Black and white (B&W) photography is widely regarded as the foundation of the art form, possessing an enduring and distinguished quality. Producing a superb B&W image often requires more skill than its color equivalent, demanding that the photographer learn to recognize tone, shape, light, and shadow.
A properly crafted monochromatic photograph wields great power by forcing the brain to see details it might otherwise overlook in a color image. Since color is absent to attract attention, composition becomes even more critical in B&W imaging.
This technique is inherently suitable for emphasizing elements like texture and strong tonal contrast. Furthermore, B&W conversion is a powerful tool used to enhance mood, create drama, add intrigue, or convey a sense of mystery. It is often chosen when the image’s fundamental strength does not rely on specific hues, or when color might be a distraction. For archival longevity, a true B&W print produced on paper has a proven lifespan of 100+ years.
Key Issues When Editing a Black/White Photo
- Avoiding Flat Conversions: The simplest methods, such as simple desaturation or conversion to grayscale, are not recommended as they typically create flat images that lack a full range of tones.
- Managing Contrast Extremes: One of the most frequent problems with digital B&W conversion is the presence of either too little contrast or too much contrast.
- Setting the Black Point: If the black point is not adjusted correctly, the resulting dark tones may look “inky”.
- Controlling Highlights: Conversely, highlights can appear “bleach-white” or “blown out” if the white point level is set too high (greater than 248).
- Protecting Shadows and Highlights: Using the Channel Mixer tool to make large adjustments to color values runs the risk of destroying the highlights and shadows in the photo.
Techniques for Editing a Black/White Photo
- Using Professional Plugins: Highly recommended methods for serious B&W editing include investing in plugins such as “Silver Efex Pro” or “B&W Effects”.
- Applying the Gradient Map: The Gradient Map adjustment layer in Photoshop is considered the gold standard because it offers control over every aspect of an image’s tonality.
- Emulating Colored Filters: Adjusting the color sliders (reds, yellows, blues, etc.) in a B&W adjustment setting allows the user to emulate the effect of colored lens filters traditionally used with film.
- Selective Tonal Adjustment: Use tools like radial filters or an adjustment brush to (Dodge/Burn) selectively lighten areas of interest and darken areas of shadow, gradually building up the light.
- Utilizing the Channel Mixer: The Channel Mixer in software like Photoshop can be used for conversion by selecting the ‘monochrome’ button, which allows you to adjust the tone values of the original RGB colors.
Considerations When Editing a Black/White Photo
- Tonal Goal: Strive for a full scale of tone, specifically aiming for deep, rich blacks and creamy, vibrant whites in the final image.
- Directing Attention: Employ techniques like tonal isolation, which uses contrast deliberately, to direct the viewer’s eyes to a specific location within the composition.
- Enhancing Mood through Tint: Consider toning a print (e.g., sepia, blue) as this can add mood to the image and, historically, help increase print longevity.
- Framing with a Vignette: Add a dark vignette in post-processing to help visually focus attention toward the center of the frame and further deepen the surrounding shadows.
Principle Takeaways
- To get the best quality images for conversion, photographers should shoot in color, RAW mode, and 16-bit.
- The main B&W composition goal is to subject the viewer’s perception on shapes, texture, and eye movement.
- Electronically applying a colored filter in conversion will lighten the tone of that color within the image while opposing colors will become darker.
- In grayscale, cooler colors (like blues, greens, and purples) generally render as darker tones, whereas warmer colors (like reds, oranges, and yellows) generally render as lighter tones.
- Low-key images have a histogram where the peaks push toward the left, favoring the blacks and shadows, indicating an intentionally darkened picture. The opposite is true for High-key images.
- The reflection of light off a surface (flat, curved, shiny, or dull) strongly influences the resulting tone, meaning the angle of view affects how light or dark any particular shape will appear.