Black and white works very well for portraits because it lets the viewer focus on the light and shadows, shapes, forms and other characteristics in the image, without getting distracted by the colours. In order to get the perfect mood and emotions in a black and white image, the photographer needs to make use of light in a very interesting and compelling way, so that it highlights the important features in the image.
One such type of lighting is side lighting and it can be achieved easily by allowing light to fall on the subject at an angle of about (not strictly) 45 to 60 degrees. Natural light makes the portraits look stunning and one of the most interesting ways to use natural light is window light. Based on the type of portrait you are looking to create, you can make use of soft indirect light for a more subtle mood or bright direct light, to achieve a dramatic look.
Here are 21 stunning black and white portraits, that make use of natural window light. You can capture light and airy or dark and moody images, by making use of the right kind of window light for your portraits.
If you wish to use natural light to capture stunning portraits, we recommend you to checkout the “Natural Light Drills” Bundle that contains seven illustrated projects to expand your knowledge on photography using natural light. You only need a basic camera and lens to capture stunning portraits like these.
When using window light for portraits, you can shoot the images indoors at your convenience without having to scout for locations, worry about the weather or other factors. Choose a window that lets in light that you are looking for and shoot during the time of the day when the light is the best to suit the kind of portrait you are looking to create. If you wish to capture stunning portraits that make use of only natural light, then we recommend you to check out our “Natural Light Drills” bundle, that includes seven easy-to-follow tutorials using real world projects.
Window light portraits are usually shot indoors and even otherwise, if you are someone who likes to make use of natural light in your photography, you can achieve that even indoors. So, on days when it is not convenient or the weather is not suitable to shoot outdoors, you do not have to stop yourself from capturing photographs. Check out the “Natural Light Drills” bundle that will give you some ideas on how to capture stunning photos using just natural light.
Further Resources
- Capture And Edit Stunning Fine Art Black And White Photographs With These Tips
- Four Reasons You Should Shoot Black And White Photography
- How To Master The Art Of Black And White Post Production
- Why Do So Many Street Photographers Shoot Black and White?
- 5 Ways To Tell If A Shot Will Make A Great Black and White
