7 TIPS for DRAMATIC Black and White Photos

[@insightvideo6136]

For me, photography is not about reality unless it’s used for journalism. Otherwise, it is an art medium for individual expression. .. any way you express yourself, including shape, form, and texture, best expressed through monochrome medium. Love your video and explanation of how you got this shot. Thank you!

[@Peter-df1br]

Thanks for the video about B&W. I have personally gotten into more B&W lately, not for everything though. I came across a photographer's comment this past year which I find true. He said "Imagine photos as your own memories... how many times do you refer to a memory or describe a scene to another person by the colours you saw". Sometimes colour photo just doesn't quite 'make it' but converting to B&W can salvage it and add a new dimension to it. I set my camera to display B&W preview so I have an idea if it will work. Only the jpg will be B&W but raw file will be colour. Works for me.

[@gavinmcguire1746]

Good work Mads. As an NZ archaeologist working in Crete I have been involved in a long-term project (2007-2026) to photograph the interaction between workers and the uncovering of a four thousand year old Minoan settlement on the Greek island. I chose to digitally photograph the day-to-day excavation in black-and-white (shades of grey) which for nearly 200 years has been the first choice genre in archaeology. I believe the resulting imagery highlights timelessness and aesthetic qualities and where variations of light and contrast appear especially realistic. As we say, it is how we 'look at colour’ compared with the way we 'look into black-and-white.’

[@samking7178]

Great video!!! Would love to know what your time lapse settings were.

[@erichstocker8358]

I do a lot of black and white because I use a film camera a lot. I have hardly used any of my 3 digital cameras in ages. B&W is really symbolic/fine art (for a long time color was not considered to be anything but snapshot photography). BW really lets one emphasize form, shape, line, and contrast. Subjects are "hidden" by color. I like to do both but film mostly BW because easier for my to develop now.

[@davidblocher1949]

Hi Mads, Can you do a tutorial in Lightroom for people who are colorblind?

[@MadsPeterIversen]

Obviously, as we know, colorblindness comes in different variations and strengths, so it's a bit hard to make a "fit for all video". However, I would just crank up the saturation to localize what colors are located where and adjust accordingly and then desaturate the photo back to natural levels afterwards :)

[@photog1529]

Hmmm...in the past, I never considered using interval shooting...I simply set up and waited for the "right" moment. I'll have to give this a try when using a digital camera. My black and white is typically done using medium format film...6x7, 6x17 and occasional 35mm. Thank you.

[@MadsPeterIversen]

I could require a rather big memory card on a medium format camera, but it's definitely an approach to catch "the moment" :)

[@ChrisDefalcoblues]

Thanks again for your great tips and knowledge

[@MrRockfisherman]

Thanks for tips

[@mgman6000]

With film you can do a lot with filters take a rose with green leaves behind it You can have a black rose with a light background or a white rose with a dark background depending on the filter used. Usually a digital camera has a filter sim in it. Another way to get a really dark sky is to use an IR filter it will also cut through haze to give you the ansel adams look.

[@marcosealo1909]

Hi Mad, I really like your videos. I don't speak English and I watch them with Spanish subtitles but some videos don't show the option Do you know why?

[@ernie548]

Having been at this for a couple decades, and liking B&W, it seems it will still hold a strong place. Film included for sure. I have found the level of processing needed to get the same amazing B&W prints from digital as film really is higher (more labor/work). Plus the rolloff at the ends of a films curves can bring some qualities that digital is hard pressed to equal.

[@anthonyplancherel8274]

Excellent video...didn't know you were colourblind....mind too...causes some problems with editing and especially composing for colour, but I also prefer to shoot in colour, despite being badly colourblind and unable to see shades that most people can...

[@JaypeaFoto]

Nice job on the black and white photo. I think it’s a hard sell when it comes to black and white shots. Maybe it’s my shots or post processing but they seem to get the least response on social media.

[@mikeashley9578]

I’ve done some black and white in cities with lots of clutter and I think it worked better.

[@Jack-se2iz]

Wonderful video and so helpful! Thank you, Mads, beautiful photo!

[@kilimeruimages3967]

Question - current camera is mirrorless 26mp and looking to upgrade for a faster burst speed and better iso etc, but potential new mirrorless camera is 20mp - If I plump for the 20mp camera, will using light room super enhance save me investing in a higher resolution camera such as 45mp - thanks Mads

[@MadsPeterIversen]

It's not really a replacement for true megapixels sadly. Depends a lot on the photo itself.

[@kilimeruimages3967]

@@MadsPeterIversen Thanks for your reply, this helps my decision making - keep up the good work

[@PedroLeitao]

Interesting video!

[@stevehageman6785]

Well done, thanks for sharing. :-)

[@blue47er]

"The best tutorial of the year". I just love a modest claim. And yet I do like this chap very much.

[@MadsPeterIversen]

Hopefully, I said the tutorial bundle of the year, my own tutorial probably isn't the tutorial of the year, although I don't release products I can't stand 100% behind 😅

[@armeniocavaco]

HELLO Mads. I see that the Tenba and the Lowepro are very similar 25 L , back opening, etc. When do you prefer to use one or another? or is it just you have them in separate places? Thanks.

[@MadsPeterIversen]

Hi, I mainly used the Tenba when I used the big 15cm filters for my ultra wide angle. Now I mainly use the Lowepro as I can pack smaller with my 16-35mm.

[@armeniocavaco]

@@MadsPeterIversen THANKS. I have both Lowepro 450 and 350 I find the 450 very confortable even if heavy. Thanks (Y)

[@armeniocavaco]

@@MadsPeterIversen I also discovered a little "trick"..sometimes I carry the tripod INSIDE the Protactic 450..IT FITS in the midde and the weight gets more centered and in city is more discrete EHEHEH

[@melissam731]

That's amazing!! Thank you for such a great tutorial. Really helpful.

[@claudiujipa]

Hmm, checked out a bit. Looks like a complete new set of courses. 🙂

[@MadsPeterIversen]

Hehe, yes, exactly :)

[@claudiujipa]

@@MadsPeterIversen now what can we do? Credit card, payment and back to study 🤣

[@claudiujipa]

Hi Mads, Whats the difference between 5days deal this year and the one released last year. Is there something worth another acquisition? Ihave the last year one. Great conversion in b&w.

[@MadsPeterIversen]

Hi Claudiu, everything in this year's bundle are products, which haven't been in the bundle before. So in that way, it's very worth getting compared to last year, but definitely look into if there is something of interest for you specifically :)

[@nipendranathsarkar814]

Absolute gem Mads

[@roydewaard7393]

I didn't know that you are colourblind as well. would love to know how fellow colourblind photographers cope with that while processing their images

[@MadsPeterIversen]

I already answered a couple of other people above :)

[@roydewaard7393]

@@MadsPeterIversen thanks!

[@M4Y0_]

Thanks for these tips. Time to finally use my polarizing filter for once :D

[@markielinhart]

Colour is descriptive - Black and White is interpretive ✌️

[@janetelsworthy1710]

Hi Mads. I like that your shirt and jacket match the theme of your video! Thanks for another great video.

[@TheSaniwaa]

Ok so this is gonna be super weird, but hear me out. I'm French, and i'm doing English studies. When i take photos in B&W, it's like speaking English. It's the weirdest feeling/analogy but it's super similar, colors is French to me and B&W is English

[@MadsPeterIversen]

That is an odd analogy, but I see what you mean ;)

[@SteveP_2426]

I'm afraid I'm not a great one for B&W unless it's something I take on a bright sunny day e.g. Dartmoor Tors. I know a lot of people are really into their B&W so it's just personal taste. I just like the colours of a sunrise/sunset and Blue/Golden hours too much. Having said all that I have seen some very impactful B&W images so understand why some people like them a lot. For me personally it has to be a simple image like you said and one with textures.

[@scotty4418]

Nicely done Mads, I will confess black and white is a big part of my photography so absolutely agree with what you said about pre-visualisation and thinking about the processing aspect when out on location. The 5 day deal looks a fantastic offer too

[@MadsPeterIversen]

Thanks a lot, Jim! Yes, I think it's rather important. You can't really just convert anything to B&W and call it a day ;)

[@hendrikboser8238]

Exelent

[@kurisutofusan]

And of course, I noticed the video the day the 5 days deal ended ...

[@bamsemh1]

The worst teacher, is the teacher who doesn't interact or listen to the students! I feel sorry for your kids, because clearly they can't have a conversation with their "father"!

[@MadsPeterIversen]

What in the world do you mean with that?