A friend made fun of me for posting my previous piece about giving the gift of floral photos for Valentine’s Day.
I stand by that blog.
I’ll have you know that when I was a sophomore in college my then-boyfriend presented me with a framed black-white-photo of a Hawaiian sunset… on Valentine’s Day.
Sure, I got dinner and some flowers too, but the photo is the only thing from that relationship that I still have today. It’s a gorgeous shot; much too pretty to part with despite the fact that we parted ways more than a decade ago.
Whether or not you decide to give your sweetheart the gift of a framed photo this Valentine’s Day, I would highly encourage you to experiment with black-and-white photography.
When you do remember this: Filters are your friends.
It is no understatement that filters can make the difference between an ordinary picture and an extraordinary one. This is especially true with black-and-white images since they are more sensitive to light. Not only do filters help alleviate distortion, they also add depth and contrast to colorless pictures.
The trick to using filters when shooting black-and-white images is to employ the ones that best fit your shooting conditions. For example, if you are shooting outdoors, under a blue sky, you’ll want to use a number 8 yellow filter to counteract the blue sky. Blue skies tend to look pale in black-and-white photos, by using a yellow filter; you can make the background appear darker.
Another useful filter to have on hand is a number 11 yellow-green filter which can tone down red light. In addition, if you are looking to lighten the look of your subject, it’s best to select a colored contrast filter. For instance a number 25 red filter helps lighten skin tones. Conversely, if your goal is to make your subject appear darker in an image, choose a colored contrast filter that is the opposite color of the object you are shooting. For example, to darken a green object choose a red contrast filter, since red is opposite green on the color wheel.
Finally, when it comes to taking black-and-white photos, keep it as simple a possible. Don’t overcomplicate your composition, so that you need to a bag full of filters to take a decent shot. Remember, less is more with black-and-white pictures.
Related Articles:
Basic Photo Tips for Digital Camera Owners
Cameras: Knowing When To Upgrade
Telling A Story With Your Shots