Black and white photography: how to master the technique?

A black and white photo is thought of even before it is taken. We don’t decide after taking a photo to keep it in color or convert it to black and white.

To do this, it is necessary to  learn to see the world in black and white . It is not so easy when the human eye sees colors naturally!

Here are some tips to achieve it:

• Choose your theme : While many scenes lend themselves to black and white photography, there are some surefire things to make your photos amazing. Textures like wood, stone, and wrinkled skin stand out better in black and white than in color. Similarly, a repetitive decoration with a pattern, lines or other shapes, will lend itself more to black and white.
• Use light and contrasts : without colors, it is more difficult to guide the eye of the viewer. You must pay special attention to the composition of your photo and play with the lights and shadows created to highlight all possible shades of gray. The backlight becomes your best ally!
• Take photos on a cloudy day : You might think that the light is less present and that the contrasts are less obvious, but it is the ideal time to take photos in black and white. Low light is not a problem, which often worries photographers. There are many more reflections just after the rain and black and white photos find a new intensity.

It can be photographed in black and white directly, so it is easier to see the world without colors through the lens of your camera. To do this, use the “monochrome” mode on your digital camera. By increasing the contrast and adjusting the exposure (overexposure or underexposure of the photo), black and white will become a natural practice over time.

In any case, it is better to  take photos in RAW format . Whether you take photos in color or in black and white, this format preserves all the colors of the photographed scene. And it’s easier to retouch images! Post-processing isn’t just about using Lightroom or Photoshop’s “desaturation” tool, it’s primarily about using the  layer blender  to get a photo with contrast and hues.

Well, now that you know all this, let’s get down to business! There are several scenes and themes that are particularly suitable for  black and white :

• Architecture : nothing better to find different shapes, textures and patterns. The contrasts stand out naturally in the chinks of the stones, the cobblestones of a street or the rose window of a church.
• The Portrait : Portrait photography lends itself well to black and white. Highlight a person’s eyes and face.
• Landscape photo : to highlight the lines and shapes of a mountain, the clouds in the sky or the waves, the solution is black and white.
• Close-up / detail : Whether it’s the petals of a flower, the circles on a tree trunk, or the mosaic on a wall, black and white brings out the details again intensely.

There is only one way to progress in the black and white technique: by practicing! So grab your camera!

Do you live in Barcelona? Discover our barcelona photography course offer ?