Notwithstanding the explosive growth which has been witnessed in
color photography, till date we find that black and white photography
clearly has a charm of its own which is unparalleled. It has held forth
in spite of a variety of new trends and techniques which have come into
the entire photography realm off late.
Accordingly, in this
article, we focus on offering some really fruitful black and white
photography tips which can help you in creating masterful renditions of
your own, which will clearly stand out in a variety of ways.
Contrast
It
is pivotal that you contrast the elements within the image well.
Remember that when it comes to colour photography, you don't always have
that leeway, but with black and white photography, you can (and
should!) contrast as much as you can, playing with lights and shadows to
make the elements within your images stand out in a variety of ways.
Use RAW
A
key aspect of this type of photography is that when shot in RAW mode,
you can then process images the way you like on your computer, say using
software like Adobe Photoshop. Agreed that not all cameras have the RAW
function available on them, we would strongly encourage that wherever
such a functionality is available, do make the most of it.
Use Exposure Skilfully
It
is imperative that you use exposure deftly to create stunning effects.
For instance, often by under-exposing, you can actually create an impact
within the photograph, which would be quite different to what would be
the case were you to expose normally. This is especially true since
under-exposure allows elements within your image to portray altogether
varying shades of black and white, than would be the case had you chosen
a normal exposure.
ISO
The ISO
number plays a very important part, with ISO numbers by themselves
indicative of the sensitivity of image sensors. When shooting monochrome
pictures, it is ideal that you shoot at the lowest possible ISO numbers
which will ensure that you minimize "noise" within your pictures while
maximizing clarity.
