What is it about black and white photography that gives photos such depth and a whole different mood?
Probably the most important factor of black and white photography is the contrast. Contrast is the difference between the lightest white and the darkest black. A high-contrast image is mainly black and white with little gray, whereas a mid-contrast image is an even mix of black, white, and different tones of gray. You’ll find that this works best for black and white imagery.
If you’re a fan of black and white photography and want to use it to create your own stories, here are a few tips that will definitely help.
Plan your story
Getting organized doesn’t mean you need to plan your story down to the very last detail, it just means having a good idea of the kind of story you want to tell and the types of shots you would need to do so.
What do you want to include in your photos?
Is there anything that you would need to add to your shots that would help tell your story? If so, make sure that you know where to find them. If you will be using props, it’s highly recommended that you keep them to a minimum or you will end up detracting from the photo’s main subject.
Choose your time of day wisely
The better your lighting, the better your photos will turn out. When you are shooting photos for a black and white project, you want to make sure that you aren’t shooting in overly bright light or this could end up blowing out important parts of the photo and changing the entire look and feel. With this being said, if you are looking to create a different effect, using bright lights can help tell your story.
Review before you shoot
Before you start taking photos, carefully analyze your frame to make sure that there aren’t any small objects or details that could alter the story you’re trying to tell. You may even find that you pick up on new ways to frame the shot.
Once you’re happy with your shots, you can apply your black and white filter and prepare your photos to be printed.