These black and white photography tips will help you to recognize good black and white photo subjects and to be able to photograph and edit these for the best effects.

The reason so many photography courses and schools teach black and white photography early on is that it is an excellent way to train the eye to recognize what makes a striking composition.

As vibrant and colorful as a sky at sunset may be, it is often the lines, shapes and curves that move the eye through the picture. With color, the vibrant tones are beautiful but with black and white the contrasting tones are more dynamic.

In spite of its attributes, after the media went full color in the 70′s and 80′s black and white photography faded. It soon became difficult to find places to process black and white film, and stores didn’t always carry it. Now thanks to digital cameras and editing, black and white is back!

How to Recognize Stunning Black and White Photographs

Although choosing the best subjects for black and white is very subjective, many professional photographers will agree that the following types of compositions beg for black and white:

• Photos that convey strong emotion. Color can be a distraction, while black and white lends power to the feeling expressed.
• Images that don’t have a full spectrum of colors like Ansel Adam’s Yosemite “Moon and Half Dome.”
• Low contrast images such as photographs shot on dark overcast days.
• Any subject with the lines, contours, shadows and curves that you just know will look great in black and white. How can you tell? By getting familiar with a variety of black and white images! Search online for Ansel Adams work. Or search for “famous black and photos.”
• Look at B&W photography books at the library. There are many places to appreciate and learn this artful form of photography!

(more…)