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5 Black and White Photography Tips

2008-01-27T07:43:00.000-08:00

I’d share five pretty random Black and White Photography Tips.

1. Shoot in RAW

I know many readers of DPS can’t shoot in RAW (because their camera doesn’t offer it) or don’t shoot in RAW (because they either don’t know how or don’t like to) but for the most control in the post production phase of converting your color images into black and white ones - you’ll want to shoot in RAW if your camera does allow it. Of course shooting in JPEG doesn’t stop you shooting in black and white - but if it’s an option, give RAW a go, you might be surprised by what it offers you in post production.

2. Shoot in Color

If your camera doesn’t allow you to shoot in RAW (or you choose not to) - shoot in color and do your conversion to black and white later on your computer.

While most digital cameras offer you the option to shoot in Black and White (and can produce some reasonable results) you have more control over your end results if you have the color data to work with in your conversion on your computer.

Update: There is an exception to shooting in Color and it’s when you’re taking note of point 1 above (shooting in RAW). When shooting in RAW and switching to Black and White mode you see your results in the LCD in black and white but the camera actually records all of the information (including color) - the best of both worlds. But if you’re shooting in JPEG - shoot in color and do the conversion later. Thanks to Joost (in comments) for the reminder to include this.

3. Low ISO

Shoot with the lowest possible ISO possible. While this is something that most of us do in color photography it is particularly important when it comes to black and white where noise created by ISO can become even more obvious. If you’re after this ‘noise’ (or grain) you can always add it later in your post production - but it’s harder to go the other way and take noise out.

4. When to Shoot

Many digital photographers actually prefer to shoot images for Black and White in low contrast situations. So an dark or overcast day can be a great time to shoot out door shots.

Ironically these are the days that those who shoot only in color sit at home complaining about the ‘poor light’. So next time you find yourself with a dark and gloomy day - shoot some black and white shots.

5. Composition

Most of the general tips on how to compose or frame a good shot apply just as well to black and white photography as they do when shooting in color - however the main obvious difference is that you’re unable to use color to lead the eye into or around your shot. This means you need to train yourself to look at shapes, tones and textures in your frame as points of interest. Pay particularly attention to shadows and highlights which will

Black-and-white photography basics

2007-11-04T01:34:00.000-07:00

Digital Photography techniques for black-and-white photography including camera settings and creative ideas for shots.

Why shoot in black and white?

Camera settings for black-and-white photos

Explore contrast

Add drama and emotion to portraits

Black and white shot ideas

Add artistic effects

Creative uses for your black-and-white prints

Golden Rules

2007-04-30T03:13:00.000-07:00

If you only read one page on this site, then this is the one. Here are some tips to help you on your way to growing and developing your photography skills:

Always bring your camera
The number one reason why people miss good pictures is because they don't have a camera. Make it a habit to always carry a camera with you, because you never know what you could miss.

Shoot More
If you think you shoot enough - you don't. Especially if you have a digital camera, because there is no added cost to taking more photographs. Why take just one picture if you can take several? Are you in a place you may never visit again? Take a picture, because even the most boring day to day scenes can become historical in just a few years of time.

trust your eye
Studying laws of composition is fine, but when it comes down to you must trust your eye. When you frame the shot, move the camera and explore the scene. When you find an angle or composition that FEELS good to you, take the picture immediately. You can (and should) get several more shots.

train your eye
Look at the pictures you have taken and critique your own work. Did the image turn out like you planned? Do you like the composition? This self-review stage is essential for you to improve your photographic "spider-sense".

know your camera
You don't need to memorize every feature right away, but over time you should be comfortable enough so that operating your camera becomes second nature. It's like learning to shift gears or ride a bicycle - only when the machine becomes transparent are you really driving.

always work on a copy
This essential guide is new for the era of digital photography. Remember that until you make a backup copy your digital photo is a one of a kind original. Make it a habit to make copies immediately after loading them from your camera, even before looking at them! Back up your images onto removable media as often as you can.

sources: http://www.photonhead.com

Essential Digital Photography Gear for Traveling

2007-04-28T23:28:00.000-07:00

or those of us who enjoy traveling (and lets face it – who doesn’t?) it’s important to understand the ways that different equipment can help your photography when you are out exploring the world.

This article aims to do exactly that - guiding you through bags, digital storage for your photographs, portable printers, and tripods – and in turn helping you to get the most out of your digital camera while traveling.

Let’s get started right away and tell you all you need to know about some of the most essential digital photography equipment available!

Keeping It All Together

A good quality bag is probably the single most significant piece of gear you will buy for your photography on the go. You don’t have to limit yourself to a single bag either – it may be a good idea to invest in two bags of varying size so that you don’t have to take a large bag when you only need a few key items at hand.

The Ta mrac 5314 Travel Zoom 4 camera bag

Make sure you choose a bag that has adequate storage space for all your equipment, including your laptop if you have one. CompuTrekker, Tamrac, and Tenba all offer excellent quality backpacks capable of housing cameras, accessories and a laptop with considerable ease. Lowepro and Tamrac also offer bags with wheels that you can pull along behind you if you prefer.

Tripods For The Traveler

Tripods seem to be coming in smaller shapes and sizes all the time, so taking one with your on your journey can remain hassle-free.

They’re getting lighter all the time too - tripods like the Hakuba HG-504MX and Slik Pro 700 DX support your camera while being constructed from carbon-fibers, allowing you to keep your images sharp without having to drag a lot of excess weight around.

The Slik PRO 700 DX tripod

There are even mini-tripods available like the Sunpack 1001 and Q-Pod from Giottos, both small enough to fit in a pocket.

Multiple Memory Cards

Taking multiple memory cards with you could save you a lot of hassle and help to avoid situations where you will run out of space to take more photos.

It’s a good idea to have at least two 512MB to 1GB memory cards, maybe more depending on how frequently you snap photos. It’s also important to remember that even though they are reliable, memory cards are small and can be easily lost or damaged, which brings us to the next section of this article.

Backup Your Photos For Security

What could be more disappointing than losing all of your photos from a trip because you didn’t back them up? To stop this from happening it is advisable to make at least one backup of the photos on your memory cards each day, but backups can also be damaged so the more the better!

The Micro Solutions RoadStor 401010 CD-RW Burner

Backing up your photos can be as simple as copying them to the hard drive on your laptop, and burning them to CD or DVD is a good idea too. If you don’t have a laptop then using portable hard drives such as the Delkin eFilm PicturePAD and Kanguru Media X-change, or portable CD-burners like the Micro Solutions RoadStor and EZDigiMagic DM220-S CD-R Burner can be an excellent choice for creating backups.

Portable Printing

Why wait until you get back from your trip to make prints of your photos? With portable photo printers such as the Canon CP-300, HiTi Photo Printer Transphotable, and Olympus P-10 Digital you can create 4x6-inch prints of your favorite photos before you venture back home without having to carry a huge printer around with you! These compact devices are able to create some excellent-quality prints.

The C anon CP 300 thermal photo printer

Conclusion

As you can see, there are many useful pieces of equipment designed with the traveling photographer in mind, and with any luck you will have no problem deciding what equipment can best benefit you the next time you travel.

Once you have decided what you need for your next trip then it’s time to find a suitable bag to house all your gear and keep your trip an organized one so that you can concentrate on enjoying the moment and taking some excellent photos to capture your memories!

sources: www.Basic-Digital-Photography.com