7 top tips for better mono photography - including how to edit black and white

[@PaulBenson-pn1hq]

Hi Darrell, I'm new to your channel. I've been doing landscape photography for many years, mainly in colour; not as a professional but as an amateur. I took my first photographs with an old Kodak box brownie back in the early 1960s, and with monochrome film (8 frames per roll); I think I was 8 or 9 years old. For a good number of years I move on to colour and stuck to it, but monochrome was still tucked away in the back of mind. I retired end of 2022 and with the idea of exploring monochrome once more. I set my camera display to monochrome so I could make the choice between editing for a colour image or for a monochrome. I've found over the past year that I prefer monochrome to colour when a landscape would speak more clearly without colour. I'm learning more to really look and think about what I'm seeing these days before picking up the camera. By the the time my eye meets the viewfinder I've already decided how I will edit the image. I've realised that there is still a lot to learn about seeing.

[@dragonrain3343]

Some nice tips thank you Darrell. For any B&W fans out there I came across a KZbin channel called BLACK AND WHITE PROFUSION - which showcases a vast variety of Photographers that specialize in black and white - I am always inspired after watching their videos.

[@thewitchpawn]

I’ve been doing more monochrome photography lately and your editing technique I’m photoshop was super helpful. Thanks, Darrell!

[@malcolmriley6897]

Some great images there, Darrell. I particularly liked the one of the three trees.

[@DarrellOakdenPhotography]

Thanks Malcolm.

[@frankdiscussion2069]

Excellent and helpful video. I keep one of my digital cameras set to monochrome mode at all times. I used to shoot b&w film only back in the 70's-90's and for street photo work it's my favorite medium.

[@ronj5714]

All I can say is WOW to that last photo. Thank you for sharing this.

[@maryconnolly9608]

very instructive. I'll probably watch this several times

[@dansudbury1]

Thank you my friend... I really enjoyed your teaching... Bravo!

[@DarrellOakdenPhotography]

Thanks Dan - glad you found it useful.

[@BenSussmanpro]

I liked your presentation- I’m always looking for new ideas on photo editing. However, I don’t use 3rd party plugins. Rather I try to use LR or Photoshop for everything. What does Luminar achieve that can’t be done in Photoshop?

[@peterhuskinson4111]

Thanks, Darrell . Simple and clear guidelines .

[@DarrellOakdenPhotography]

You're welcome!

[@laleaksu7651]

Thank you for sharing this video, It is really helpfull.

[@DarrellOakdenPhotography]

You're welcome.

[@tommyyregan]

Great tips, I’ve just started Mono photography, this will make a great difference to my shots

[@DarrellOakdenPhotography]

Glad you found it helpful.

[@MaierR-q9v]

Excellent tuition!!!!

[@DarrellOakdenPhotography]

Thanks.

[@christhibre8923]

Thank you I will try next time.

[@DarrellOakdenPhotography]

All the best

[@zoltanpuskas4722]

Very nice, Darrell, well done.

[@DarrellOakdenPhotography]

Thanks

[@withvinayak]

That turned out to be a beautiful image

[@NJM1948]

Excellent. Good tip to set the camera to black and white mode and also shoot in RAW.

[@DarrellOakdenPhotography]

I can't take the credit for it, but I liked it when I heard it.

[@RonK]

beautiful shots !

[@boyscott7193]

I love using monochrome but have not experimented enough. This was really useful, thank you

[@DarrellOakdenPhotography]

You're so welcome!

[@laurelb8372]

Very good tips and instructions, thank you

[@DarrellOakdenPhotography]

Thank you. I like trying different things.

[@tlg6339]

Well done, Darrell. I enjoyed your video.

[@DarrellOakdenPhotography]

Thank you.

[@kylewood8327]

Excellent video, I still love to shoot in B&W

[@DarrellOakdenPhotography]

Thank you

[@ddsdss256]

Thanks and good tips. Re editing, there's more to life than LR/PS, especially for B&W conversion, where IMO nothing beats Nik Silver Efex Pro (which can be a plug-in for LR, although I prefer DxO PhotoLab for RAW conversion). It would be interesting to see what you think of SEP--I believe that there's a free 30-day trial and plenty of tutorials. Another important step to the process is getting the best B&W prints (ah, baryta), which may be a good topic for you to cover. Cheers!

[@SloopJohnBeeRockabilly]

Great informative video man. Thanks. Thought provoking. As far as seeing in b/w I often wander say round a wood with my phone camera on mono. Saves camera battery and obviously only gives a rough idea of the black and white world. But it works for me. I have subscribed having watched this 👍📸

[@DarrellOakdenPhotography]

Food idea using your phone. I always have 3 spare batteries.

[@jamesbuckle7332]

Painting over highlights as you did at the end is risky, having done that on shots before, and finding printers struggle with colour matching, I ended up with very visible painting in my shadows!

[@foto-spective]

Lovely images! Definitely feel inspired to give this a try.

[@jonblackburn5896]

Hi Darrell. We thought your model and tree b&w photos were really strong images. Some great tips, we do think taking mono images makes you see things totally differently. Thanks Jon and Sandra

[@blackmamba3427]

Awesome ❤ brilliant ❤

[@DarrellOakdenPhotography]

Thanks

[@eltinjones4542]

I'll store this for tips, thanks 📷👍

[@DarrellOakdenPhotography]

Glad you enjoyed it.

[@LINDAOZAG]

Very very good!!!!! Thank you, Darrell!!!!

[@DarrellOakdenPhotography]

Glad you enjoyed it.

[@butchcassidy3562]

Great briefing!

[@andrewtongue7084]

This is all very well, Darrell, but I suspect you're old enough to remember using analogue cameras before the advent of DSLR's & Mirrorless, & in that regard, you'll also know about Adams' Grey Scale; when I was learning how to use an SLR camera, shooting Monochrome, this was essential knowledge - my reference points were the aforementioned Ansel Adams, & the brilliant John Garrett. As far as your "post production" of the image, it seems that the work has now become the property of the digital enhancement programs you employ - & I can't say I like such a consideration; to me, this goes beyond dodging & burning techniques - but each to their own, hey. Wishing you & yours a peaceful & happy Christmas !

[@DarrellOakdenPhotography]

As you say each to their own. If we still used mono film and dark rooms your comments would carry more weight. As technology moves on we move with it or stay remembering the ‘good old days’. The masters have a lot to learn from, but Ansel Adam’s would have used photoshop instead of dark room techniques if he was alive today because the final image is the end goal and the route to get there is dependent on current tech.

[@andrewtongue7084]

I think well agree to disagree, Darrell. As photographers, we all make mistakes, & I imagine that when you make an error, be it fundamental or more complex, you don't add that image to your portfolio - I certainly don't. We strive for the best results, be they digital or analogue (& yes, I use DSLR's as well); if it doesn't pass muster, then I start again until I'm satisfied with what I am aiming to achieve; therein lies the only 'dependence'.

[@recreationalplutonium]

as a fellow artist I'd like to thank you for this video

[@DarrellOakdenPhotography]

Thanks. It is good to try something a little different

[@twopoolpeople]

Good video - thank you. Shame KZbin has gone crazy with all the stupid ads.............

[@joekelly9369]

Im glad you didnt bore the bajeezus out of us with MICRO tonal contrast ,

[@DarrellOakdenPhotography]

I am a fan of KISS (keep it simple stupid) No need to make something complicated when it doesn't need to be.

[@MarkAGroh]

nice stuff brother..

[@DarrellOakdenPhotography]

Much appreciated

[@michcard1957]

Many thanks Darrell for these very useful tips and advices. In point 7, I would prefer to do all these adjustments in LRC to keep the ability to modify any of these later on. The crop and N&B conversion with color filters being the same in LRC and PS what is the added value for you to do these in PS? Does Luminar Neo do better texture and vignette than LRC ? Just curious to know. Cheers

[@DarrellOakdenPhotography]

I have always used PS and am therefore familiar with it. I have only briefly used light room and didn't find that it offered more than ps. I am aware that for some one who has never used ps that it offers what most people will ever need.

[@michcard1957]

@@DarrellOakdenPhotography Understood Darrell. Thanks for your clarification. I use both LRC and PS but use PS for advanced manipulations only (PSD files being quite heavier).

[@stevehageman6785]

Well done, thanks for sharing. :-)

[@DarrellOakdenPhotography]

You're welcome.

[@bernym4047]

Some good tips. Personally, I used to to rely on harsh sunny lighting for monochromes. Now, I look forward to shooting on foggy days or even very wet days with low cloud for dramatic landscapes. I have recently developed a way of enhancing fog or mist or even create fog to create a minimalist style of image. One negative of your video. When showing post processing, why do I need to see a thumbnail of your face doing the dialogue? It appears through most of the video in full screen which is ok but in the post processing, it just makes the computer screen harder to see as it takes up screen real estate. Furthermore, why the very annoying background music? I watch youtube for information, not entertainment. If I want music I can get it off my smartphone and it will be to my own taste.

[@gamebuster800]

Makes a video about B&W, in color.

[@DarrellOakdenPhotography]

I didn't use a wind up camera either.

[@adventurecoalition3690]

Thx for the tips and working through the editing process. Much appreciated

[@DarrellOakdenPhotography]

You're very welcome.

[@joekelly9369]

Turn your camera to mc , go into your colour ballance , theres 400 colours each are different and affect b&w differently, start between red and blue about lower center to lower left , all in.camera fire away ,

[@DarrellOakdenPhotography]

Sounds good. I think I like the flexibility of doing it in post.

[@jorgemoro5476]

I keep my Leica set to monochrome. I could not justify a specialized Leica Monochrome…

[@lloydbligh5601]

That leaf image ended up like it was in 3-D.

[@jackthompson8377]

I like this video but please keep your hands below the frame. I’m dizzy.

[@DarrellOakdenPhotography]

I am aware that I talk with my hands. You are the first to comment in four years. I do try not to when I notice myself.

[@scottfreckle237]

You have all the correct tips but most of your images don't convey well enough what you spoke about, the majority of them are very Ansel Adams and it's clear you don't have mono experience

[@insightvideo6136]

Elaborate

[@stevehunt4660]

And there's something wrong with producing images that are as you put it very "Ansel Adams"? I am confused are you trying to put him down or compliment him. Adams pictures after all are quite iconic...

[@raybeaumont7670]

Want mono? Get yourself some film and make real mono photographs.

[@DarrellOakdenPhotography]

I have never used film there is no where in the computer to feed it in. I am still happy with my fake mono photos though. 😁

[@illicit008]

Remove the Bayer filter on the digital camera and bingo a monochrome camera.

[@raybeaumont7670]

why bother? @@illicit008

[@joekelly9369]

​@@illicit008yes at a stupid cost , and speckles of crap on your filter ! People have had it done by some arse on here kidding everyone its the dogs only to have a number of problems , and changeing his number 😆😆, just flick to mono ignore these two bob tossers

[@ricksloane988]

Your hands are very distracting

[@DarrellOakdenPhotography]

It's been mentioned. I try to keep them under control when I remember.