Using Dramatic Black & White, you can make your own black and white photographs, ones where light and contrast, grit and form come together to tell a story; where stone and sky, water and light transcend the material world and ascend to the Photographers' Gallery. Mar 13, 2021 Dramatic Bodycam Video Captures Shooting by Nashville Police Officer - Black Female Motorist Killed. Toggle navigation. Canada Free Press Because without America, there is no free world. Black can sometimes feel a little claustrophobic, but if you're after a timeless, classic look that also makes you feel like you're entering a secret cave, black can be an excellent choice. It's difficult to pull off an all-black bathroom unless it's large or has lots of natural light, but black, along with white and bright colors, can be used. Dramatic Bodycam Video Captures Shooting by Nashville Police Officer - Black Female Motorist Killed. Toggle navigation. Canada Free Press Because without America, there is no free world. Black can sometimes feel a little claustrophobic, but if you're after a timeless, classic look that also makes you feel like you're entering a secret cave, black can be an excellent choice. It's difficult to pull off an all-black bathroom unless it's large or has lots of natural light, but black, along with white and bright colors, can be used.
Black and white images have been revered in photography since they were the only option and continue to do so today. What makes a great black and white image, however, can often come down to post-production.
As Serge Ramelli goes into in this video, post-production has been crucial to black and white images for decades, far pre-dating digital cameras. Arguably one of the most famous photographers of all time — and certainly one of the most famous landscape photographers of all time — was Ansel Adams, and post-production was central to his brilliant work. Adams saw dodging and burning his images in the darkroom as an art form in itself. While we have swapped the darkroom for Lightroom, for the most part, the process is strikingly similar.
Black and white images, as a result of lacking color, rely on other aspects to tell a story. Sometimes that is texture, sometimes that is depth, but most often, it's contrast. Great black and white images usually capture great light, but even when they don't, the right dodging and burning can bring about that drama through contrast. If your black and white images are lacking the impact and punch you were hoping for, it could come down to something as simple as how you are processing them in post.
While post-production can make a huge difference, one tip I would offer for taking better black and white images is looking for contrast out in the world. Large disparities in exposure in an image can work perfectly with the absence of color.
Good black and white portraits are timeless and will always be in style, but they demand a different approach than color portraits. This fantastic video tutorial will show you a few multi-light setups for shooting compelling black and white portraits with dramatic contrast.
Coming to you from John Gress, this awesome video tutorial will show you three variations on the same multi-light setup to create dramatic and contrasty black and white portraits. While I am shooting (particularly if I know I will be converting the final image to black and white), I like to switch my viewfinder to monochrome, as this makes it far easier to visualize the end result. Even if you are shooting in color, it is a great way to focus on reading the light. Almost any modern mirrorless camera will allow you to do this; simply switch to the monochrome picture profile (or your brand's equivalent mode). If you are shooting in raw, you will still have the full color image, so don't worry! Check out the video above for the full rundown from Gress.
Dramatic Black And White Photoshop Tutorial
If you would like to continue learning about lighting for portraits, be sure to take a look at 'Illuminating The Face: Lighting for Headshots and Portraits With Peter Hurley!'