelessness. That photo could have been shot currently or 50 years ago.
Also, black and white photos can make you feel many different emotions that a color photo may not be able to. Bleakness, happiness, awe, the list goes on.
It can require extra equipment.
Black and white photos do require some extra equipment and care if you want to get a good shot. If you are starting out in photography and want to know which camera will be a perfect fit for you, check out the best DSLR cameras for beginners.
More experimentation.
Filters, experimenting with exposure and lighting, and special tools in post-production may be needed. While you definitely want to experiment with color photos as well, black and white photos require even more experimentation.
“To see in color is a delight for the eye but to see in black and white is a delight for the soul”
Andri Cauldwell
Conclusion:
Black and white photography artists have created visuals that span various photography genres. Whether it's black and white street photography, black and white erotic photography, black and white photography portraits, or even black and white animal photography - all of these photography genres have been enriched by photographers shooting from a different perspective and expressing their viewpoint without colors.
Black and white photography is here to stay. Have you tried your hands on this visually artistic and satisfying technique? If not, then do try to look beyond the colors and see the exquisite beauty of the world in black, white, and greys.
Even as you continue to learn and inculcate the skills of professional black and white photography, you must not forget to showcase your work. Build a professional photography website to showcase your photos. Curate your best work and regularly update your portfolio website by adding work from recent travels. Your website is your showcase window to the world and the first point of contact with potential clients and collaborators. Here’s a great article on how to create a photography portfolio website.
Pixpa is a portfolio website builder platform that is trusted by creative pros around the world. Have a look at some outstanding portfolio website examples. Pixpa offers an easy yet powerful drag-and-drop website builder and includes Client galleries, eCommerce, and blogging tools to enable you to manage your complete online presence through one seamless platform.
Explore all features that make Pixpa the perfect choice for creative professionals.
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How to make a photo black and white in Photoshop and free online editors
Want to add some drama to your photo, give your photo a noir touch or turn it into a frame from a Hitchcock movie? You are exactly at the right place.
In this article, I will talk about a few simple ways to turn a color photo into black and white using Photoshop, and also give a list of online services where this can be done in a couple of clicks. Go!
Black and white picture in Photoshop : 5 easy ways
Photoshop is a powerful image editor that offers many tools for working with images. In Photoshop, there are many ways to convert a color photo to b/w, and everyone is free to use what seems more convenient. You can simply desaturate the image, or you can play with shades, add contrast, and practice with light and shadow to make the photo look more artistic.
If you think that this is all complicated and only suitable for advanced users, you are mistaken. Even if you opened Photoshop for the first time today, I am sure that everything will work out.
Let's open a photo in Photoshop. I decided to start my journey into the world of black and white pictures with a photo of a girl that I downloaded from a photo stock. Open the folder with the picture you want to make black and white and simply drag it into the image editor window.
A start has been made. Let's now take a closer look at all the quick ways to convert an image to b/w.
Method #1: Desaturate a photo
This is a method for speedrunners or anyone who wants to take a black and white photo in just a second. True, there will be no fine adjustments here, but you can add lights or shadows with other tools later. So, open your image in Photoshop and press Shift+Ctrl+U. Surprised?
Desaturation makes the photo black and white, of course, but it doesn't look very expressive.
Let's learn how to add a dramatic effect to a picture in other ways.
Method # 2: Black and white filter
Yes, the developers of Adobe Photoshop have built a special tool into the editor to make the process of converting color to black and white as easy as possible. Go to the top menu on the tab "Image - Correction - Black and White" or simply press the keyboard shortcut Alt + Shift + Ctrl + B.
The menu that appears allows you to change the tint and select image options. Try moving the hue sliders and see how the picture changes. For example, when you select the Blue Filter option, the photo becomes more contrasting and expressive. Look what freckles!
Method # 3: Adjustment layer
The same Black and White box can be opened by overlaying an adjustment layer. About what it is and why it is needed, I talked in detail in this material. To do this, select the layer with your photo in the Layers panel, and then click on the circle icon.
Here also select Black and White.
The advantage of this method is that the pixels of the image itself do not change - the adjustment layer is superimposed on top of the image. If you double-click on the circle icon next to the adjustment layer, you will again see a window with sliders to change the settings. To remove this layer, simply delete it by pressing "Delete", and then the photo will return to its original form.
Since we're applying a B&W effect on top of the images with the adjustment layer, you can drag multiple photos into the Photoshop window at once and place them in the Layers panel. Remember: the adjustment layer must be on top! Now you can turn off the visibility of layers one by one and save images under one filter.
Method # 4: Gradient Map
With the Gradient Map tool, you can not only make an image black and white, but red and white, purple yellow, or whatever you want.
Let's focus on the first option and add some atmosphere to this photo of people on the beach. Go to the tab "Image - Correction - Gradient Map".
A window with a gradient appears. If your default colors are black and white, then the picture will turn black and white. Now feel free to click OK and save the photo. And if you want to play some more or everything doesn't look the way you want, follow the instructions:
- Click on the gradient to open the editor.
- Find the black and white gradient in the Basic folder.
- If necessary, change the contrast by moving the dots of the sliders at the bottom of the window.
If you click on the slider and then on the "Color" box, a palette will appear. Here you can choose a shade, for example dark gray. To add another color to the gradient, click on the area directly below the gradient to create a new dot of color.
I added a gray color in the middle and replaced the white with a light gray and moved the sliders a bit.
With the Gradient Editor, you can add and mix many shades of gray to achieve the desired effect. You can also save gradients and then apply them to other images with the same settings. All saved gradients will be displayed in the same window.
Method No. 5: Channel mixing
Another way to make a photo black and white is channel mixing. Sounds difficult? But in fact, everything is very simple:
- Open the photo.
- Go to the Image - Adjustments - Channel Mixer tab.
- In the window that opens, click the "Monochrome" checkbox.
Now, by changing the position of the sliders, you can adjust the channel ratio, contrast, shadows, highlights and picture constant. Once you're happy with what you've done, click OK.
I chose these settings and shifted the constant by 16% to black. So I got a filter that resembles an old photographic film.
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Bonus: how to leave part of a black and white photo in color
Talking about turning color into black and white, suddenly I thought: who It will be useful to know how to leave part of the photo in color.
As a bonus, I decided to show you one simple method. It will require a little perseverance, but you will definitely like the result. To make the process more fun, I decided to make a picture in the spirit of the immortal Sin City - this is the first thing that comes to my mind when I think about the color detail of a black and white image.
The first thing I did was pick the right photo: I liked this pretty woman in the red dress. So, here is the world's first instruction on how to make a grandmother in the style of "Sin City". See:
- Opening the photo. This one is perfect for my idea. If you don't see the Layers panel, press F7.
- Create a black and white adjustment layer as I showed above. This layer should be above the photo. Move the sliders to achieve the desired contrast.
- Selecting the Brush tool. The brush must always be black: with a black brush, part of the layer mask is erased, and with a white brush, it is restored. You can choose a color from the palette in the toolbar.
Select the brush size in the top panel or simply change it using the "[" and "]" keys. - Make sure you have the adjustment layer selected in the layers panel.
- Brush over the area you want to keep colored. Carefully walk along the contour. I will paint over the area with the dress with a black brush.
Almost done! I'd like to tweak the color of the dress a little. To do this, I'll apply a Hue/Saturation adjustment layer and change the raspberry hue to red.
At the end, I want to add one more small detail :)
How to make a black and white picture online: an overview of services
Want to quickly make a black and white photo, but do not have Photoshop? No problem. For this, there are special online editors that boast speed and decent functionality. Let me show you the most convenient and fastest services.
Adobe Photoshop Express
Express is the keyword, because we need to get everything in black and white as quickly as possible.
Click the Add File button and select an image from your computer. When the picture is loaded, click on the "Change Image" on the left, and on the right, open the "B&W" tab.
There are several styles to choose from, and you can adjust each of them to your taste.
At the end of the work, click on the "Change Image" button, and then download the resulting black and white photo. In the image download window, you can adjust the size, select the format and give the file a name.
Link: photoshop.adobe.com
Canva
To take a photo in black and white with Canva, you must first register or sign in with your Google, Facebook or Apple account. Then just follow these steps:
- Click on the Create Design button and select Edit Photo.
- Load a photo into the editor and click on it.
- Click "Filter".
- Select "Street" or "Greyscale" filter.
- Download the image.
In addition to filters, Canva offers brightness and contrast sliders that you can adjust in the Settings tab. All this can be done for free and in a couple of clicks. The image is saved in its original quality.
Link: canva.com
Pixlr
With the Pixlr online editor, you can make a black and white picture in seconds. Upload the photo to the site, click on the "Adjust" tab and then "B&W".
In the Light tab, you can adjust the exposure, brightness, add shadows and contrast, highlight image details.
Click the Save button, adjust the file size, and download the image to your computer.
Done!
Link: pixlr.com
Ribbet
The Ribbet online photo editor allows you to apply various filters to images, crop, add text, change colors - in a word, everything is at hand.
You must register to use the editor functionality.
There are paid features, but many tools are available for free, including a black and white filter.
Click "Upload image" or just drop an image in the upload box.
In the left panel, select "Effects" and then find the "Black and white" filter. Save the changes with the "Save" button. Ribbet compresses images somewhat after editing, so be careful - the quality of the original image will decrease.
Link: app.ribbet.com
F otostars
This photo editor offers extensive color customization options and dozens of cute photo filters. Working with Fotostars is very simple - upload a photo and open the filter menu. Scroll down to the "K" series filters and select, for example, the black and white option numbered "K01".
Click the checkmark and look at the correction section if necessary. Here you will find options for adding contrast, brightness, you can add a haze effect or even an eclipse.
Click on the "Save" icon and download the finished image. It should be noted that Fotostars does not cut the image quality, which is a big plus.
Link: fotostars.me
Conclusion
As you can see, to turn a color photo into black and white, you don't have to be an expert in graphic editors. The methods I described are very simple - everything is done in a few clicks. Difficulties can arise if you are trying to create a certain atmosphere with a black and white photo: here you will have to work on the contrast, brightness and hue settings. Modern online photo editors are also gaining power and allow you to quickly achieve the desired result, and even a beginner can master the intuitive interface.
How to take good black and white photographs. 3 easy steps to create
Have you ever wondered how to create beautiful black and white photos? Well, there is good and bad news. First of all, shooting in black and white is still photography.
And this means that if the image is unsuccessful, then no black and white magic will save it, this is a fact. But the good news is that by following a few rules in black and white photography, you will gain a lot of control in post-processing. Here are three that you might find useful.
#1 Initially make correct settings
Let's get started. There is only one requirement for creating black and white photographs - raw format. If you can't shoot raw, shoot JPG in color. Ironic, I know, but I'll explain why later.
This is not an ironclad rule, but it's better to lose detail in the shadows than in the highlights. This means that it is better to underexpose than overexpose, as this will greatly damage the black and white photograph. But of course this is up to you and your intention. If you want to overexpose for a specific reason, then do it! Depending on the image, as shown below, you may want the highlights to be overexposed.
Most modern cameras can shoot in pure RAW and display the image on the screen in black and white. If this is possible in your cell, then use it! This way, as you shoot, your image will be closer to the end result you envisioned.
#2 Two things to look for
Black and white shots are usually considered last. If the image doesn't look good, convert to black and white and get a good shot. But it doesn't work that way. If the image looks good in black and white, it means that all the necessary elements were in it initially. In any case, intentional black and white photographs will always outperform those taken as such as a fallback.
When you shoot a black and white photograph, there are two things to look for, contrast and form.
Contrast in light and color
Look for contrast in highlights (light versus dark) as well as contrast in color (irony again!).
Once again, these rules are not binding. But if you are just starting out, it is better to first understand the rules, and then break them.
Let's look at the charts:
On the color wheel, shades that are close together will tend to look flat (like the two orange shades above). And colors that are far apart, like opposite sides of a circle, will look more contrasting (blue and orange).
Look for forms
In black and white photography, objects are reduced to their essence, as there is no color to distract attention from form. This means that the composition needs to be strong as the elements of the photo become more apparent. Black and white photography doesn't seem so easy anymore, does it? Let's look at another example using the colors above.
The blue rabbit stands out more than the dark orange due to the color contrast.
B Lightroom
This is where black and white photography really comes to life. First, I'll explain why I recommend shooting in color (or raw). The fact is that shooting immediately in black and white, you will get many shades of gray that the camera captures. But if you shoot in color initially, then you will have much more options for working with shades in post-production. See below:
One color strip creates three different stripes of black and white (gray shades). The black and white shades you get are malleable. See how the red spot gives you three different shades of gray.
When shooting in color, you can say “red becomes very dark and blue becomes very light”. You can do the opposite and say "blue becomes very dark and red becomes very light." Now you understand why it is so important to shoot in color? You lose these options when shooting in black and white.
B & W in Lightroom
In Lightroom, go to the correction module, scroll down and click on the B& W (on the right in the HSL/Color/B & W panels).
All color sliders are at your disposal here. Take the first slider. Moving red to the left will make all shades of red darker. The same goes for the rest of the sliders; orange, yellow, green, cyan, indigo, violet and magenta.
The good news is that you can work directly on the image. See that weird circle in the top left corner? If you click on it and hover over any part of the image, click and drag up, down, left or right, it will automatically sample the color and allow you to edit the black and white mix from there. You will see the corresponding sliders move and all similar colors (shades) in your image will be adjusted.
The image on the left is straight from the camera in RAW . On the right, all I did was darken the blues with the blue slider.
After you've completed the black and white conversion, tweak the sharpness and contrast. Again, this won't make the image magically beautiful, but if the composition is right, then you should get a good result.
