March 27, 2019

5 Black and White Photography Tips

Taking great looking Black and White photos is the best style for Baltimore Senior Photography. However, it is not as easy as simply taking out the color. Here are some tips on how you can shoot great looking Black and White photos:

5 Black and White Photography Tips

File Format: Shoot in RAW

If your camera allows it, shoot in RAW, as it allows you to capture as much detail as you can. Shooting in JPEG is workable, but the compression sometimes results in a few details being missed. In black and white, every single detail is important because you don’t have color to provide more context.

Color Alternative: Shoot in Color if You Can’t Shoot in RAW

If your camera doesn’t shoot RAW pictures, you may want to shoot in color instead and just convert it to black and white on the computer. This is because color will add more context and provide more detail, as opposed to simply taking a black and white non-RAW picture.

Technical Settings: Set ISO to LOW

Shoot with the lowest ISO possible. It’s already a good idea in color photography, but it becomes crucial in black and white, because the noise created by ISO will be more noticeable in black and white. If you want this noise for effects, you can add it later through the computer.

Timing: Know When to Shoot

Low contrast situations, such as a dark or overcast day, can be a great time for photographers who want to take black and white pictures.

Back to Basics: Study Composition

The principles in composition and framing that apply to color also apply to black and white pictures. However, you’ll be at a disadvantage in black and white because you can’t use color to lead the eyes into or around your shot. You need to learn how to use shapes, tones, and textures as points of interest instead.

SHARE THIS STORY