Graphic black and white for bright summer light situations

Sunday 30 June 2024, 15:51 by Nando Harmsen | 2,640 views | 3 comments

This article was translated from Dutch with the help of AI. Read the original.

If you have harsh light available, you can create really beautiful graphic black and white photos. You do need to be brave enough to use deep blacks or bright whites. These eight photos may inspire you to seek out harsh summer light situations.

Hard contrast in black and white creates a graphic effect. It also gives you the opportunity to use pure white and pure black, which is almost never possible with colour.

Light and dark are not the only way to get high-contrast black and white, though. Complementary colours also offer a way to create this high contrast in black and white photos.

The Siberian ground squirrel differs so much in colour from the background that it can produce enormous contrast in black and white.
Don't be too afraid to make parts of a photo extremely dark or light. The idea that everything in those areas must always be recognisable is an illusion. On the other hand, if you feel that something must be visible in the dark and light areas, you should simply do that.

The seven images below have deliberately been processed in high-contrast black and white. I hope they inspire you to take photos in bright sunlight as well. Adapt your subject to the lighting conditions. Then it will certainly work out.

Shape over detail. A silhouette of a grasping branch.

The last light on the famous Zeeland Bridge.

Shape is important. Everyone recognises these rocks at Reynisfjara beach in Iceland, with partly cloudy skies on a sunny day.

Le Puy-en-Velay in the French Auvergne on a misty morning that marked the beginning of a summer's day.

The gull in the bright light of a sunset on the Opal Coast.

Scottish Highland cattle and their reflections. The high contrast creates an otherworldly effect.

A fallow deer in the light of the summer sun, in the middle of the day, high in the sky.

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About the author

Nando Harmsen has been photographing for more than 40 years. He specialises in wedding photography and landscape photography. Nando also gives talks, workshops, masterclasses and photo trips, and regularly reviews new and interesting equipment.

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3 comments

Donald Willemsen wrote on Sunday 30 June 2024 at 22:18 | reply
Nando, nice that you’re paying attention to this type of photography. I’m a big fan of it.
Translated from Dutch.

Liesbeth Verkade wrote on Tuesday 2 July 2024 at 14:22 | reply
Beautiful! Truly an inspiration for my upcoming vacation trip, during which I will undoubtedly have to deal with harsh light in the desert in the southern US. I will definitely try it out!
Translated from Dutch.

Viviane wrote on Tuesday 2 July 2024 at 17:21 | reply
Inviting images to check out this course!
Translated from Dutch.

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