{"id":89048,"date":"2013-05-22T13:34:13","date_gmt":"2013-05-22T21:34:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lightstalking.com\/?p=89048"},"modified":"2021-02-24T02:17:45","modified_gmt":"2021-02-24T07:17:45","slug":"when-a-lack-of-color-is-the-perfect-answer","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.lightstalking.com\/when-a-lack-of-color-is-the-perfect-answer\/","title":{"rendered":"When A Lack of Color is the Perfect Answer"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
Has this question ever crossed your mind? I wonder if I should shoot this in black & white? We think every photographer has been faced with this decision. And many folks today, in this digital world, would just tell themselves, “I can always convert it later”. But the truth is that sometimes it will help you in your visualization of the final photograph to image it in black and white right on the spot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Perhaps, you might want to filter the image, either optically or electronically: a red filter to darken the sky, a green filter to light foliage, a yellow to lighten a person's skin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Another important point to consider is tonal value. The tonal value of your subject might influence how you frame it. What do we mean by tonal value? If your subject has the predominate colors green and blue, and they have the same reflective value, they will image at almost the same tonal value in black and white.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
So, how do you learn to see in tones?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Back in the old days, (film), this was a trick we used to use. Find yourself a dark piece of glass. Sunglasses work fine. But they should be the very dark variety with no color tint. Close one eye and peer through the glasses with the open eye. The glasses effectively remove all color. you are now seeing the scene in tonal value (levels of light to dark).<\/p>\n\n\n\n So What Screams Black and White?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Let's examine some photographic situations and discuss why black and white is an excellent choice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n