famous black and white still life photography (2024)

Still life photography: 30 beautiful examples

Perfecting the art of composition and lighting to create a beautiful still life image is certainly no easy task. But get it right and still life photography can be an extremely powerful art form, and can be utilised in projects from calendar design to poster design. Here are 30 talented artists who have perfected the difficult skill of making, as well as taking, their photos...

01. Evelyn Bencicova

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Born in Slovakia and currently studying photography and fine art in Vienna, Evelyn Bencicova tries to pursue a point where the commercial and artistic meet, focusing on the conceptual as well as the visual aspect of photography. This photo, one of a series called (An)Organic, grabbed us immediately with its striking and unsettling composition; check out the rest of the set.

02. Suzanne Cummings

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Suzanne Cummings has had a long time to perfect her photography skills; she first became seriously interested over 50 years ago, studied with John Sexton in the 1970s, and these days works mostly in digital, with Photoshop an essential part of her workflow. We love this shot, Reach for the Light, for its restrained filter work, giving the composition a dreamy, ethereal air.

03. Marcel Christ

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Marcel Christ takes a meticulous approach to still-life photography. "Nothing is accidental," he says, "I push the boundaries of the special effects and photographic techniques I'm using to create controlled coincidence." So he finds ways to give life to otherwise inanimate objects, such as in Melted. You'll never look at an ice lolly in the same way again.

04. Bas Meeuws

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Inspired by the Golden Age of Dutch painting, Bas Meeuws tries to recreate the feel of classic still lifes in his photography. His work is painstakingly assembled from shots of individual flowers taken with the same lighting, with each detailed and multi-layered image taking between 40 and 60 hours to put together.

05. Elena K

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It took us a second to realise exactly what this striking, abstract black and white shot actually was. Who'd have thought a bunch of bananas could be so beautiful? The photo was taken by 19-year-old psychology student Elena K, who seems to have mastered the art of creating incredible still life photography – most of which is showcased in a breathtaking Flickr portfolio.

06. Joan Gamell

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Although photography is merely a hobby for Californian Joan Gamell, his still life shots bring the simple beauty of the everyday to the forefront. This shot of the London Underground showcases the geometric inspiration we can often find all around us.

07. Besim Mazhiqi

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Using a Nikon D700, Mazhiqi masters the composition within this shot. Pushing the bike to the forefront of our focus, its colours pop from the image, whilst the background is blurred to a beautiful effect.

08. Shihya Kowatari

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With a keen interest in creatures and flowers, Kowatari captures the essense of nature in a light like no other. Bringing the intricate detail of nature to the focus of the viewer, it's a reminder of the beauty that surrounds us and how often we pass it by.

09. UndaJ

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The colours used on this still life photo caught our attention immediately. The juxtaposing yellows with the various shades of greens and blues really make this one pop, making it look like a complete work of art.

10. Andrew Vernon

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Fine art landscape photographer Andrew Vernon is the man behind this striking image titled The Wave. A master of composition, Vernon gives the blood red liquid in this image a life of its own as it lines and overflows the wall of the glass.

11. Alma Kerpauskiene

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This gorgeous mirror image was taken by photographer Alma Kerpauskiene. This lady has an awe-inspiring portfolio full of still life images but this black and white image really stands out. By carefully composing the shot and using mirroring techniques, she's transformed these flowers into a beautiful abstract image.

12. Michal Klimov

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Michal Klimov captured this atmospheric shot of his vintage camera recently. The beautifully simple image showcases brilliant colour and detail and skillful exposure and composition. Klimov's portfolio is full of vintage-style still life images, but this is our favourite.

13. Mi Yong Sung

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We're a little in love with this colourful composition courtesy of hobbyist photographer Mi Yong Sung. Aptly named 'Colourful', this fantastic shots is a feast for the eyes. Not a fan of digital manipulation, the artist says: "I don't fix the theme. I enjoys taking snap of a daily life and flowers."

14. Martin Zalba

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We love how this 'After the walk' photo has us wondering just where these boots have been. Captured by Spanish amateur photographer Martin Zalba, he doesn't limit himself to one particular style: "I am interested in all types of photography," he says, "especially night photography, landscapes, urban photography, wildlife, portraits, still life and infrared photography."

15. A Sot

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A master of still life photography, artist A Sot has an awe-inspiring portfolio, full of beautiful images of all subjects. But our favourite has to be this fire butterfly, captured after the photographer burned half a pack of matches untill he got an interesting ignition. Just beautiful.

16. Eugenio Costantini

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Rain Machine by Eugenio Costantini goes to show that an eye for detail and talent behind the lens can turn even the most ordinary of objects into something very special. A unique point-of-view taken on an umbrella transforms its working parts into this beautiful, abstract image.

17. Lafugue Logos

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We love the simplicity of the composition and beautiful colours in this Sealed With A Loving Kiss image by Lafugue Logos. With a passion for still life, photographing flowers in particular, the talented artist's portfolio is full of serene, dream-like images such as this.

18. Niko Vass

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Timeless by Niko Vass caught our eye when searching for brilliant examples of still life. When looking through this photographers work, it's clear that he's all about simplicity, allowing his compositions, lighting and colours do the talking. And this atmospheric shot is our favourite.

19. Brian Estelle

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This room is, infact, the former cell of the famous American gangster Al Capone in the abandoned prison of Eastern State Penetentiary, Philadelphia. Titled Home Sweet Home, the atmospheric shot was captured by US-based photographer Brian Estelle, using his Canon EOS 6D.

20. Vladimir Shipulin

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This gorgeous image, titled Dust, was composed and shot by photographer Vladimir Shipulin. An extremely popular artist on online photography community 500px, Shipulin has an awe-inspiring portfolio full of still life images. But this is most definitely our favourite; the lighting and antique look transforming the most ordinary everyday objects into a beautiful piece of art.

21. Linus Lohoff

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German photographer Linus Lohoff was catapulted into the spotlight early last year after he posted a series of still life images on the Flickr blog. Part of a photography class project, Lohoff took everyday objects and portrayed them in different contexts against brightly coloured backgrounds. The popular series is titled "Das gebaute Bild" (The Constructed Picture).

22. Henry Hargreaves

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Talented photographer Henry Hargreaves is well known for his weird and wonderful compositions. Specialising in still life photography, Hargreaves continually raises the bar with his work and this Smoke and Lilies series is no exception. The idea is simply what the title suggests; gorgeous, paint-dripping lilies surrounded by smoke on a black background. Beautiful.

23. Jonathan Knowles

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Based in London, Jonathan Knowles specialises in beautifully composed still life photography. His unique photographic style has secured him multiple awards and the opportunity to work with advertising agencies worldwide. This gorgeous 'Lashes - Feathers' image is just one example of stunning still life photography from his awe-inspiring portfolio.

24. Magda Indigo

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Magda Indigo has been a professional photographer for over 25 years. In that time, she's worked with clients including Harper Collins, Microsoft, Samsung, Hallmark, and American Express. She's also a Getty Images artist. Indigo is recognised mainly for her extraordinary flower, people, and food photography, with these beautiful Enoki mushrooms being a perfect example of the latter.

25. Peter Zentjens

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"My most favoured way of visual expression is still life photography," says photographer Peter Zentjens. And this passion shines through his brilliant work, much of which has a vintage look and feel to it, as seen in this beautiful image titled Forgotten. Zentjens has spent many years developing his particular style and photography techniques in order to convey the correct mood.

26. Veniamin Skorodumov

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Russian artist Veniamin Skorodumov began his photography career in 2005, during which he has built up a portfolio full of landscape, macro, portreit, nude, and still life images. The talents of Skorodumov caught our eye when we came across his brilliant Black and White Geometry series, which is stunning in its simplicity.

27. Anatoly Che

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Photography Anatoly Che is a still life master - his online portfolio literally rammed full of stunning, creative images created from the most ordinary of objects. The talents of this skillful artist shine through his photography, which consistently features precise composition and refined lighting.

28. Jenny Van Sommers

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Jenny Van Sommers is an award winning still life photographer. Living and working in London, her unique style has landed her editorial clients include Another Magazine, Vogue, and Ten. She has also worked with Apple, Audi, Hermes, and Nike. Sommers awe-inspiring portfolio, is full of surreal and quirky images such as this headphone and balloon one.

29. Robert Sulkin

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Photographer Robert Sulkin has created countless beautiful and intriguing still life images. "Still life most reflects my interest in Modernism and were constructed to be about perception and illusion," Sulkin says. It was a difficult choice, but our favourite of his still life work is this interesting iron piece.

30. Tatiana Skorokhod

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Tatiana Skorokhod creates the kind of still life photography that initially looks like a beautiful painting. Carefully placed objects make this piece a work of art – from the pops of orange across the table to the darker tones in the background, it's a marvel.

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Kerrie Hughes is editor of Creative Bloq. Kerrie was staff writer for 3D World magazine before joining the original Creative Bloq team in 2012. Since then she's written regularly for other publications, including ImagineFX, 3D World and Computer Arts magazines.

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famous black and white still life photography (2024)

FAQs

Who is famous for black and white photography? ›

Perhaps one of the most – if not the most – well-known black and white photographers of all time, Ansel Adams is widely known for his large, beautiful, black and white landscapes taken between the 1920s and the 1960s.

Who is a famous still life photographer? ›

Paulette Tavormina is one of the most celebrated photographers of still life scenes, with her stunning and intricate images of everyday objects revolutionizing the genre.

What was Ansel Adams most famous photo? ›

1. Monolith, The Face Of Half Dome, Yosemite Valley By Ansel Adams, 1927. When speaking of Ansel Adams' photography, the most famous is Monolith, the Face of Half Dome. This was Adams' first photograph that gathered the attention of the public and the art world.

Why do famous photographers often shoot in black and white? ›

1. Black and white helps you see differently. If you research old photography masters such as Ansel Adams and Edward Weston, you'll notice they photographed primarily in black and white.

What artist is known for his black and white paintings? ›

Malevich frequently worked with extraordinarily simple concepts. His famous black and white abstract art is a depiction of a sizeable black square that dominates the linen it is painted on.
...
Black Square (1915) by Kazimir Malevich.
ArtistKazimir Malevich
Date Painted1915
MediumOil on linen
Dimensions79.5 cm x 79.5 cm
1 more row
May 16, 2022

What is B&W photography? ›

Black and white photography refers to photographs created using different tones of gray, ranging from white to dark. B&W photographs are a beautiful, artistic form of photography that has a long history. There was a time when all photography was black and white.

Who invented still life photography? ›

Still life featured prominently in the experiments of photography inventors Jacques-Louis-Mandé Daguerre and William Henry Fox Talbot. They did this in part, for practical reasons: the exceptionally long exposure times of their processes precluded the use of living models.

Who is Evelyn Bencicova? ›

Evelyn Bencicova, born in Bratislava, Slovakia, is a visual creative specializing in photography and art direction.

What is vanitas still life photography? ›

Vanitas, or “vanity”, paintings incorporate macabre motifs to symbolize the transient nature of life. Some of the symbols are obvious, such as skulls, watches, and hourglasses.

Why is Ansel Adams so famous? ›

Who Was Ansel Adams? Ansel Adams rose to prominence as a photographer of the American West, particularly Yosemite National Park, using his work to promote conservation of wilderness areas. His iconic black-and-white images helped to establish photography among the fine arts.

Did Ansel Adams ever shoot in color? ›

Adams judged these (correctly) to be "aesthetically inconsequential but technically remarkable." He shot in color because advertisers and corporations liked to present themselves in color, and he liked the money they offered him; by 1935, he had a wife and two children to support.

How does black and white photography affect the mood? ›

Black-and-white photography looks more formal and serious, and while the photo may look simpler, the mood of the photo is more intense making it more emotional. The absence of color allows concentrating on the subject without any distracting elements.

Why do some people like black and white photos? ›

For viewers, black and white images give a feeling of nostalgia; it pauses the moment, makes the viewer look at the image closely, thereby urging him to spend more time with the picture. It omits any kind of bright colours and other distractions to the eyes, emphasising the subject and the environment of the picture.

Who invented black and white photography? ›

The first successful black and white images were taken by Joseph Nicephore Niepce a French developer. However, it got destroyed as the attempted to make copies of it. He was again successful in 1825, where he managed to produce a black and white image of a window.

What is a black and white painting called? ›

The term monochrome is used to describe paintings, drawings, design or photographs in one colour or values of one colour. The show at the National Gallery looks at what happens when artists cast aside the colour spectrum and focus on the visual power of black, white and everything in between.

Why did Picasso use black and white? ›

Guernica is in black and white because it is digging into the truth behind pictures. A picture, in colours, is to be looked at. Picasso in Guernica does not want us to passively look, but to imagine this terrible moment from the inside. Colours let us off lightly; black and white forces us to think.

What do you call black, white and GREY? ›

Neutral Colors

Neutral (NOO-trul) colors don't usually show up on the color wheel. Neutral colors include black, white, gray, and sometimes brown and beige. They are sometimes called “earth tones.”

What does black and white symbolize? ›

Colours are wavelengths reflected by objects to the human eye. White is pure light and black is the absence of light. In many cultures, these two non-colours are associated with life and death rituals. For essential questions about identity, the opposites black and white are often chosen.

What are 5 good subject matters for black and white photography? ›

Shapes, forms, and lines, like those in architecture, are also excellent muses for black and white photography. With a strong contrast between light and dark, a simple image of a window, a doorway, or a staircase, like the one above, turns into a highly engaging and impactful black and white image.

What is black and white quotes? ›

Black And White Quotes
  • Black and white creates a strange dreamscape that color never can. ...
  • Things are not quite so simple always as black and white. ...
  • In the beginning it was all black and white. ...
  • Life isn't black and white.

What are the 2 main types of still life photography? ›

There are two types of still life photography: found still life and created still life.

How many objects must be in a still life painting? ›

Explanation: minimum 4 objects are must in still life painting and there can be more than 4 also.

What is traditional still life photography? ›

The definition he provided was, “Traditional still life photography is the art of photographing one or more groups of distinct, inanimate, still objects, intentionally chosen and carefully arranged by the photographer, for the purpose of artistic expression.”

What's the difference between memento mori and vanitas? ›

Vanitas are closely related to memento mori still lifes which are artworks that remind the viewer of the shortness and fragility of life (memento mori is a Latin phrase meaning 'remember you must die') and include symbols such as skulls and extinguished candles.

What does vanitas symbolize? ›

A vanitas painting contains collections of objects symbolic of the inevitability of death and the transience and vanity of earthly achievements and pleasures; it exhorts the viewer to consider mortality and to repent.

What is the meaning of the painting Selbstbildnis MIT Vanitassymbolen? ›

The maxim 'Vanitas vanitatum et omnia vanitas' comes from the Old Testament book of Ecclesiastes and translates as: vanity of vanities; all is vanity. The objects in this painting all point to the finiteness of human existence.

What is the single greatest photo ever taken? ›

Top 100 Most Influential Photos Ever Taken
  • #1 The Terror Of War, Nick Ut, 1972. ...
  • #2 The Burning Monk, Malcolm Browne, 1963. ...
  • #3 Starving Child And Vulture, Kevin Carter, 1993. ...
  • #4 Lunch Atop A Skyscraper, 1932. ...
  • #5 Tank Man, Jeff Widener, 1989. ...
  • #6 Falling Man, Richard Drew, 2001. ...
  • #7 Alan Kurdi, Nilüfer Demir, 2015.

What is the most viewed photo in history? ›

Not many know Charles O'Rear is the man behind Bliss, the photograph considered by many as the most-viewed picture in the history of the world. O'Rear clicked Bliss 21 years ago and it was used by Microsoft as the default background for its Windows XP operating system.

Who is the No 1 photographer in the world? ›

1. Jimmy Nelson - Famous Photographer. Jimmy Nelson is a famous photographer from UK and he has been taking amazing photography since 1987. Since 2010 he has been working on a series 'Before they Pass Away' which has made him travel extensively to places like Vietnam, Tibet, Africa and so on.

Why are Ansel Adams photos so good? ›

The first thing most people notice about Adam's photography is the sheer scale of the images. The fact that man seems so insignificant in comparison. They're often of the great outdoors, which puts man into perspective. He wanted people to understand the world, through his images.

Why was monolith the face of Half Dome famous? ›

Monolith was used by the Sierra Club as a visual aid for the environmental movement, and was the first photograph Adams made that was based on feelings, a concept he would come to define as visualization and prompt him to create the Zone System.

Why Did Ansel Adams use black and white? ›

His black and white nature photography was known for being a rejection of the Pictorialism movement that came before - a heavily manipulated style of photography that aimed to enhance the beauty of the subject matter instead of documenting reality. Instead, Ansel Adams wanted to capture exactly what he saw.

Did Ansel Adams only use black and white? ›

He made art, but not for a cause

Words on a screen. Adams worked in black and white as well, but with just the opposite effect. His magical black and white photographs somehow manage to enhance all the color that surrounds us. For nearly 40 years he was a member of the board of directors of the Sierra Club.

What is Ansel Adams visual style? ›

Adams was deeply impressed with the simplicity of the images' conception and by their rich and luminous tonality, a style in contrast to the soft-focus Pictorialism still in vogue among many contemporary photographers. The experience confirmed in him his evolution toward a purer and more realistic style.

How does Ansel Adams use Colour? ›

And although he is mostly known for his black and white photography, he did work extensively with color images.

What emotions does black and white convey? ›

While black is symbolic of evil, white is directly linked to that which is righteous, good and peaceful (sticking with the Star Wars theme, Luke Skywalker is an effective example). Furthermore, white projects clarity, cleanliness (doctors in white coats), purity (wedding dresses) and salvation.

Why is black and white Effective in art? ›

Black and white art grabs audience attention. High contrast enables you to make staggering pictures while doing as such would not be conceivable with shading and inspire everybody. Highly contrasting succeeds where shading fizzles. Color catches the eye.

Why do artist use black and white? ›

Painting in black and white is great, because it makes you concentrate on elements such as composition, value, lighting and form. Of course, colour is a vital step, but the benefit of black and white is that you can focus on the image as a whole. Most of the time I opt for a black and white process.

Are black and white photos still popular? ›

In essence, not only does black and white photography seem to have a very relevant place in our world today, but perhaps even a necessary place. We are emotional creatures; there's no point in even attempting to deny that, and those emotions can help us connect to each other in more powerful and more meaningful ways.

When was the first black and white photograph? ›

In 1826, French scientist Joseph Nicéphore exposed a bitumen-coated plate in a camera obscura for several hours and captured an image that would have seismic permutations.

Who was the first black photographer? ›

Gordon Parks' 1956 photograph of a Black family at a segregated drinking fountain is one of the many images featured in HBO's “A Choice of Weapons: Inspired by Gordon Parks.” The new documentary examines the impact of Life magazine's first Black photographer and his groundbreaking work.

When was black and white photography popular? ›

Although methods for photographing in color emerged slowly starting in the 1850s, monochrome imagery dominated photography until the mid–twentieth century.

What is Matt Black known for? ›

Matt Black (born 1970) is an American documentary photographer whose work has focused on issues of poverty, migration, and the environment. Santa Maria, California, U.S. Black has received a World Press Photo Award, the Robert F.

Who is the most famous landscape photographer? ›

1. Ansel Adams (1902-1984) Known as the Supreme Master of Landscape Photography, Ansel Adams is by far the most important name among famous landscape photographers.

Who is Lee Jeffries? ›

Bolton photographer Lee Jeffries, born 1971, has received international acclaim for his powerful portraits of homeless people. His work is uncompromising, thought provoking and intensely intimate.

Why black and white photos are the best? ›

Black and white photography removes any distraction of color and helps the viewer focus on other aspects of the photo, such as the subject, the textures, shapes and patterns, and the composition. So, you can use all the same composition techniques – like the rule of thirds – that you'd use in color photography.

What is the difference between Matt and matte? ›

Q1 : What is the difference between mat, matt, and matte? Though "mat" is the most widely recognized spelling, all three words mean the same thing: a rigid paper border that divides the image from the glass and the frame. "Matte" or "matt" may also refer to a smooth, non-reflective finish.

What kind of camera does matt black use? ›

For one thing, he doesn't always uses an iPhone to shoot the images he posts on his feed – “It's a mixture of iPhone and a Sony RX 100 camera,” he says, “but it seems like the convention is: if you're upfront about it, then you're not cheating, so I've been upfront about it.” Second, he's not a prolific user.

What is Satin black? ›

Exclusive to our hardware line, Satin Black is a luxurious finish with rich depth of character and a semi matte sheen. Satin Black pairs beautifully with both our Matte Black and Graphite Patina fixture finishes. Living finishes develop richer patinas over time, adding to their beauty and sophistication.

Which famous artist photographed things in nature? ›

Ansel Adams (1902 - 1984)– The grandfather of landscape photography. He is the one nature photographer that transcends the genre and even photography for that matter.

Who is the best street photographer? ›

Henri Cartier-Bresson

The most famous street photographer of all time is the French photographer Henri Cartier-Bresson (1908 – 2004). He is known for his candid photography and capturing the “decisive moment“.

What lens does Lee Jeffries use? ›

Jeffries is a self-taught photographer that resides in England. His gear is simple. He uses an "old and knackered Canon 5d mark 1, 24mm f1. 4l lens and a small hand held reflector." He does all his processing in Lightroom and CS4.

What type of photographer is Lee Jeffries? ›

Lee Jeffries is a British street photographer, who resides near Manchester, England. He focuses on homeless people in England and all around the world. Lee's images were published in many prestigious magazines and newspapers like Time Magazine, The Independent, The Guardian, and were broadcasted on BBC, CNN news.

What does black and white symbolize? ›

Colours are wavelengths reflected by objects to the human eye. White is pure light and black is the absence of light. In many cultures, these two non-colours are associated with life and death rituals. For essential questions about identity, the opposites black and white are often chosen.

Who invented black and white photography? ›

The first successful black and white images were taken by Joseph Nicephore Niepce a French developer. However, it got destroyed as the attempted to make copies of it. He was again successful in 1825, where he managed to produce a black and white image of a window.

What are 5 good subject matters for black and white photography? ›

Shapes, forms, and lines, like those in architecture, are also excellent muses for black and white photography. With a strong contrast between light and dark, a simple image of a window, a doorway, or a staircase, like the one above, turns into a highly engaging and impactful black and white image.

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