Getting Started With Black & White

There is a certain something about black & white photography, isn’t there? Let’s take a look at the secrets of this stripped-down, less-is-more approach to photography and how it can help you express your creativity

Even in this age of cutting-edge digital photography, black & white images still have an enduring appeal. Whether you make portraits, landscapes, wildlife, or sports, removing the color from a photo can give it a radically different look and feel. It’s almost as if, without color, we can concentrate better on elements like texture, tone, and pattern.

Look at the pair of pictures above. What’s the first thing you notice about the color one? The amazing orange sofa, yes? Now look at the black & white version and ask yourself the same question – now the emphasis is on the thousands of books on the bookshelves. Without the distraction of the colorful sofa, we are free to appreciate the repeating patterns and texture we would otherwise ignore.

The same can be said for portraits: it’s very easy to be instantly drawn to the color of someone’s eyes or the shade of their lipstick, but when we are freed from that, we can concentrate on things like face shape, hair style, and the texture of skin.

© Justin Stailey

Even subjects that you’d think should always be photographed in color can look good in black & white. Urban landscapes, wildlife, and sports can all benefit from a monochrome approach – it’s just a question of being open-minded and experimenting.

All this gives you a clue as to when black & white is a more useful approach than color. When it’s shapes and patterns that appeal, a color-free approach may well be the best one to take.

© Daniel H. Bailey

How Your X Series Camera Helps

There are lots of approaches to black & white photography, ranging from in-camera monochrome modes to complex post-production techniques in software like Adobe Photoshop. But for starters, simply set your X Series camera to one of its black & white Film Simulation modes – MONOCHROME or ACROS. Do this by pressing the MENU/OK button, selecting FILM SIMULATION from the IMAGE QUALITY SETTING menu and then picking the mode of your choice

The camera will preview the scene in black & white in the viewfinder and on the viewscreen, so you can see if the scene is working without color or not.

Your Next Steps

• CHALLENGE Flip your X Series camera into a black & white Film Simulation mode and make some portraits of someone you care about – your best friend or a family member, for instance. Post your favorite image to social media with the hashtags #MyFujifilmLegacy and #blackandwhite. You can also submit your work here for a chance to be featured on our social media channels.
• LEARN Download our booklet See The World in Black & White with FUJIFILM X Series

Header image © Ryan Budhu