Key Concepts Which Is a Part And Parcel of Black And White Photography
Although colour photography is in vogue now but there are a good number of photographers who are fond of black and white photography. They click photos and convert the same to the black and white mode in the post-production stage. There is nothing wrong in following this technique but the only issue is it is quite time consuming. Thus, rather than converting coloured pictures into black and white, it is always better in shooting them in the black and white mode in the very first place.
Black and white is more captivating
Black and white images in reality can actually look more captivating and stunning compared to the colour equivalent. In fact colour in a photo can at times become a distraction, thus removing this will aid to re-focus the attention of the viewers on the intended theme. Not all are well-versed in this mode so to help them below are some golden tips. By developing familiarity with these will help a photo hobbyist in capturing more informed shots in black and white while the same can also be applied for improving their colour photos.
The 5 key concepts
Photography in black and white can be boiled down largely into the following five key concepts. These include,
Lighting– this is one of the key ingredients of a truly impressive black and white image as it will affect everything from texture, pattern, contrast and shape. While considering the lighting, a photographer should lay emphasis on how the lighting will influence these elements and likewise select a setup which will improve as much as possible.
Texture– texture may be lost in coloured images. When a person views a colour photo, immediately his/her mind will begin identifying and labelling the components in the scene indicating that they do not view the image but rather see their mind’s analysis of it. In case of a black and white image, the mind does not have the colour information for working with, thus pays more focus to components such as texture, thereby making it appear more prominent.
Pattern– most patterns especially the subtle ones go unnoticed often in colour photos owing to the fact that colours draw away the attention from the pattern. Black and white mode will give the photographer a better chance to capture interesting patterns as it focuses the attention of the viewer on the shapes created by the components in a scene.
Contrast– devoid of differences in colour for separating components in the scene, a photographer rather should introduce contrasting shades in their black and white images. He/she can use contrast for helping their key subject stand out.
Form and shape– when colour is removed from a photo, a person can no longer depend on it for offering interest or for that matter a focal point within the scene. It can be obvious yet can be forgotten easily. Shape and form are crucial in case of black and white images. When looking for proper shots, the photographer should see beyond the colours and give more importance to the shapes. He should organize it in a way which will help to highlight the shape’s most interesting aspect or create a fascinating composition of varied shapes.
Photography in black and white provides a unique perception on many subjects. Taking colour away will work wonders in bringing out the veiled shapes, textures and details. Simply follow the aforementioned photography tips and get going.