BLACK & WHITE (SEPIA) PHOTOGRAPHY
Some photographers see an overcast day as a lost cause when it comes to landscape photography. But for me, a cloudy day presents a wonderful opportunity for some B&W or Sepia photography.
When I saw the day was going to be overcast with ice and snow on our second day in Zion National Park, I thought it would present a perfect opportunity to capture some really nice black and white photography shots. But, it also caused me to wonder, what makes a good black and white photo? With that in mind, let me offer a few tips in producing a good black and white picture:
When I saw the day was going to be overcast with ice and snow on our second day in Zion National Park, I thought it would present a perfect opportunity to capture some really nice black and white photography shots. But, it also caused me to wonder, what makes a good black and white photo? With that in mind, let me offer a few tips in producing a good black and white picture:
- Unless you’re shooting in RAW, always shoot in color. While most digital cameras offer the option of shooting in black and white, you will have more control over your final presentation if you have the color data to work with in your post production processing.
- Shoot with the lowest possible ISO setting. While this is something that most of us do in color photography, it is particularly important when it comes to black and white where noise created by ISO can become even more obvious. If you’re interested in “noise or grain” for effect, you can always add it later in your post production – but it’s harder to go the other way and take noise out.
- While a cloudy and overcast day can be bothersome for photographers looking to shoot vibrant, sun-lit colors, it can be the perfect day for some outdoor black and white photography. I believed that to be the case when I captured these shots.
- Most of the general tips for composing a good photography shot in color apply just as well to black and white photography – however the obvious difference is that in color you’re unable to use the brilliance of the color to lead the eye into or around your shot. This means you need to train yourself to look at shapes, tones, lines, and textures in your frame as points of interest. Pay particular attention to shadows and highlights which will become a feature of your shot.
I do realize there is an enormous amount of personal preference in making these choices. That’s what makes photography so interesting and attractive! I still believe personal preference to be the greatest characteristic freedom within the art of photography!
Sometimes when you have a warmer scene such as a beach scene, a Sepia process will be preferred. Both of these images were captured with a cloudy sky.
Sometimes when you have a warmer scene such as a beach scene, a Sepia process will be preferred. Both of these images were captured with a cloudy sky.
