Nostalgic or Gloomy?

A black and white photograph can help add a nostalgic feel to a subject. In this example below, I took a picture of some distant trees, then converted it to a sepia-toned black and white photo:

The left (original) photo shows vivid green grass and blue sky. The right photo is identical save for the color. One could probably be easily convinced that the sepia photo was actually taken with a film camera in the 1930s, rather than a digital camera in 2012 (and converted with Photoshop).



Black and white can bring about fond memories of old times, but it can also add a dark and almost frightening feeling to a picture. In my opinion it can make for a spectacular effect; if you're going for a scary or gritty appearance, black and white usually works nicely:

Again, the photos are identical, besides the black and white conversion on the right side. (I also darkened the tones on the right-hand photograph, to intentionally give it a "darker" feel.) The left photograph looks like a typical park on a beautiful day, while the right photograph has a considerably more unsettled feeling.

Cell Phones Work, Too

In my last post, I mentioned that pretty much any camera can take excellent black and white photos. Same goes for cell phones; I took this in downtown St. Paul with my T-Mobile MyTouch.

The Perfect Camera?

Much like asking people what the idea subject for a photograph would be, if you asked a group of people for their opinion of the ideal camera for black and white photos, you'd get any number of different answers. (More than a few would probably have at least a slight bias for the camera they currently own...)

Obviously any camera can take great black and white photographs. Many photographers, in fact, still swear by old school film cameras. The make and model of the camera itself is irrelevant--as long as you're comfortable using it, that's all that matters. Even a cheap old Tinio circa 2005 can take excellent pictures.

I use a Samsung ST65 digital camera for my photo shooting. About the only tip I would have with regards to taking black and white pictures is this: Shoot the original in color, then convert it to black and white afterwords. Photo-editing programs such as Photoshop or Gimp (a free program similar to Photoshop that you can download from http://www.gimp.org) can convert a color image to black and white very easily--they cannot, however, go the other way. In fact, I know most cameras nowadays have an option to shoot photos in black and white--but I would never use this option. You're far better off shooting the original in color and altering it later.

Ideal B&W Photo Subjects? Just Ask... Anyone

What are some ideal subjects for black and white photography?

As with color photography, the answer to this question depends entirely on whom you ask. If you ask a hundred different people this question, you'll almost certainly get a hundred different answers--some more passionate than others. Some photographers love close-up macro photography but have little desire to go for larger-scale panorama shots. Others are all about action and motion, and would be reluctant to seek out any sort of still-life subject.

Obviously, there is no single right answer.

In my case (and these are entirely my personal preferences), I have a fondness for scenery and wide-angle shots. I particularly enjoy panorama photographs; granted, at times they're a bit tricky; anyone who has used Adobe Photoshop's (absolutely excellent, in my opinion) Photomerge command to stitch multiple photographs into a single panorama has probably encountered the lopsided fish-eye effect that occurs when some of the pictures are taken slightly off-angle. But when done correctly, Panoramas can do an excellent job of capturing scenery that a single photograph simply cannot do.

Maplewood Nature Center; taken by me, March 2012

I also, however, have a fondness for macro (or close-up) photography. These shots can be a little tricky as well (particularly if your camera only uses autofocus) but when done correctly they can bring out minute details of a subject that otherwise wouldn't be noticed.

Closeup of a leaf taken at Battle Creek Park

A couple old decorations in my attic

In short, just about any subject or scene can be made to capture someone's attention with the proper shot.

Welcome!

Welcome to my Minnesota Black and White Photography blog!

This blog is dedicated to black and white photography. Whether you're a seasoned professional or just a hobbyist like myself, it is hoped that this blog will be beneficial and enjoyable to you.

Hope you enjoy your visit here!