Black and White Photography: Tips for the Perfect Picture!

It's interesting how sometimes older technologies or art forms take on an even greater value when they are made obsolete by the new and modern.

This is certainly true of black and white photography. When color photography came on the scene, it seemed the days of black and white in both video and photography were over forever.

But that was certainly not the case. Over the years we have seen black and white take on a new artistic value in both genres.

In fact, it is not at all unusual any more to see a very modern movie filmed entirely in black and white. It is also common to visit a fine art museum and find a photographic art display that uses black and white extensively. Black and white has some artistic and emotional qualities that are just not possible to achieve in color photography.

Probably the strongest quality that grabs the viewer with a black and white photo is its emotional power. Even if the photo is just of an old barn or an antique car, there is an emotional appeal that is difficult to analyze in words but universal to all of us as we look at a black and white shot.

That is why black and white photos almost instantly take on an artistic look. So if you are evolving your artistic photography style and portfolio, including some experimentation with black and white will do a lot to improve your work.

Black and white also focuses the eye on the emotional center of the piece. Probably the best subject for black and white photography is the human face. In even a tranquil expression, the viewer can see such a vast range of expression in the eyes, the tilt of the head, the subtle wrinkles or peculiarities of the face and the focus of the gaze.

Black and white almost always invites the viewer to want to know about the story behind the picture. If it's a landscape, "What happened here?" is the question that often springs to the mind of the viewer and the longer they gaze at the photo, the more their imagination fills in the details.

If you are viewing the face of a serene or melancholy girl, it is almost impossible not to wonder what she is dreaming about or what of life's issues is weighing on her mind.

Along with the emotional power and the way black and white compels the viewer to search for meaning, black and white carries with it a tremendous romantic power that touches the heart in a powerful way.

That romance can easily translate over to the sensual or even the erotic without having to become pornographic to achieve that effect. Shots that are trying to evoke the power of sensuality and romance do well when they involve moisture or a water scene such as the beach. Despite the lack of color, these colors appeal to the five senses in ways that color can never hope to achieve.

You can experiment with black and white and gather the responses of friends and family to learn how to utilize the subtle but powerful artistic nuances that seem to come with black and white photography almost unconsciously.

The digital camera has ushered in a whole new era of black and white photography. You see the form used even in otherwise non artistic settings like wedding portfolios or anniversary pictures. That is because of that emotional and romantic power that black and white conveys.

If you have not started to experiment with black and white shots, it's worth the time to learn how to capture the powerful images this type of photography can make possible. Along with the creative use of light and framing, black and white gives itself well to editing that you can do with Photoshop to bring out the emotional center of each shot.

Before long, you may actually find your self seeing black and white shots in a color world. Your awareness of what will make a great moment in this format will become acute and you will be ready to capture those moments spontaneously, which is always the best kind of photography.

Color or black and white?
The debate regarding the use of color or black and white for photographs has been going on for decades.

Many traditionalists still prefer the formal appearance of black and white photographs. However, these days there seem to be only a few traditionalists left as more and more photographs are being developed in color.

Many people are opting for color pictures simply because they are simpler and cheaper to produce. This was not always the case, as it took sometime before the required technology for color photographs could surpass the quality of black and white photos.

Before color, black and whites were the standard print used for on film. Many historical materials that may contain pictures are often in black or white.

During the early days of photography, black and white processing and printing was more inexpensive than color. At the same time, black and white photographs had better quality than color.

At the start, color photographs were to expensive to process and print compared to black and white. Plus, the outcome of color photographs was not as crisp or sharp as black and white.

It was only until after the eighties when the quality of color photographs surpassed black and white.

Color in Today's Photographs

Unfortunately the entrance of color printing into the main photography scene meant the decline of black and whites.

As a result, the supply of black and white film dwindled as well as the facilities that could process and print them. In just a short time, black and white photographs became the exemption in photography while color became the rule.

In today's world almost everything is in color. Photographers, amateur and even professionals prefer using color in order to better express the details of the pictures that they take.

In addition, photographs processed and printed in color are cheaper than black and whites. In fact these days it is easier to get photographs printed in color than black and whites.

The technology used in photography these days is able to produce photographs that capture each and every vivid detail in color. Furthermore, the advances in photography have also made it possible for people to convert their existing black and white photographs into color.

The results are astounding as the photograph is vibrantly reprinted in color without leaving any detail out.

The Resurgence of Black and White

Following the current trend in revivals, black and white photographs are experiencing a comeback as photographers are rediscovering the power of black and white imagery.

Many people now view black and white photos as an innovative take on the usual colored pictures. At the same time, black and white photos impart a sense of reality that can be lost in colored pictures.

Print advertising was the first industry to revive the interest in black and white pictures. Gigantic billboards across the country featured ads done entirely in black and white. Since then, black and white photographs became requested all over the place.

Black and whites became popular with brides who wanted to add a historical and classic touch to their wedding pictures.

Photography classes have also used black and white photographs as a great way to teach students on how light affects film. However the resurgence of black and white was inevitable because it's simply beautiful.

What goes with what?

In the early days, people had no choice but to use black and white since it was the only medium available to them.

But today, people can choose what they want for their photographs. In most cases, the choice of using color or black and white is a matter of personal preference.

Keep in mind that most subjects can be taken in black and white. However there are times when using color can help bring out the true beauty of the subject. You may want to pass up a black and white motif for subjects that are known for color like an autumn settings, flowers and colorful butterflies.

Use a black and white theme for subjects where color may become a distraction to the viewer. Scenes of war or an accident are more compelling and less violent to look out minus the color of blood.

In this way, black and white photographs relay more emotion without being too disturbing.