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Taking Black and White Pictures
Black and white pictures can be stunning and powerful. Create this
timeless look without special equipment or film by following these
easy steps.
How to Get Black and White Pictures
Black and white photos appeal to many people. Their look is classic,
and creates a level of visual interest that is difficult to
duplicate in color. There are several different ways black and white
can be achieved, not necessarily by using special film or equipment.
A picture kiosk has picture-editing software that can be used to
print your film in black and white. There are also digital camera
accessories that can convert color to black and white. Using these
accessories, you can make prints from color or black and white
negatives or prints, color slides or a digital file by choosing
black and white or sepia as the color format. This is an excellent
way to print the occasional black and white photograph.
Take Digital Pictures
Most digital cameras have a black and white or sepia mode. Simply
shoot your photograph using this selection and your photograph
output will be in black and white. Picture editing software on your
computer will allow pictures to be customized as well. Try adjusting
brightness and contrast settings, or darkening a distracting
background. Prints should be made on a photographic ink-jet paper
for rich, dark blacks and fine image detail.
What Works Best in Black and White
Since a picture is simply a two-dimensional representation of
reality, when shooting black and white, texture, shape, lighting and
contrast will become the dominant elements. There are some key
components that can make or break the composition, though. If your
scene is already bland, for example, shooting in black and white can
change a boring shot into an interesting landscape. If you are
looking to give a print an old-fashioned flair, a portrait in black
and white or sepia can yield just the look you are after. If you
have a high contrast subject, a black and white shot can serve to
give a dramatic effect to your photograph.
Color Vs. Gray Tones
Possibly the most difficult part of shooting black and white is to
understand how color converts to shades of gray. Some colors are
nearly identical shades of gray when converted, and some are not. If
your toddler comes into the room wearing completely mismatched
clothing, black and white can be your best friend. If you are
shooting something red against a green backdrop, the colors will
convert to almost identical shades of gray and will completely
flatten any contrast between the two.
Decide before you shoot whether or not the scene before you will
look better in color or black and white. For example, flowers
generally look better in color, but if your emphasis is on a dewdrop
hanging from a flower, black and white may yield a more dramatic
effect.
Contrast and Key
Whether you are using photo-editing software or working in a
traditional darkroom, contrast and key are the elements that can be
emphasized or minimized in black and white in ways that are
impossible in color.
A very extreme range between bright and dark will yield a high
contrast print and confine the viewer’s attention to one element,
while a scene with a narrow range of light and dark will make for a
low contrast scene that will convey tranquility and peace. Remember
the terms high key (primarily light tones) or low key (predominantly
low tones) in relation to black and white photography. Contrast and
key are not the same! A photograph can be low in contrast but high
in key, as in the example of a blond, blue-eyed child against a
white background.
Texture, Line and Shape
Watch for interesting texture to incorporate into your photograph.
The interesting weave in a sweater or the texture of the leaves of a
plant can be incorporated in your photo to create visual impact you
may not necessarily see in a color print.
Lines and shapes can lead the eye through a black and white picture
in ways they cannot in a color shot. A long meandering fence, rows
of crops or the architecture of a building can add emphasis in a
black and white print that would be less noticeable in color.
Lighting
Remember that without color light becomes a very important part of
the composition of the photograph. Mood can be dramatically enhanced
with lighting in black and white depending on the time of day and
weather conditions. A foggy or overcast day will soften a photograph
and give it a mysterious, romantic mood. Harsher lighting in the
early morning or late afternoon will make a photo dramatic and
accentuate texture or facial features.
Black and white photography is a dying art. Keep in mind, though,
that without special equipment or film the effects of black and
white are easy to attain. Digital cameras with black and white or
sepia features can be used. Photo kiosks and software are available
to turn color prints into dramatic black and white photos with the
click of the mouse. With the right composition and a little sense of
adventure, any amateur photographer can turn a generic color print
into an exciting black and white one.
Source information adapted from “Taking Great Pictures” at
www.kodak.com.
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