Black and white photography is a field that many photographers overlook due to its difficulty. Not only is colour photography more accessible, but it is also cheaper and faster to use. But, by following a few simple visual cues, powerful black and white images will be within arm's reach. 

There are many reasons why you should pursue black and white photography, the most important is its reward when you get it just right. In this article, we will look at what you need to look for in a scene to help get you out of shooting flat, dull images and start capturing powerful black and white photographs. 

Let's get started. 

Dark Sepia Hortensia by Alexander Jikharev

Why Should I Shoot in Black and White?

Black and white photography was the standard format since the first recorded photographic image in the 1830s, all the way to the 1970s. Colour photography overtook black and white photography, pushing the latter to specific fields, such as portrait, street and wedding. There is a serious and artistic quality to black and white images; a medium that can help intensify the mood or feeling behind a story.

By using Black and White photography, you can place a larger importance on different elements in the scene. With an absence of colour, the viewer concentrates on the scene’s contrast, shape, form, and textures to name a few. 

In a practical application, some images can be ‘helped’ during post-processing, by turning the image from colour to greyscale. An uninteresting scene has a chance for revival by dropping its colour information through converting the digital image. 

One of the biggest benefits I find is that there are no colour casts when using a variety of different light sources. A scene with both daylight and incandescent lighting will create a scene with both blue and orange, whereas black and white photography will only show varying degrees of white light. White balance isn’t as important as it is with colour photography.

Zenscape by Gee Hurkmans

How Can I Capture Black and White Photography?

There are three ways you can capture black and white photography. The first is by using an analogue camera with black and white photography film, and thankfully, there are still plenty of films to choose from. It is possible to shoot in colour, but you’ll need to process the film in black and white chemicals or digitalise the images, which will allow you to convert the image to grayscale. 

If you are a digital photographer through and through, you have two options. Either by purchasing a purposely built digital camera with a black and white sensor, such as the Leica M Monochrom or through post-production. The latter uses photo editing software, such as Adobe Lightroom to remove the colour information from the image, converting it to Black and White.

The biggest benefit of black and white film photography is it helps slow you down and think more about your work. You can easily process black and white photography film at home, allowing you to fully immerse yourself in your photography. This is one of my main reasons for shooting in black and white. 

La lune qui nous sépare by Thomas Thomopoulos

Is Monochrome the Same as Black and White Photography?

Most believe that Monochrome and black and white photography are the same. I was guilty of this for a while. While similar, some distinctions separate them. 

Monochrome (mono- one & chrome- colour) photography is an image that contains only one colour and its variations. Sepia and cyanotype photographs are monochromatic images, for example, yet not black and white. 

Black and white photography falls into the monochrome photography category as they are images that display a grey tonal range, and all variations, from pure black to pure white. Luckily, the same rules apply, so contrast, texture and form, for example, are just as important when using alternative processes.

in the spotlight by Gregoire Fillion

Evaluate the Scene or Subject (and see in Black and White)

Unless you are a keen analogue photographer, chances are you’re using a digital camera with a colour sensor. Therefore, to capture a black and white image, you’ll need to use a filter or colour profile, or convert the image to grayscale during the images’ post-production. To ensure a powerful image, you need to ‘read the room’ and find what will work in a black and white scene. 

By looking at each scene in a monochromatic way, you’ll be able to see which scenes will create a more powerful black and white image. If a scene presents textures and contrast, yet strong, unwanted colour casts, they can be removed by shooting black and white.

runner by Marius Surleac

Focus on a Stronger Contrast

Contrast (Contra) means to stand against, and in photography, it's the juxtaposition of the black against the white areas in your scene. The more they differ, the stronger the contrast. 

By having both stronger dark and light tones, or shadows and highlights, you can add interest to your images. The darker areas add pressure and bring a darker mood, forcing the viewer's eyes to the lighter areas. It's a great tool for helping the viewer locate and focus on what you decide the most important elements in the scene are. 

Waiting For The Catch by Ahmed Abdulazim

Look for Texture

The texture is the appearance and detail of the objects in your scene, such as the roughness of a brick wall or the consistency of raindrops on a leaf. By including similar or juxtaposed textures, you create something eye-catching.

This is one element that plays a large part in black and white photography and becomes more important due to the lack of colour. Textures can help support a story shown in the scene, or by adding an element that breaks the viewer from a 2D scene. As texture relates to touch, it also helps to immerse the viewer into the world of the photograph.

When working on improving my black and white photography, I focus on textures in the scene as they help add depth. By bringing the viewer closer to the idea that they can touch and feel that area, you'll make the scene more believable, and therefore more powerful. 

Passion by Claudio Solera

Break the Scene down into Shapes and Forms

Every scene you capture is made up of every conceivable shape of all sizes; faces are ovals, mountains are triangles and buildings are rectangles. By being aware of the basic shapes in your scene, you can use them to boost the composition of your scene. 

The human brain is very good at recognising shapes, even complex ones are easily broken down to something easily noticeable. By immersing yourself in your scene, the shapes and forms will stand out. Capture them in a simple, well-composed manner and your images will reward you.

Pass by Asghar Asem

Find the Patterns

Humans recognise patterns easily and are drawn towards their repetition; our brain is geared this way since repetition and patterns are intrinsic to learning. Thankfully, they are a great visual aid in adding interest to your black and white photography scenes. 

By showing patterns in your image, you aid the viewer in finding interest in your photograph. The elements guide their eyes through your image towards an important focal point, or sweeping across an interesting background.

One of the most important aspects of patterns is that they can also show texture. Breaking free from patterns and repetition can create a scene of tension, and a moodiness that you'll love to see in your own images.

Corona lockdown by Thomas Thomopoulos

Capture a Wide Tonal Range

The tonal range of an image is simply the range of tones between the lightest and darkest areas of a scene; the whites and blacks. A wide tonal range will show both pure black and pure white elements, and everything in between. By including the varying shades of grey in your image, you allow the image to have a greater depth, and more interesting as a result. 

The tonal range of any scene is very important, for both colour and black and white photography. While you have many saving graces when it comes to shooting in colour (interest, colour theory, composition), a well captured tonal range in black and white photography is paramount. 

A good tip is to wait for darker elements to pass in front of lighter backgrounds, as that will give you a great figure to ground composition, allowing the elements to be properly separated.

Mind Odyssey by Hengki Lee

Reinforce the Story

There is a reason why landscape photographers use black and white, and that's to help add a personality to the scene; a mood or emotion comes with black and white photography. Portrait photographers use it to force more attention to the details and contours of the face and body. Street photography utilises black and white photography to add a gritty and serious mood.

A powerful scene is reinforced by black and white photography as the medium adds a serious mood to the scene. By removing the colour information, you remove distractions and emphasize compositional elements.

Political manifestation by Fernando Alves

Black and white photography was seen by many as a tool for showing how dedicated a photographer you were. It's a field that seems easier than colour photography, but one that requires a different skillset, and a fine-tuned set of eyes. 

It only takes interest, effort and practice. When used correctly, black and white photography is a powerful medium and you might find yourself progressing faster by dropping the colour and jumping in headfirst.