Color photography has been the standard for many years While we love vibrant, colorful images as much as the next photographer, we encourage photographers to take a walk on the monochromatic side and explore how black and white photography can elevate everyday scenes and create compelling moments.
Known for evoking emotion and capturing nostalgia in a way color photography can struggle to compete with black-and-white photography is perfect for anything from landscapes and portraits to street photography and still-lifes!
There are a lot of reasons to love black and white photography and removing color from an image can help you achieve a lot artistically and completely transform your photography, despite how simple it seems!
Monochromatic images are often immediately seen as more timeless, nostalgic, and evocative. Shooting your images in black and white forces your viewers to get to the heart of the image without the “distraction” of color, resulting in more emotional and powerful images.
Composition + Form
When shooting in black and white, composition is king. By removing color, the framing, lines, shapes, and patterns in your scene draw more attention. A well-composed black-and-white image can transform an everyday or mundane scene into something more dramatic or impactful. Black and white photography forces photographers to slow down and enjoy the process of creating an impactful, meaningful image.
Light + Shadow
Perhaps the most important photographic element, light plays a hugely pivotal role in black and white images. Without color to help highlight separation, depth, and dimension within your scene you’ll need to rely heavily on balancing light and shadow. You’ll also want to keep in mind the mood or emotion of your scene, as it can impact your viewer’s interpretation of your image. Generally, if you’re hoping to evoke strong emotions or a dramatic mood, you’ll want high-contrast images with deep shadows. If you’re aiming for a calmer or lighter image, you’ll want softer, more subtle shadows.
Mastering the use of light and shadows in your black and white images is a huge step towards evocative and emotional images your audience can connect with.
Sometimes in full-color images, textures and detail can get lost. In Black and white photography, mastering light and shadow will help you document the finer details of your images and draw your viewer's eye to the intricate details they may otherwise miss! Whether you’re shooting portrait or landscape images, a focus on texture and detail brings a sense of authenticity and realness to your images.
Black and white photography can pose a unique challenge for photographers used to shooting full-color images and while you can typically get awesome black-and-white images with the gear you already have, we have a few recommendations!
When looking for a camera, we recommend cameras with excellent dynamic range, autofocus capabilities, and high resolution. Black-and-white images can be a little less forgiving than full-color images, so you’ll want to make sure your camera is taking reliable, high-quality images.
If you’re looking to switch things up, consider taking a break from digital photography and grab a film camera! Film is a great way to capture black-and-white images and can bring a fun, nostalgic element to not only your images but your photography process. We have tons of film cameras on our used gear shelf waiting for a new photography adventure!
- Canon AE-1 Program 35mm Camera Body, Chrome with FD 50mm F1/1.8 Lens
- Olympus E-Zuiko 135 F2.8 Auto-T Lens
- Nikon F3 35mm Camera Body, Black with DE-2 Prism Finder
Black and White Film
- Ilford Ortho Plus Black & White Negative Film (35mm Roll Film, 36 Exposures)
- Ilford SFX 200 Black and White Negative Film - 35mm Roll Film ( 36 Exposures )
- Dubble Film Daily Black & White 35mm ISO 400 Film (36 Exposures)
Similar to color photography, lenses can change the vibe and appearance of your images, but these artistic differences may be easier to notice in a black-and-white image.
Standard prime lenses are great for black-and-white images as they are sharp, versatile, and great for capturing bokeh or blurring backgrounds for portraiture.
- Canon RF 50mm f/1.2L USM Lens
- Nikon Nikkor Z 35mm f/1.8 S Mirrorless Lens
- Sony FE 85mm f/1.4 GM Lens
Wide-angle lenses can bring a different perspective to your images and are great for street photography, landscapes, or any wider scene you want to capture with detail.
- Canon RF 14-35mm f/4L IS USM Lens
- Nikon NIKKOR Z 14-24mm f/2.8 S Lens
- Sony FE 16-35mm f/2.8 GM II Lens (Sony E)
Zoom and prime telephoto lenses are also great for black-and-white photography as they can help achieve incredible depth of field, and offer sharp image quality, bokeh, and background blurring. These lenses are also great for capturing further away subjects while maintaining excellent detail and clarity.
- Canon RF 70-200mm f/2.8 L IS USM Lens
- Nikon NIKKOR Z MC 105mm f/2.8 VR S Lens
- Sigma 135mm f/1.8 Art DG HSM Lens for Sony E
With great gear and these black-and-white photography tips in mind, you’re already on your way to creating monochromatic magic. Grab your camera and head out to explore the world through a black-and-white lens and see what makes black-and-white photography so great!
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