Seeing in Black and White - Take better B&W pictures by learning how to see like a photo film
[wheel_in_leaves_infra.jpg][wheel_in_leaves_rgb.jpg]Infrared photos are very similar to B&W. If you are looking in a photography book you'll notice Infrared photos by their signature dark, almost black, skies and their bright foliage. Blues become very dark and greens become almost white. The real give away that a photo was taken with infrared film is that it will have a grainy appearence. (comming up: I'll also show you how to add that grainy touch to your photos that you convert to infrared.)
X-posed and then some
[tau_bambo-8525.jpg]No one ever said that your B&W photos had to be normal. Sometimes it's fun to play around with them and see what comes out. Take this photo here to the right: it was over-exposed in Photoshop using "Levels". (If you have manual control of exposure on your digital camera you can experiment with this technique there but I'd suggest leaving it to your image editor.) I mentioned in the beginning that a B&W photo is a simplifed version of reality that allows us to see more. Play around with that thought and don't be held back by what you see. Let your imagination roam.
My recipe for an art:
- mix one part reality
- add two parts imagination (rinse imagination thoroughly of any preconceptions.)
- gently stir while adding the spices joy and playfullness
- cook on high or low temperatures depending on your mood (you may vary temperature as needed)
- Serve with a slice of humbleness
- always ask for feedback
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