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There are many elements to taking an excellent black and white photo. Naturally, the way you compose the shot will have an enormous impact on the final result. The technical qualities of the image matter a great deal as well. But before you can address those elements, you must first know what to photograph.
Determining subject matter can be a bit tricky, especially if you’re a beginner photographer. “There’s nothing to photograph” is an often-heard phrase, yet there are plenty of options for your black and white images, even in your own backyard! We explore some of these potential subjects in this lesson.
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Landscapes
Landscapes represent an excellent opportunity for black and white photography because they often have the dynamic elements that are necessary to make a black and white image pop.
Just like when shooting a landscape in color, black and white landscapes benefit from foreground interest to draw the viewer’s eye inward. Look for shapes, lines, textures, or patterns in the landscape, like rocks and trees, or as the case in the image above, the wind-swept patterns in the sand.
These easily recognizable components provide some tonal separation – areas of light and shadow – and make the image much more dynamic. Tonal separation is critical for black and white landscapes because, without it, the tones you see as you gaze upon the scene in color may blend together once the image you take is converted to black and white.
Atmospheric conditions like fog and mist make for excellent additions to a black and white landscape image as well. The foggy or misty landscape might not have the punch of contrast typically desired in black and white photos, but there is an equally pleasing dreamy and romantic quality that fog and mist add to the landscape.
In the image above, the clarity of the tree in the foreground makes the fogginess in the background seem more pronounced. There is good tonal range in this image as well, with the tree trunk providing an area of much-needed darkness that contrasts nicely with the soft, white fog in the background. And since shapes are important in black and white images, the forms of the horses give the mid-ground of the shot needed interest.
Portraits
Black and white portraits tend to convey emotion much more so than color photos, because without a wide range of colors to distract the eye, black and white photos allow viewers to more deeply tap into the mood of the shot. One way to convey mood is to focus your portrait on your model’s eyes. The eyes are the storytellers of the shot, whether that story is one that’s playful, mysterious, fun, or foreboding.
The image above is a successful black and white portrait in part because of the prominence of the girl’s gaze. We’re drawn immediately to her eyes, which give the shot a little bit of sassiness. Another highly successful component of the image is the strong contrast – the girl’s face is brightly illuminated without being overexposed while the background is pure black. This contrast makes the girl stand out even more in the image.
As with landscape shots, black and white portraiture gives you the opportunity to focus on elements like texture. The aged skin of an elderly person makes for a great element in a black and white portrait. In the image of the older gentleman above, the lines on his forehead, around his eyes, and on either side of his mouth highlight the character of his face. His age spots, wispy hair, and stubble add further interest and depth.
Abstract Elements
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. Just imagine this shot without all the linear forms in it – it would be boring, right?
Patterns and textures are great elements to photograph as well because they make up for a lack of color. Look for elements that repeat, like the petals of the flower in the image above, for an added layer of depth and dimension. As is the case with the previous example images, this one also benefits from a good tonal range from bright whites to dark blacks.
Conclusion
The bottom line is that you don’t need to go to an iconic landscape or hire a supermodel to take an impactful black and white image. So long as you focus your attention on basic elements like contrast, shapes and forms, lines, textures, and patterns, you will be able to compose a shot that has a lot of dimension and that holds the viewer’s interest regardless of the subject matter. Photograph your friends, tour your garden, or find interesting architectural elements in your own home, and see just what you can do to create a dynamic black and white photograph.
Actionable Steps
- When shooting landscapes in black and white, look for elements that will give depth and dimension to the shot. Areas of light and shadow, textures, lines, and patterns are all highly effective elements for adding interest to a landscape.
- Black and white portraits allow you to focus more on the mood and emotion of the shot than a color photograph. Focus on the eyes and tell a story that adds to the drama of the black and white composition.
- Abstract subjects like architectural elements or plants are perfect for black and white images because their forms and shapes give the image greater drama.
