Color photography may dominate modern photography, but black and white photography still holds a timeless, emotional, and artistic power. It strips away distraction, highlighting light, shadow, texture, and mood. From street photography to portraits and landscapes, black and white images offer depth and drama that color sometimes can’t match.
In this beginner’s guide, you’ll learn how to take better black and white photos, when to choose monochrome, how to shoot and edit in black and white, and how to develop your eye for tone and contrast.
1. Why Shoot in Black and White?
Choosing black and white isn’t just about aesthetics — it’s about intention. A monochrome image tells a different story than a color one.
Reasons to choose black and white:
- Emphasizes emotion and expression
- Highlights texture, shape, and contrast
- Removes distracting colors
- Evokes a classic or timeless feel
- Adds drama and mood
- Focuses attention on composition and light
📌 Black and white works especially well for storytelling, photojournalism, architecture, and minimalist subjects.
2. Train Your Eye to See in Black and White
To shoot compelling black and white photos, you need to learn to see the world without color.
What to look for:
- Light and shadow (strong contrast = more impact)
- Shapes and forms (lines, curves, silhouettes)
- Texture (wood grain, wrinkles, fabric, walls)
- Pattern and repetition
- Negative space
📌 Start by converting some of your existing photos to black and white. Notice which ones become stronger — and why.
3. Subjects That Work Well in Black and White
Not every scene works in black and white. Here are subjects that tend to shine without color:
- Portraits: focus on expression, eyes, and emotion
- Architecture: lines, geometry, shadows
- Street photography: human moments, light, and mood
- Landscapes: dramatic skies, trees, mountains
- Still life and minimalism
- Documentary and reportage work
📌 Avoid flat, low-contrast scenes unless you’re aiming for a soft or dreamy aesthetic.
4. Camera Settings for Black and White
You can shoot black and white in-camera or convert in post. Here’s how to do both effectively.
Option 1: Shoot in RAW + Black and White Profile
- Most cameras let you set a monochrome preview
- Shoot in RAW to preserve color data for editing
- You see black and white on screen, but you keep the color file to edit later
Option 2: Shoot in JPEG (Monochrome)
- The photo will be saved in black and white
- Less flexibility in editing
- Good for quick results, but not recommended for serious work
📌 If using a smartphone, use apps like Halide, Lightroom Mobile, or your phone’s camera settings to preview in monochrome.
5. Light is Everything in Black and White
Without color, light becomes your primary subject.
Best lighting conditions:
- Hard light with strong shadows for drama
- Side light to emphasize texture and depth
- Backlight for silhouettes
- Overcast for moody, soft, even tones
📌 Pay attention to how light wraps around your subject — this is where black and white excels.
6. Focus on Composition
Composition becomes even more important when you remove color. Use it to guide the eye and build emotion.
Key techniques:
- Rule of thirds: classic and reliable
- Leading lines: roads, shadows, fences
- Framing: windows, doors, arches
- Symmetry and patterns
- Negative space: adds mood and simplicity
📌 Keep backgrounds clean and intentional to avoid clutter.
7. Contrast is Key
The success of a black and white image often depends on how tonal contrast is handled.
High contrast:
- Creates drama and energy
- Works well for bold, graphic compositions
Low contrast:
- Soft, subtle, and emotional
- Better for delicate subjects like portraits or quiet moments
📌 Find balance — not every photo needs deep blacks and bright whites, but strong contrast helps the subject stand out.
8. Shoot with Intention
Don’t rely only on post-processing. Shoot with the final monochrome image in mind.
- Position yourself for the best light angle
- Expose carefully (avoid blown highlights — you can recover shadows more easily)
- Look for shadows and textures
- Visualize the black and white version while shooting
📌 Sometimes moving just a few steps changes the entire light dynamic.
9. Editing Black and White Photos
Editing is where your black and white photo truly comes to life. If you shot in color RAW, convert and fine-tune in post.
Tools:
- Lightroom (desktop or mobile)
- Photoshop
- Snapseed
- Silver Efex Pro (for more advanced B&W conversion)
Steps:
- Convert to black and white (desaturate or use B&W profile)
- Adjust exposure, contrast, and clarity
- Fine-tune highlights, shadows, whites, and blacks
- Use the tone curve for custom contrast
- Add vignette or grain for mood (optional)
- Sharpen details without adding noise
📌 Editing black and white is an art — take your time, and experiment with different tones.
10. Experiment with Styles
There are many “flavors” of black and white — find what fits your subject and style.
Styles to explore:
- High-contrast, high-grain for gritty street photography
- Soft and dreamy for fine art or portraits
- Classic film look with subtle grain and smooth tones
- Minimalist with large areas of white or black space
📌 Don’t be afraid to push boundaries. Black and white rewards creativity.
11. Practice Exercises
🧪 Exercise 1: One Scene, Two Versions
- Shoot a photo with color in mind
- Then, recompose and shoot it again for black and white
- Compare how each version feels
🧪 Exercise 2: Light and Shadow Walk
- Go out during golden hour or early morning
- Take 10 photos that emphasize light/shadow contrast
🧪 Exercise 3: Texture Hunt
- Indoors or outdoors, find objects with interesting surfaces
- Shoot close-ups using side light to enhance texture
📌 Reviewing these later will help you “see” in black and white more naturally.
Final Thoughts: Simplicity Is Strength
Black and white photography teaches you to slow down, pay attention, and shoot with purpose. It’s not about removing color — it’s about refining vision.
You’ll start noticing:
- How light moves
- How shadows shape form
- How emotion is expressed in a single look
So next time you feel stuck or overwhelmed by editing or color — switch to black and white. Let the simplicity lead you to stronger, more meaningful images.