Ten tips for better black-and-white photography

Monday 1 May 2023, 16:08 by Nando Harmsen | 7,257 views | 7 comments

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

Black-and-white photography is atmospheric and timeless. Black-and-white photography is also a challenge, because poor composition or careless use of contrast is immediately visible. You cannot hide behind impressive colours. I have ten tips for creating a black-and-white photo.

Black-and-white photography consists of two parts. Taking the photo itself, and editing it into a finished result. It is rare for a black-and-white photo to come straight out of the camera looking right.

Do you want your black-and-white photo to look as good as possible? Then you will have to 'develop' it digitally. Just as was done in the darkroom in the past.

Wolsztyn, Poland
Black-and-white photography is not the same as what was done in the past, though. We can already see the black-and-white image directly on the camera. In a way, this makes black-and-white photography easier. At the same time, it makes it more difficult. With the following ten tips, I can help you get started creating the best black-and-white photos.

1. Shoot in raw

Do you like shooting in jpeg? Then use your camera's black-and-white options. A film simulation setting, or picture profile offered by your camera, gives you some room to adjust the look.

Echternach, Luxembourg
Do you really want complete freedom to make your black-and-white photo look the way you want? Then shoot in raw. You can use colour channels for editing, add contrast, and much more. An added advantage is that colour information is retained in the raw file. If you want colour after all, you still have that option.

2. Black-and-white is not a cure-all

It happens far too often that a 'failed' colour photo is converted to black-and-white to try to make something of it. Unfortunately, that does not work in 99 out of 100 cases. If a photo has failed, black-and-white cannot save it.

Castle gate, Helmond
In fact, black-and-white requires more attention to composition and the use of contrast. You could more quickly save a failed black-and-white photo by adding colour than the other way around. Impressive colours can distract attention from poor composition and image structure.

3. Think in black-and-white

Are you heading out for black-and-white photography? Try to ignore the colours. Think in black-and-white, in light and dark, in contrast. For example, a striking red object no longer has to be distracting. Instead, pay more attention to shadows.

Reynisdrangar, Iceland
This may take some practice, and you will probably still be influenced by the colours around you. But tip number 4 can help you think in black-and-white.

4. Set your camera to black-and-white

If you shoot in jpeg, you need to set the camera to black-and-white or monochrome to create photos like these. If you shoot in raw, set your camera to black-and-white or monochrome as well. The photos you view on your LCD screen will then also be in black-and-white. You will notice that you start looking differently.

Bruc
Do you have a mirrorless camera? Then the view through your viewfinder will also be shown in black-and-white. It becomes even easier to ignore colours. At that moment, you see the world as you are going to capture it.

5. Look at shadows

Have you found a subject? Then pay extra attention to the light and dark parts of the image. Discover where there are shadows, and how they appear in your image. Make them part of your composition.'

Lavoûte-Chilhac, France
This is also important for colour photography, but it plays an even greater role in black-and-white. After all, there is no colour in your image, only shades of grey. Are there no shadows? Then look for differences in contrast. What you want to avoid is a photo that consists entirely of grey.

6. Avoid a flat grey photo

Your camera's standard monochrome setting often produces a dull image. So try to make the monochrome setting as contrasty as possible in your camera's settings.

Palais Ideal
The same applies to photo editing. A simple press of a button does not produce an interesting black-and-white image. In fact, there is a good chance that it contains no black or white at all, only shades of grey.

To make a black-and-white photo striking, you often need to strengthen the contrast. It does not have to be extreme, as long as there is a pleasing level of contrast. But sometimes you can go to extremes with this adjustment. Even blown-out white and blocked-up black are allowed.

7. Do not be afraid of blown-out white or blocked-up black

With colour photography, you often want to avoid having pure white or pure black in your photo. For black-and-white, this is not a problem at all. In fact, in many cases it can give your photo extra atmosphere.

Scottish Highland cattle on the Strabrechtse Heide
Do not let yourself be guided by the idea that everything must remain 'within the dynamic range'. Certainly not with black-and-white. To be on the safe side, do shoot as much as possible within the dynamic range when shooting in raw. You can then seek out the extremes during post-processing.

8. Software is no guarantee of good black-and-white

I sometimes see very complicated workflows for creating a black-and-white photo. For example, starting in Lightroom, then moving to Photoshop, and afterwards using SilverEfex as well. None of this is necessary.

Wendy
You can create an excellent black-and-white photo in any software. The only difference is the way you work. If you switch from one piece of software to another, you even risk one edit working against another.

Keep it as simple as possible. Preferably edit your photo in one software package. You can switch to a second one if you want to put the finishing touches to it. But preferably do not go any further. Simplicity is often best.

9. Look at the photo again after a week

Are you editing and worried that you have gone too far? Then leave the photo alone for a while. Do something else and shift your attention. Then look at the edit again after a few days or a week.

Stiphoutse woods
Leaving the photo alone gives you a fresh perspective on it. You look objectively, without being influenced by 'what the photo originally looked like.' You will notice that you can better judge whether the edit works or is too extreme. Who knows, you may even want to go a little further.

10. Be sure about your choice of black-and-white

Look on social media or photography forums, and you often see two photos presented. One in colour and one in black-and-white, often flat and grey, with the question: "which one is best?"

Iris
Do not do that. Make your own choice. You are the photographer, or the artist. You decide what a photo should look like. If you are not sure yet, wait a week and look at the photo again. Do not leave the choice to the viewer.

Do you have any tips?

These tips can help you create beautiful black-and-white photos. But I know there are more tips to be found. Perhaps you have some good tips? Share them in a comment below this post.

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