I Wasn't A Fan of Black and White Photography Until I Tried This!

Join Kim as she heads to the woods to do black and white photography in camera, after being inspired by a recent chat with a podcast guest.
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#blackandwhitephotography #nikonz7ii #woodland

[@wolfgangwhyte5571]

Welcome to the wonderful world of monochrome! I would add one tiny piece of (admittedly unsolicited) advice to setting your camera to monochrome mode: if you delve deeper into the monochrome setting on that Z7ii, you'll find digital color filters (in the menu, select "Monochrome" then press right on the D-pad)... and if you choose "Red", it'll breath some life into landscapes, lend luminosity to certain leaves, and darken those skies. Heck, try all the filters in the forest - yellow and green give nice results as well, if you're shooting the leaves up close

[@tshering-2024]

I love black and white photography. Black and white is timeless.

[@hedydd2]

I sometimes shoot in colour but set the viewfinder and EVF to show black and white. Also often shoot raw simultaneously so as to have maximum latitude for post processing if required. Also if I shoot in alternative aspect ratios or use an electronic zoom or crop in-camera, shooting in jpeg and raw gives me the modified or cropped jpeg but the full sensor unmodified and uncropped raw.

[@behindthelens65]

When you select B&W - MC in the menu you can then move the down area which will give you a menu where you can select things like red, yellow, orange or green filter as well as sharpness etc. These are obvious only applied to the mono jpeg. The Raw is unaffiliated.

[@landesnorm]

Kim--you might look at Aaron Siskind's work and Minor White's images if you like abstracts in b&w. Many of the photogs from the early years of photography can offer you inspiration and knowledge, and photogs from present time like Salgado, Penn, Avedon, Karsh, W. E. Smith, Caponigro, or Bourke-White equally can offer you substance. For fantastical surreal work, check out Jerry Uelsmann. The list goes on and on. B&W has a power all its own and can enhance your color work.

[@johndurham5629]

I love that you are constantly trying new techniques and approaches. I am especially glad to see you do, with your "normal" lens, what I always told my biology and environmental science students to do when we went outside: "First, look far and wide, then, focus near and close. The greatest variety of life exists at the margins and within the details of the patterns of living organisms you can see Nature's grand scheme." Continue on your adventure!

[@wallybornmann8336]

Having loved the photography of Ansel Adams I've always loved the possibilities that come with b&w. Thank you for mentioning that I can set my camera to mono and still have a color image in RAW. Thank you for being open to other possibilities and then sharing them.

[@plethoraofstuff.912]

Hi Wally - I remember seeing an Adams’ inspiring video on a KZbin channel called BLACK AND WHITE PROFUSION. It’s great for inspiration of all different black and white photographers

[@fredwayne4697]

I love black and white photography

[@mitchellcoulthard6011]

Not a professional photographer by any stretch of the imagination, yet I have had opportunities with a camera that tend to surprise even myself. My love of photography began with a walk through McKinley Park with Malcomb Lockwood and Charles Ott back in '69. Thirty-five years in Alaska, ten years in Australia, off and on in Hawai'i, the high mountain deserts around Las Vegas, and the mountains and farmlands of Colorado. Years with a Canon FTbN and F1N. A mixture of Canon EOS, and finally landing on the M6 II after having everything else stolen. Your podcasts have 'reopened' my eyes to things I remember seeing and experimenting with, times with my nieces showing them how to see through photographer's eyes. Thank you for your wonderful podcasts, you make me feel as if I'm walking alongside you as you treat us to your insights and thoughts on photography. Keep up your wonderful work. Cheers.

[@lloydbligh5601]

I love B&W images it brings the photos to a whole new level. Camera companies are missing the boat in not adding more features in enhancing the B&W images.

[@malteplath]

(speaking about b/w photography) Oh, look, a squirrel! Love it. This morning, as I was driving to work, a squirrel crossed the road in front of me. Naturally, I had my foot on the brake pedal. Anyway, lovely video, enjoying some food for thought. Thanks Kim!

[@marycarron5118]

Thank you for another inspirational video Kim. I love the way you see yourself as constantly learning, not as an expert. It makes your videos so much more relatable. I took an outdoor photography class a few years ago and the tutor stopped half way and asked us all to put our cameras onto monochrome and leave them there for the rest of the class. It really was an eye opener for me and I have loved b&w photography ever since. I'm looking forward to the podcast now as I'm sure I'll be inspired further.

[@thismonolife]

Been shooting in B&W profile on my Z6 and Z50 for a couple of years now. It helps me see what's in light and shadow easier than when the screen is in colour.

[@bamsemh1]

Much more powerful and crispy details. But flowers and such looks better in color. I mostly shoot b/w on gray days though.

[@spidersj12]

You can also try a monochrome cast in sepia, blues, greens, reds, orange, etc. Experiment with a theme, perhaps create a photo book with chapters that are different monochrome colour cast sets.

[@martinthody9335]

Another superb video, Kim. My experience is that my monochrome images are much better when the camera is set to black and white mode compared with converting images in post that I’ve taken in the field in colour. It opens up so many more possibilities when the light’s not ideal for colour images. As well as getting high contrast images, I’m now experimenting with high-key low contrast images which give a super dreamy ethereal feel to them.

[@valdiskrebs566]

Those are great B&W images … you should more Monochrome! Does your Camera have built-in standard B&W filters like yellow/orange/red/green? I love rotating through the filters in a scene and see how colors change their shade/intensity in the monochrome photo. Because of these filters I prefer JPG output when shooting B&W.

[@daviddyephotography]

experimentation, or as I like to call it, "PLAYING" opens the doors to new discoveries of exciting compositions. this also keeps your vision sharper try to a scene fir what it COULD be not always as it is. beautiful images and lovely inspiration

[@BernhardSchwarz-xs8kp]

And as always when it comes to photography contrary to painting - less is more.

[@artlyons9024]

I love to use B&W photography for certain subjects to create the mood that I desire.

[@dougedwards7570]

I often take my students out to shoot B/W -- they are amazed how ''different'' things look.. glad to see I am not alone in this adventure ;)

[@andreasschaefer8613]

I always use the b/w mode, accept I need color jpg, it brings the look clearer to composition, structure etc. I think it improves my photos in this dimensions, also when I mostly use the raws in color.

[@AlergicToSnow]

Nice to see you youngsters discovering B&W. I started with B&W film and had my own darkroom. Great way to learn how to see before getting caught up in bright shiny colors.

[@jhoven916]

It's been almost 3 to 4 months the last time I practiced photography,im not usually into black and white photography,but next week I starting again to bring out my camera and this time into B&W photography

[@dangilmore9724]

The trick to B&W photography is to think in terms of luminance as it relates to the grey scale you are operating in (panchromatic, orthochromatic). A good composition theory to start with is the idea that the viewer's eye usually gets drawn to the lightest area of the image first, and in monochrome images, that may not be related to color.

[@willparsons32]

The main attraction to black & white photography is the high(er) shadow definition. Black & white naturally shows more definition than color but because the options are plentiful while editing, I choose to get it right in camera the first time. However, I also use a film SLR camera on occasion and although simplier to use, there is no post processing/editing except for getting the exposure and f/stop right, the results are significantly higher than digital. By "higher" I'm referring to the crisper, true shadow definition. It's like " film doesn't lie"

[@ivarwb4115]

Being a big fan of B&W photography, this was a brilliant start to my day. Now I'm really motivated to pick a roll of Ilford film out of the fridge and enjoy this amazingly bright and sunny Sunday!

[@kimgrantphotography]

Briliant Ivar! Enjoy!

[@projectmatters]

Very nice reminder to turn on the monochrome mode. Like you, I try BW in processing but don’t shoot with it turned on very often. When I want a film look I usually just load a specific film in one of m film cameras mostly gathering dust. But your suggestion inspired me to immediately turn on the monochrome filter and walk outside as the sun was setting. It caused me to look at the scenes in my neighborhood with a different eye.

[@jackbrumby1892]

Better than the way I started - 2nd hand Practica camera, cheap lens, manual focus, manual exposure & b&w film was all I could afford. Then hours in someone else's darkroom. Then again, a better way to learn than setting your viewfinder to monochrome.

[@markielinhart]

Every day is a voyage of discovery, even when you have to come back for the shot. Lovely bnw images Kim‼️✌️🌻

[@alangauld6079]

I was "lucky" enough to be raised in the era when almost every photo was B&W and colour TV hadn't really started either so, seeing the world in B&W feels fairly normal to me. The first 10 years of my photography journey were mostly spent using B&W film too because it was a lot cheaper! Today I have a custom mode set on my camera for B&W viewing but I also use an old vintage Yashica TLR medium format camera when I want a full-on B&W fix (and viewing is in colour, it's the film that's B&W, it really is "in camera"). BTW When processing your raws don't neglect the colour controls (channels and HSL) when processing B&W, they are equivalent to using the old colour filters on the camera, and they can really make a subject pop from the background. I loved your shots of the broom flowers with the bokeh behind, very nice.

[@romiemiller7876]

I do my B/W in color when shot, and adjust the tone and contrast in post. Alos, try reducing saturation to 0 when editiong color images. Adjust black and white points first without color, then reset the saturation.

[@trishfrei.2]

If you photograph in monochrome first, then your colour photos are generally better. You can always press Key V, in Lightroom, to change to mono or colour. I tend to edit in mono then change it to colour, if required.

[@roycefaggotter6860]

Absolutely wonderful, A roll of Ilford Film and the Darkroom is how I started doing that.

[@bradzaruba9686]

Wow, these are amazing!

[@laughing_gnome]

When I was a budding photographer, we only had b&w, colour was a luxury no one could afford and with the abesnts of color your images had to have strong composition, throw away the small format and start using medium or large format and get some really strong and powerful images, there is nothing better than a 5x4 or 10x8 image

[@InfectedChris]

I had to wait until I was off today to watch the video because I was so tired when I got home from work yesterday and then was on the phone with my mom for a while for Mother's day. That image at 5:01 is definitely my favorite. I don't do a ton of black and white photography either but I created an image of a pinecone using my macro lens that I really enjoyed. Like you said, it's the patterns of the pinecone and the light that really make the image pop.

[@treeman3663]

Will have to try b&w birding something different 😊

[@johnmclean7852]

If you research the old black and white cinema you’ll find that color is still important. The Lone Rangers mask was indigo. Several of the costumes used heavy reds and yellows. Color lens filters were used in the black and white era even by Mr. Adams. So as you edit your photos play with the color sliders, the color information is still in the raw files use them.

[@RolandMueller-xu8rv]

In monochrome film photography, there were the 3 colour filters that worked to change nature light to create different contrasts in B&W. These were the yellow, (light contrast) green (medium contrast) and red (dark contrast) filters. (If you look thru these filters you can see how they effect your scene or subject.) Though you may add these to your digital negative in post processing it is not the same as working with the nature light when taking your image capture. In my college photography classes our instructor, a pro-photographer had preference using the digital Raw file for B&W conversion in PS CS2 Layers, were we would give attention to adjusting the colours to B&W to get contrasts to pop out detail as to Jpeg in camera that can be flat looking. I'm kinda giving my age away here as my course was over 15 years ago. From CANADA.

[@davidcannon2464]

Stunning

[@mactionpix]

Having started with a plate camera ,way way back ,then onto the Rolleiflex, pan F,tri x film etc I look to see if the picture will be good in mono.see the picture before you take it. I remember that again past time that a chap looked into the viewfinder of the Hasselblad camera I had at the time and said oh it's in colour.The world then was black and white, my fellow press photographers only shot in mono .

[@davejolley6869]

Nice one Kim simply loved that, I thank you!

[@anthonymrbs]

Great video! The quality of your videos is always outstanding and only seem to get better with every video.

[@RalfTenbrink]

I started a lot more black and white a few months ago but I never switched the camera to monochrome. Great tip. Thanks

[@nicerides9224]

While you are experimenting with the monochrome mode you can also add color filters to get different effects like making blue skies darker etc.

[@wrightfrosty]

Lovely video I often shoot in black and white , being old school I always use the viewfinder rather than back screen , you may find this helps when shooting in mono mode

[@MyAvalonPhotography]

I enjoy watching your take on things. You are a different type of thinker in several ways and I find your perspective very helpful. I think it’s likely because I am just old and need a push out of my comfort zone. Thank you!

[@haimtoeg]

my favorite in-camera monochrome mode is Kodak TMAX 100. But joking aside, lovely video, thanks Kim.

[@windyngw]

love this week's video as I like black & white photography and you just push me outside to do some more many thank Kim see you next Sunday

[@cstartworks]

What a great idea.. I'm definitely going to try it when I next go out

[@billybown1397]

Well, you've inspired me. Thanks Kim 👍👍

[@photographic_zen]

Excellent video Kim! Sometimes when I do bnw photography I use the filters included in the camera's software and it's amazing what you can find as a source of inspiration for the editing process :)

[@paulbenson3441]

Hi Kim, I do sometimes dabble with monochrome and I set my viewfinder up a wee while ago to see what an image would look like that way. I was initially trying to solve a problem I'd been experiencing with focusing and monochrome helped. But the spin-off also provided the opportunity to view a scene with and without colour. Monochrome, I've found is superb with an open, moody landscape and possibly a dramatic sky. Or deep contrasts and wonderful textures. I make a note of the images I want as monochrome so I can find them later when editing. I make a virtual copy before editing so I always have the original unedited colour image for future reference. I've begun looking at the work of Fay Godwin for inspiration. I remember seeing an exhibition of some of her photographic work many years ago at the Graves Art Gallery, Sheffield City Library, and it left many happy memories with me. I believe it was a collaboration between Fay and Paul Nash's poetry.

[@baharam98]

Great video that helped me see b&w in a new light. Thank you!

[@robertwhitephotography]

I love monochrome! So many of my subjects lend themselves to great B/W photo. When you strip away the color you start focusing more on texture. It's a beautiful way to see the world. I don't normally shoot in camera b/w but as you do, I convert in LR. I think maybe because I can recognize great subjects in color, knowing I will convert them later... contrast is the name of the game here... Beautiful shots Kim! very nice.

[@mayhamilton6652]

Great video Kim! Loved that you could see the tiny spider in B&W. Definitely going to give it a try. Thank you!

[@kimberlyfoxdemeza6662]

Just watched this and you inspired me. I have previously used post processing to change some of my images to BW. Didn’t realize I could try it in camera. Thank you!

[@34Media]

nice one mate , i started my photo journey and could only shoot film in black and white def a fan especially when their is texture involved

[@MrsMinx50]

Loved your images I like monochrome Photography myself, another great video Kim thank you 👍👌

[@artsilva]

Coming from shooting and processing my own b&w film over 40 years ago, this technique is often my personal preference for shooting digital for the last ten or so years. It not only helps me keep me pre visualizing in b&w like I dd when I shot film but also gives me that RAW (color) option to change my mind later in post. The main challenge in seeing and shooting in b&w is grasping tonal values in a scene and how light really works. B&W is definitely a great and creative tool in every photographer's learning journey and practice. Fantastic images Kim.

[@marilyngiannuzzi9867]

Thank u Kim .I will give this ago!

[@artlyons9024]

I truly enjoyed viewing your B&W photos.

[@daniellegrandpa]

Thanks for a great video, very informative, I'll give it a try. I love the music.

[@davidskinner274]

Well done hand held, Kim

[@brianrose2487]

Kim, another great video and information. I have not shot in black and white for some time but will give it another go. Take care

[@Webpromotions]

Hi Kim, I'd always shot in colour but recently did a high end professional course in portraiture. I was taught to shoot everything in black and white in camera regardless of what you want the end result to be. That way you get all of your tonality and composition correct without worrying about colour. Then afterwards can go back to colour in post knowing that everything is right. It really works. Or you can just leave everything in black and white ifyou want.

[@AlergicToSnow]

Excellent advice.

[@rainbowfeet58]

Thank you for your lovely approach to photography and the learning. Really liked your images and I do like black and white photography though just learning ❤

[@__digitelbaba]

Surly wonderful ❤❤

[@theblazephotography]

BW PHOTOGRAPHY means imaging in greyscale in a colorful world, which is not easy. Awesome! An excellent job has been done thanks for sharing have a nice day.

[@richmatlock2396]

Great video Kim. I have done what you do... shoot in color then convert in post processing. This give me something to try. Thank you to you and Adrianne

[@edc5338]

Love your videos. I have been doing more B&W photography and this just inspires me to do much more. Fuji has an excellent B&W Acros simulation.

[@baobo67]

Thankyou for your delightful video. Love way you have desplayed your shots with the settings. So much for the super fast lenses pushed on us. Also just the one peice of kit. Out there looking for subjects not even thinking what ifs re gear. Nice clear exlplanations, Cheers fron Australia.

[@milesgommeimages]

Why do you hold your mirrorless camera like a smartphone user? The EVF is of a much higher resolution (especially with Sony cameras). Also you get a lot less stray light on the monitor.

[@mozzamhosein6476]

Excellent video. Shooting in B/W will definitely improve your photography. I have been doing this for a while and seeing the results. Thanks for sharing

[@heathermtaylor7683]

Hi Kim, I really enjoy shooting in black and white - in the Nikon monochrome menu there is an option to add different coloured filters: the red filter offers much greater contrast and gives that extra dimension to the images. I love this option especially.

[@kimgrantphotography]

Thank you very much for sharing this Heather! I'll need to give it a go.

[@heathermtaylor7683]

@@kimgrantphotography - Thank you Kim for all you do. 🌼

[@DavidL5star]

I have gravitated back to using film and love it! Seeing the world in b/w does make you think more about your approach. I use a Nikon F5 and mainly Ilford X2 400.

[@joepublisher166]

You got some really nice shots Kim. I just started shooting B&W - I'm enthused to do more in monochrome. I look forward to the challenges to my creativity and I believe that is what you were saying in your video.

[@timrosenburgh8597]

Enjoyed the video as usual Kim. I must admit i don't do enough B&W photography. As you say, convert your colour image's and have a look. Some really nice image's as usual.

[@JohnDrummondPhoto]

Some of my own favorite monochrome images are of cascades. Rocks without moss or ferns around them can be a little boring. But push the blacks in B&W against rushing water, and the results can be magical, even abstract. I've rarely tried monochrome in woodland, but you've inspired me to try it in my next outing.

[@joncothranphotography9375]

I have found that I go out with just my camera and one lens very often. I normally carry my 15-600, because I mostly practice wildlife photography although I often use it for landscape. I will need to try monochrome. Thanks so much for even more inspiration!

[@christianpetersen1782]

I think shooting B&W in a forest is a really tough challenge for your first time. Maybe try general photography in the street, graveyard, urban concrete area, beach etc to get your eye in. With your 24-70 lens you can get a 105mm perspective by changing to DX format.

[@milesgommeimages]

Also have you never shot black & white film with an analog camera? Try it with Iford FP4

[@frankinblackpool]

The difference between your opening statement and that of timestamp 9:38 is like night and day. From your change in tone of voice and body posture I get the feeling that this experience has really invigorated you on so many levels. 😀 In your Lightroom edits, did you play with the HSL sliders?

[@jamesclifford3401]

Another nice video Kim, I thought you may have looked at the tree bark on your right at video time 2.08, too me it looked darker that the new leaves growing behind it, the texture looked great, but then again it may have look like nothing too yourself.

[@oneeyedphotographer]

I do quite a bit of black and white photography, but I don't set my camera to black and white because it doesn't show me what I want. I shoot in colour and convert later. There are examples on my Facebook page.

[@PracticingPhotography]

I am surprised you had your L-bracket on you camera still. Great video and idea - I may try the same with my photography club for an exercise.

[@jackmiller1804]

Welcome to the art of b and w

[@robertnelson3614]

Something here I might have to try...

[@lachietod3918]

Not long started watching you, love the ideas, the tips, the instruction and philosophy, so thoroughly enjoying your videos, thank you for making them. I really like the long camera strap you have in this video. What make is it, and where could I get one

[@kimgrantphotography]

Thank you very much! It's a Peak Design strap. I was sent it by a viewer but if you Google the company, you'll find them 😃

[@lachietod3918]

@@kimgrantphotography Thank you so much Kim, thanks for responding. I'll have a look. Continuing success.

[@leikosdani]

Thank you Kim for this beautiful inspirational video. I'll try that tecnic next time. I have a question for you. Why ISO 1000? Thank you again

[@kimgrantphotography]

Enjoy! I was handholding the camera and in a woodland so light wasn't the brightest 😊

[@mikes4408]

I #wb2pics love shooting B&W. Like seeing in another dimension.

[@barryrasberry376]

Hi Kim. Love your videos. But this time I am interested to know which camera strap are you using? Plus I am inspired to try some B&W so thank you for posting.

[@rogerlill]

It looks like a Peak Design Slide or maybe a Slide Lite. I have one and love it.

[@anta40]

B & W is indeed not how we see the world naturally, so definitely takes some time to get used to. This is my preferred way for doing personal projects. B & W kinda lets you focus on shapes and textures. One of my favourite examples is Aaron Siskind, who took lots of interesting peeled paint photos. Very abstract-ish. Probably looks boring for those who prefer natural landscape. In the end, of course you need to see how the elements in your frame interact which other. Some scenes may look dull once they are converted into B & W.

[@5RustyBin]

Kim can I ask what app you use to add the white border to your pictures?

[@gravellegb]

A monochrome photographer whom you might like was a man named O. Winston Link. He specialized in photos of steam railway locomotives at night, using elaborate artificial lighting set-ups.

[@kimgrantphotography]

Thanks for the suggestion Gary. I've just had a look at his work - some lovely rail and train images :)

[@RikMaxSpeed]

My problem with B&W photography is more of a moral one: it just feels like cheating… I recently heard another KZbinr say “everything looks better in B&W”.

[@garrydelday5816]

I personally love B&W images but never shoot in monochrome (is that wrong ?) I would usually decide in post if an image warrants being B&W and convert it. I’m always conscious of situations that would suit B&W but just never think to set the camera to monochrome, I’d rather get the image in colour, as I see it and decide later if it benefits from being B&W. As it happens my best ever image (just my opinion) from the last three years is a B&W but it was converted in post. Should add I’m an amateur that only shoots in jpeg as I don’t subscribe to PS or LR yet, I just do minor editing using my iPad

[@999garyr]

I shoot B/W as often as I can. Sounds strange, especially with all the color in the world around us. That is where the problem lies. Color to me is, CHAOS. There are times color is so vivid, you don't know what the subject is we are suppose to be drawn to. The subject matter in the image gets lost. Like a collage of color. Every one has a color they are fond of and their mind will search for it with out you even knowing it. I guess that is why Ansel Adams is still very popular. For me, B/W gives the viewer something to look at, that maybe they have seen a hundred times, but in color, and now for the first time sees the detail and form of the subject. No color to draw your eyes away from the detail of the image. Only detail . Lines that were not visible before. Shadows that emphasize depth and whites that form the outlines. Clarity, like you have never seen before. Like your leaves, the vanes, outlined in light and darks. This is how you get a perception of clarity. I like your show and hope you have many more adventures. Bye for now.

[@HaiNguyen-si6ld]

I have just started photography about a month and I have a question so please forgive me if it sounds stupid! Why did you set up shutter speed that high for almost immovable object and then also raised ISO?

[@kimgrantphotography]

Sure, I was in a woodland where light was limited and handholding the camera