Sometimes you may find it a difficult choice whether to convert your photo to black and white or keep it color. I find it difficult myself! But if we take a deep look at the difference by comparing plenty of great examples we will begin to understand when and why we should alter the proposed image.
SHOOTING IN RAW
First off, I want to say that if you like to shoot both black and white, and color, you should always shoot RAW. As some of you may know, you can change the settings of your camera to shoot in black and white…if this is your preference. This will give you a visual reference when shooting, and if you shoot in RAW it will still retain the color options. Why are the color options so important if I know I want to convert to black and white? Well, when you go into Photoshop you can adjust the tones of each color. See the screenshot below and you will see the black & white adjustment panel. If you don’t care about these options, by all means, switch to JPEG and throw the dice. Shooting in RAW vs JPEG is a matter of increasing your options, utilizing disk space, and editing time. Gotta do what’s best for your goals.
WHAT EMOTION ARE YOU CONVEYING
The first thing that most people might consider when deciding to convert their image to black and white or keep it color is the emotion they are trying to convey. Yes, colors evoke emotions, as most of us know, but what’s this? Black and white evokes emotion too?? You’re exactly right!There has been a lot of study on color psychology and how colors can affect your mood, which is a whole other article idea, but for now, we can just go off our own personal experience. How colors affect us as an individual. This means, most of the examples I will be referring to the way the colors or black and white tones affect me…though we should be fairly similar in opinion.In this first image by Scott Pudwell, we can see mostly blue colors throughout the landscape. This blue gives me a calm, yet cold feeling. A fresh perspective on a wide open valley.When converted to black and white, we can see that it works just as well, yet conveys a different emotion. To me, it looks more epic. More grande. More timeless. When there aren’t many colors in your image, converting it to black and white should be an easy consideration. But just because we can easily convert to black and white in this one doesn’t mean it will be the same for every image with minimal color. We always have to consider our composition as a whole, which we will cover in a bit. First, let’s take a look at more great examples!Here we have a photo by Ansel Adams. I tinted this one blue to give us a minimal color scheme. With this hint of color, I feel like the image has a fantasy feel to it…like it’s a scene out of Lord of the Rings or Game of Thrones.Once converted back to the original black and white, the words epic, majestic, and timeless spring to mind. This could’ve been taken yesterday, or 2000 years ago. It has that quality about it and this is a quality you will have to consider when making the decision on your own photo. Ask yourself “What is the subject, and what is the mood of the image?” Remember, the finishing approach must match the subject just as we covered in finding your artistic style (see Day 122), otherwise, you risk your message being confused and not clearly communicated.This next image by Joel Meyerowitz (we’ll be seeing a lot of his photos, mainly because he’s been around for a while and shot color film in the 70’s) conveys warmth and fun. Almost like a beach setting, or a family road trip during the summer. In most of his images, he uses color and displays the colors red, yellow, blue.Once his image is converted to black and white we lose the emotions of the colors and get a timeless quality that allows us to concentrate on the textures and repeating horizontal lines he is incorporating. Both work, but they present different emotions.This one by Meyerowitz doesn’t have much color. Sure if you look close, he’s got a bit of red on the sign in shadow which gives him the primary colors again, but it’s not enough red to benefit the color scheme. In this photo, the subject is clearly the couple walking through the smoke. So what is the mood of the image? Does he want to make it seem romantic, or mysterious? Is this a fun stroll in the city, or the intro to a Sherlock Holmes episode? Well, it’s too warm and cuddly to be considered mysterious.When we convert it to black and white we get a more mysterious or timeless feeling. We have a nice composition that eliminates the distracting colors as well as bringing more attention back to the couple in the middle. With the yellow in the previous image, it was adding the same amount of emphasis on the women on the right.Remember, we have to consider FGR and GAC as well. The woman in the middle is clearly defined except for on her left, and the darkness of her purse against the white of the smoke creates the GAC. If we make the purse lighter we lose our GAC and the eye wanders to the right. Speaking of design techniques, anyone notice the aerial perspective being used?So what if we take Meyerowitz’s initial emotion of warmth, but help him with the color scheme? We can quickly make the purse red which completes his original color scheme and brings attention back to the woman in the middle. This clearly defines our subject and doesn’t allow for us to be distracted by the equally yellow coats on the right. We will touch more on how color can distract or attract attention to the subject.Here we have another Meyerowitz photo where he captures a variety of colors, but can you see how it’s mostly red, yellow, blue again? With the pinks and bright blues, he captures a fun and bubbly scene again. The woman’s smile, and the smirk on the woman in black, combined with the color fits the mood of the image. In this case, color works fairly well, but the color seems to take precedence over anything else.Once we convert it to black and white we immediately get the timeless quality. We are able to focus on their dated outfits, the signs, and their expressions. Both work, but as we can see, it depends on the emotion you are trying to convey which will create the mood of the image.Here we have another one by Ansel Adams. Color works great in this one.When you already have a nice composition, the only question you need to ask is “What is the subject, and what is the mood of the image?” For now anyway. There are other factors when converting other than emotion, but are you starting to get a feel for this now?Here’s an older photo of mine which is a perfect example of how the subject must match the mood. This is a dramatic scene, yet the colors suggest otherwise. They are too fun, vibrant, and cheerful to be included in this scene of a husband reaching for his dying wife.Once we convert it to black and white and incorporate the Law of Proximity (see Day 59)Here’s a photo by Meyerowitz which should be a sad image as well, but the warm colors convey a different emotion.Once we convert it to black and white we begin to get that timeless feeling, and an opportunity to add more drama.With a bit more fine-tuning we are able to control the blown-out highlights and eliminate some EF.This next photo by Mark Wetters is definitely all about the color. Yes, he’s got a decent composition and is working with the Law of Symmetry (see Day 57)Converting it to black and white almost ruins it. The tones are not contrasty enough to create the drama we are looking for.With a bit more editing we are able to get rid of the distraction in the water and add that timeless/epic feeling back to the image.In this one by Joshua Cripps, we can see another great composition combined with great colors.When converted to black and white it tends to flatten out a bit.As we make some adjustments to get rid of some EF, and create more contrast we are starting to get the timeless feeling of a grand landscape.When we set the black and white adjustment layer on luminosity we retain the contrast (that too much HDR’ing took away) and bring back the color which gives us an image that is less distracting and has more depth than the original.Another one by Ansel Adams. The blue colors with a hint of morning warmth. Color makes it a delightful scene.When converted to black and white we begin to get the drama and timelessness, though some distractions are more prominent. Such as the rivers edge on the bottom left.After some more editing, we get a clean composition and a very epic, dramatic, amazing scene. One that makes you go WOW! The color one might make you go AWWE. Two different emotions are evoked.Hopefully, you are starting to understand how color or black and white images can evoke different emotions and completely alter the way your image is perceived. In the following articles, we will cover how these color or black and white choices affect your composition and more.Thanks again for all of the support everyone!!!
When converted to black and white, we can see that it works just as well, yet conveys a different emotion. To me, it looks more epic. More grande. More timeless. When there aren’t many colors in your image, converting it to black and white should be an easy consideration. But just because we can easily convert to black and white in this one doesn’t mean it will be the same for every image with minimal color. We always have to consider our composition as a whole, which we will cover in a bit. First, let’s take a look at more great examples!
Here we have a photo by Ansel Adams. I tinted this one blue to give us a minimal color scheme. With this hint of color, I feel like the image has a fantasy feel to it…like it’s a scene out of Lord of the Rings or Game of Thrones.
Once converted back to the original black and white, the words epic, majestic, and timeless spring to mind. This could’ve been taken yesterday, or 2000 years ago. It has that quality about it and this is a quality you will have to consider when making the decision on your own photo. Ask yourself “What is the subject, and what is the mood of the image?” Remember, the finishing approach must match the subject just as we covered in finding your artistic style (see Day 122), otherwise, you risk your message being confused and not clearly communicated.
This next image by Joel Meyerowitz (we’ll be seeing a lot of his photos, mainly because he’s been around for a while and shot color film in the 70’s) conveys warmth and fun. Almost like a beach setting, or a family road trip during the summer. In most of his images, he uses color and displays the colors red, yellow, blue.
Once his image is converted to black and white we lose the emotions of the colors and get a timeless quality that allows us to concentrate on the textures and repeating horizontal lines he is incorporating. Both work, but they present different emotions.
This one by Meyerowitz doesn’t have much color. Sure if you look close, he’s got a bit of red on the sign in shadow which gives him the primary colors again, but it’s not enough red to benefit the color scheme. In this photo, the subject is clearly the couple walking through the smoke. So what is the mood of the image? Does he want to make it seem romantic, or mysterious? Is this a fun stroll in the city, or the intro to a Sherlock Holmes episode? Well, it’s too warm and cuddly to be considered mysterious.
When we convert it to black and white we get a more mysterious or timeless feeling. We have a nice composition that eliminates the distracting colors as well as bringing more attention back to the couple in the middle. With the yellow in the previous image, it was adding the same amount of emphasis on the women on the right.
Remember, we have to consider FGR and GAC as well. The woman in the middle is clearly defined except for on her left, and the darkness of her purse against the white of the smoke creates the GAC. If we make the purse lighter we lose our GAC and the eye wanders to the right. Speaking of design techniques, anyone notice the aerial perspective being used?
So what if we take Meyerowitz’s initial emotion of warmth, but help him with the color scheme? We can quickly make the purse red which completes his original color scheme and brings attention back to the woman in the middle. This clearly defines our subject and doesn’t allow for us to be distracted by the equally yellow coats on the right. We will touch more on how color can distract or attract attention to the subject.
Here we have another Meyerowitz photo where he captures a variety of colors, but can you see how it’s mostly red, yellow, blue again? With the pinks and bright blues, he captures a fun and bubbly scene again. The woman’s smile, and the smirk on the woman in black, combined with the color fits the mood of the image. In this case, color works fairly well, but the color seems to take precedence over anything else.
Once we convert it to black and white we immediately get the timeless quality. We are able to focus on their dated outfits, the signs, and their expressions. Both work, but as we can see, it depends on the emotion you are trying to convey which will create the mood of the image.
Here we have another one by Ansel Adams. Color works great in this one.
When you already have a nice composition, the only question you need to ask is “What is the subject, and what is the mood of the image?” For now anyway. There are other factors when converting other than emotion, but are you starting to get a feel for this now?
Here’s an older photo of mine which is a perfect example of how the subject must match the mood. This is a dramatic scene, yet the colors suggest otherwise. They are too fun, vibrant, and cheerful to be included in this scene of a husband reaching for his dying wife.
Once we convert it to black and white and incorporate the Law of Proximity (see Day 59)
Here’s a photo by Meyerowitz which should be a sad image as well, but the warm colors convey a different emotion.
Once we convert it to black and white we begin to get that timeless feeling, and an opportunity to add more drama.
With a bit more fine-tuning we are able to control the blown-out highlights and eliminate some EF.
This next photo by Mark Wetters is definitely all about the color. Yes, he’s got a decent composition and is working with the Law of Symmetry (see Day 57)
Converting it to black and white almost ruins it. The tones are not contrasty enough to create the drama we are looking for.
With a bit more editing we are able to get rid of the distraction in the water and add that timeless/epic feeling back to the image.
In this one by Joshua Cripps, we can see another great composition combined with great colors.
When converted to black and white it tends to flatten out a bit.
As we make some adjustments to get rid of some EF, and create more contrast we are starting to get the timeless feeling of a grand landscape.
When we set the black and white adjustment layer on luminosity we retain the contrast (that too much HDR’ing took away) and bring back the color which gives us an image that is less distracting and has more depth than the original.
Another one by Ansel Adams. The blue colors with a hint of morning warmth. Color makes it a delightful scene.
When converted to black and white we begin to get the drama and timelessness, though some distractions are more prominent. Such as the rivers edge on the bottom left.
After some more editing, we get a clean composition and a very epic, dramatic, amazing scene. One that makes you go WOW! The color one might make you go AWWE. Two different emotions are evoked.
Hopefully, you are starting to understand how color or black and white images can evoke different emotions and completely alter the way your image is perceived. In the following articles, we will cover how these color or black and white choices affect your composition and more.Thanks again for all of the support everyone!!!
