BW photography is timeless. It’s classic and never dates.

Portraiture shots in BW can reveal the very soul of that subject. Removing the distractions of colour and you can see their very essence through their eyes.



With black-and-white photography the ability to stand out depends only on the ability to communicate rather than on the appealing visual presentation.

The same rule applies with BW landscapes. Good strong lines, full tonal values (good range of colours) and strong shapes will convert to BW beautifully.



Most cameras have the ability to take the shot in BW. I never ever use that function, as I can’t convert that BW shot into colour. I always shoot in colour and convert to BW after. You have a so much more control on the richness of the blacks and the clarity of the whites this way. And you have a colour version and the BW version.

BW can be very forgiving on red ruddy complexions, but it won’t help a poorly taken shot. A great shot will convert well; a poor shot will still look second rate. You still need to get the shot right in the camera before converting it to BW with your software.

Just about all the photography software I know has a BW convertor or a grayscale function. Have a good look at the program you use and are comfortable with. It is there. If you are not able to find it or unsure how to use it Google your software name and ‘convert to BW’ and see what you can find. The answer is out there. And it’s so worth that little bit of effort to get that classic shot.

If your BW shot is looking dull, muddy or just a whole lot of shades of grey, then you need a bit more contrast in the original colour shot. Meaning more defined colours. Bear in mind that reds and blues look much the same when converted to BW.

**This is important tip.** duplicate your original shot and convert the copy to BW. You want to keep your colour image as your backup.
This is my mantra to you this month. Duplicate. Duplicate. Duplicate.

When you print your BW image, set the printer onto grayscale as well to remove any magenta or green tints that may come through. Your printer uses colour inks to produce BW (Too tricky to explain, but believe me it does). To see what I mean print one image with the grayscale off and the same image again with the grayscale on. There will be a slight difference, but it will be enough to see the tint.

Choose your subject and have a look at the portraiture or landscape or macro tutorials to refresh your memory on how to set up the camera, compose the shots and for other tips. All we are doing is what you’ve already done with an extra step on the computer for BW conversions.

Have a look at this website for amazing and emotive bw images to get your imagination running.

YOUR CHALLENGE PEOPLE IS TO SHOOT A SUBJECT AND CONVERT IT TO BW. Pop it up here on this tutorial thread with what camera settings you used. (Right click on your image on your computer/properties/details. scroll down and all the info is there) I would like to know what f stop, what iso, what shutter.

If you ask I will critique the shot and offer suggestions for you.

YOUR COMPETITION IS TO load up your ONE best shot into the SEPTEMBER Photo Challenge Gallery folder by midnight on the 30th. You'll be in the running for a Scrap Therapy $25 Voucher which is valid for one month from announcement of the winner. And the winner will be announced with the rest of the September challenge winners on the first Friday of October.

I do love Black and Whites Tiff and will be keen to have a play this month - have been very slack with my camera of late so some great motivation - thanks

fabulous challenge Tiff!!

Love love black & white!! 

Great challenge. Love black and white........

Great challenge Tiff and really looking forward to this one:)

Thanks for sharing and inspiring.

Cheers Angie

you go people.

can't wait to see what you all get your teeth in to!!!!!

Great challenfe Tiff..I look foward to having a go!

Here are some photos I took this weekend. One is of my son on his compulsory birthday shot LOL (he just turned 18!!!) one of my youngest son and my step-grand daughter having a cuddle and the other of my son and my sisters dog.

How did I go Tiff ?

oooo Danni these look gorgeous to me. I'm not the expert though, but they look very scrapable to me.

I think you went AMAZING Danni!!!!!

DanniT. Great going girl. I'll do one at a time in the order that you've uploaded them.

The shot with your son and the dog. I think you've used flash to fill light, but I'm not sure as I can see the catchlights in the dog's eyes but not your sons. I love the fun feel of this shot and having the dog in it has relaxed your son for a very relaxed shot that really 'shows' who your son is. Do you know what I mean. Like he's dropped his guard for a sec and allowed you in. You've used a shallow depth of field (smaller f number) to blur the background which isolates your subjects and that exactly what you want. Just watch for things that are close behind the head that won't blur very much (the diagonal slat of the deck). Great conversion to BW, but back off on the vigentting (darkening of the outside edge) just a bit. It should only just be noticable. If you can actually see it, then in my opinion, its a bit heavy. Can you drop the opactity. This is a great example that in colour may have looked a bit busy with all the coloured distractions, but in mono, it works well.

The Mark_Sopia shot works too. It's an unguarded moment, and they can be priceless. I can see the catchlights and the blurring of the outside edge has disguised the car (??) so it's not fighting to be another interest in the shot. I do feel as tho I'm going to tip off the page to the left. Horizon perhaps?? Good one.

Daniel. You've placed him well with only a little distracting background issue. I would have liked to see the lawn blurred a bit further so it's not so detailed behind the left of his head, but that's just being a bit picky really I would have liked to see a bit of the front of his leg that his right arm was resting on, just so my eye doesn't drop off the bottom of the photo.

Just for everyone's else's info, what program did you use for your editing??


good one DanniT. You set the bar for everyone and that's an awesome start!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

t

Thanks Tiff for your comments, much appreciated. I have really enjoyed your challenges as it has made me use my camera on other modes other than auto It has also made me look differently when I am taking pictures, backgrouds lighting etc, its been so much fun

I use the Corel Paint Shop Pro Photo program to edit my photos. I find it very user friendly for just the basic photo editing with good results.

you rippa DanniT. you have so confirmed Lee-Anne's belief in me and the reason why I am here (besides being a scrapper too of course )

thanks chick. you've made my day!!

tiff

Terrific photos Danni.
I thought I had better start early this month, I ran out of sunshine last month
I have attached a photo for you to critique Tiff, if you have time.
Thanks,
Trisha