19. How to effectively shoot black and white photography

ARTICLE AND PHOTOS BY NICOLAS BUCK

Black and white photography is a style that can produce images through the use of lighting to express different tonal ranges, from white to black. It allows a photographer to highlight certain aspects of photography that are often overlooked when images are in colour.

Black and white photos strip away all layers of colour, forcing you to focus on the shapes and subject of the image itself. The photos highlight elements such as contrast, composition, and shapes and textures. You will know when to switch from colour to black and white based on the specific goal you are trying to achieve.

HOW LIGHTING CREATES CONTRAST

Black and white photography is typically known for bringing out a dramatic feel that can create a sense of timelessness, intensity, or seriousness because it removes the distractions presented through warm or cool colours. It can also create a calming feeling depending on the way the lighting is used in the photo.

 High contrast: When a photo is being lit by the sun from either the front or back, darker shadows tend to appear, making the photo feel more dramatic. For example, the darkness of the tree contrasts with the whiteness of the background. FOCUSING ON SHAPES, TEXTURES, AND PATTERNS

Black and white photos bring more attention to shapes, textures, and patterns within the frame. Architecture and abstract scenery are popular choices to present in black and white, as your attention is drawn to the details of the structures.

 Patterns: Capturing instances of repetition is a good trick to spark a feeling of curiosity in your viewers, and a minimalistic image can become interesting with some repeating elements. For example, your eye instinctively picks out patterns that arise through the presentation of the benches.

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 Shapes: Shapes become even more recognizable when paired with contrast. A shape is one of the first things your eye detects when trying to figure out what a picture is. In this instance, the building stands out against a bright backdrop, and your eye is almost immediately drawn to the cross. EXPERIMENTING WITH COMPOSITION

Composition is the way a subject is framed within a photo. Shooting in black and white allows your eyes to pay specific attention to the composition of your scenes. Without the distracting element of colour, you can frame your images based on the “rules” of composition, or you can focus on your own unique style of framing to bring meaning to your image.

 Regular composition: The typical rule to start off with is to follow the rule of thirds, which places your subject on the lines of a three-by-three grid, as these are the natural points of interest within a photo. In this photo, the subject is placed on the grid lines according to the rule of thirds.