When I was little I would look at my parents’ snaps and think that black and white photographs were boring. I’ve learned now to see the many benefits of black and white photography. I could not understand why, with all of the colour in the world, the photos were in different shades of grey. Now I look at the photos I take and wonder if they would look better in black and white, or even sepia!  There are just some photos that lend themselves to less colour. So, how and why do I choose which ones to convert to Black & White?  This article will tell you how to choose which photos will look best in black and white.

Black and White Photography Softens Faces

(My Mum often thanks me for this, heh heh).

It instantly takes the focus away from lines and smooths out the skin.

Black and White Photography is Classic and Timeless

I think converting to black and white instills some charm into the photo, especially in portraits.

Black and White Photography Decreases the Business of a Picture

Sometimes when I am taking photos of the kids, the crazy colours and patterns they wear clash wildly. When I see the photo in colour it looks busy and hard on the eye but if I convert it to black and white, it calms all of that down and I am able to look at the picture as a whole. My eyes are not instantly drawn to the mismatch.

Here is an example:

Too busy, does not relay the peacefulness of the moment because of the wild exclamation marks on Maddy’s jumper, the background is too busy, the shadowing on their faces, all wrong and I find it difficult to see the picture as a whole.

Can you see what I’m talking about?

Same photograph converted to Black and White:

Much gentler, easier on the eye and I am able to see the emotion and the photo as a whole, not just the busy – ness.

Black and White Photographs Cover Up Blemishes

When Ivy is sick, pale, has a rash, flushed, converting to black and white takes all of that away.

In this photo she was very pale and had been unwell for the week. Aside from the dark circles, it covered all of this nicely.Unless I specifically want to capture her looking unwell, I will almost always change over to black and white.

Black and White Photographs Can Lessen the Traumatic Impact of an Event

When I am taking photos of a traumatic event, like a hospital stay, the black and white photo can diffuse the situation.

Black and White Photographs Even Out the Light

Sometimes I see a nice photo but the lighting isn’t right. The sun is too bright or the shadowing is severe. Converting the picture to black and white seems to even a lot of this out.

Here is an example. It was a lovely moment between father and son but the sun was in the wrong place and the original photo was very disappointing but when I changed the photo over to black and white, the contrast between the direct sunlight and the shadowing was much less noticeable. It is one of my favourites, despite all of its faults.

Converting to Black and White can save photos, punctuate memories, soften faces and brings to the subject an old world charm.

Why don’t you try changing some of your photos to black and white?

The results can be amazing!