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Monday, March 19, 2012

It's All Black and White

I’ve been working on my black & white photos since I needed one for that contest I’d entered.  In the digital age it’s almost impossible to find black and white film unless you search the internet. 

Most people doing black and white just switch a color photo over in their photo editing program.  If you are going to do that (and I do now), you really must play with it more than clicking “Black and White”.  Each program is different, so play around with it.  Contrast… shadows… highlights…grain.  See what works best.

Not every color photo works well as a B&W.   You need depth and contrast to start with.  A strong close-up portrait often makes a great black and white.  To paraphrase a quote I once read, a color portrait captures the subject’s personality… a black and white portrait captures their soul.   Your eyes are not distracted by the colors… instead they look directly into the eyes of the subject.

It works the same with any subject you chose. 

Here’s a few that I’ve liked how they turned out.










Or for something a little different...

 This one is for fun. I call it my 'black and white... in color'. 








8 comments:

  1. Great shots! I love the second one - it's so interesting. Well done!

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  2. More great photos!!! Really love all the texture in that second one!

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  3. I really like the first one of the building. Then again, I like the texture of the second one.

    You are so right about how it is more than just a quick conversion to black/white. I am trying to learn more because I just don't like any of my portraits converted to black/white. Thanks for the inspiration.

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  4. Love the first photo. B&W gives it kind of a nostalgic feel.

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  5. Wow! I love them all. The third one could have come right out of the 40s.

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  6. How fun. Love the Feed store and the doggie. :)

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  7. That second one is awesome. What is it?

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  8. I love black & white. Haven't used it in ages but you've inspired me to revisit!
    christine

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