Imran Ahmad and Alex Soh are both seasoned Nikon photographers, having both traversed the world and explored the different mediums of photography, they have become well acquainted in the art of capturing black and white imagery. Here they share some helpful tips and techniques to master this art form.
Also known as monochrome photography, black and white photography is where images have only two hues. It pushes photographers to think beyond colour and explore an environment’s shapes, textures, and tones for a more intriguing image.
Architecture or portraiture shots are great for shooting in black and white. Fine detail or textures such as lines and shapes can help give your black and white shots depth and interest. Black and white photos rely on contrast, which is the difference between the bright and dark areas in the image. Therefore, lighting can play a crucial role in how the shot turns out. Look out for shadows and bright lights that can help create a good contrast in your image.
To get an idea of how different shapes, textures and tones affects your shot while capturing pictures in black and white, activate the Live View mode of your Nikon DSLR, after adjusting the Picture Control setting to Monochrome.
Gain more creative control when you edit your images with Capture NX-D, an editing software developed by Nikon for Nikon’s RAW images. It lets you adjust parameters such as brightness, sharpening, and clarity of the Picture Control setting used in the photo. As it saves your adjustments in a separate file, you can easily restart the adjustment of your RAW images when required.