It might be old-fashioned, but it sure is charming. We are talking about black and white photography. Black and white images look their best when they are shot at the spur of the moment by a photographer. In order to enhance the quality of black and white photos and to find it easier to shoot them, there are some useful tips any professional or amateur photographer could employ while clicking their subjects.
Shoot in Raw
Always shoot your photographs in a Raw format, as this facilitates maximum control while post-processing, irrespective of which photo editing technique you might be accustomed to. Whether you employ Photoshop, or Lightroom, or any other editing method, the exposure, white balance, contrast, and other aspects of your monochrome images are always adjusted to a greater degree after shooting in Raw format.
Change Your Camera Settings
By making a few minor adjustments to the preset black and white settings of your camera, you can certainly improve the image quality of your monochrome pictures. This simple trick would guarantee enhanced contrast, brighter whites and deeper blacks to your images. You could also modify the exposure compensation one stop at a time, to analyze its effect on your photos.
Composition is Key
Black and white photos mean greater representation of the lines, angles, and forms of the subjects you capture, as compared to a color photograph. Starker lines and shadows need to be captured so that they highlight more emotions in the image and give the objects their own personality. Strictly adhere to all the norms of composition to avoid any kind of convolution from creeping into black and white images.
Use a Filter
Always use a polarizing filter to create a darker background and bring out those striking and emotional perceptions in your images. Specific color filters could also be employed, to lighten and color within the picture akin to its own shade, all the while lending a darker hue to black section of the image. Blue filter are helpful while clicking portraits as the blue tone synchronizes with our skin tone and darkens pink hues. Such filters are also useful during post-processing.
Shoot with Low ISO:
While shooting higher ISO's in black and white produces grittier images with lots of grain (noise in this case), this look isn't suitable for every occasion and is difficult to get rid of in post. Shooting lower ISOs allows greater emphasis on clarity and less harsh contrast. Eventually, you must realize that all these tips can only help you improve your expertise while shooting black and white photographs. But to perfect the art of this mode of photography, you need to grind yourself through the tried and tested formula of experimentation and long hours of hard work. The more errors you commit, the better will your skills be honed. via: digitalrev.com Image Courtesy: National Geographic