Superhero Photo Challenge: Black and White

Some photos just lend themselves to black and white. I love looking through photos after a shoot and deciding which ones have just the right combination of elements that makes for a good black and white image. Sometimes it's about contrast, other times an image has that dreamy, vintage quality, sometimes it's just trial and error, clicking back and forth between b/w and color.

How do you choose what images you will make into black and white? Let's crack the code on good black and white images. What makes for a beautiful shot? I want to see your favorites.

I found so many gorgeous examples in the Shutter Sisters flickr pool. Wow people. You are good.

Comments

[beth]

I actually just did this one today.....perfect timing !!!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/29291473@N04/3535307180/

[Shawna]

what a dreamy shot (and yet so real, how does that work?).

i've never been able to figure bw out, but here's one of my recent attempts:

http://tumblieweed.blogspot.com/2009/05/black-and-white.html

thanks for reminding me how beautiful it can make a photo!

[Life in Eden]

Serendipity! I was going to post about this in the pool's discussion section. I started out years ago shooting b&w film and loved it. Now that I'm shooting digital color, I'm finding that the low-end software I have doesn't seem to translate the color images to b&w very well. They just always seem muddy. Even with some more high key images I'm just not satisfied with the conversion. Do you find it makes a difference shooting with the monotone setting to start with? Or are other software like Lightroom better at making the switch? I'd love to hear about what editing you're using.

Here's one of my attempts, I was happier after fiddling with the contrast and saturation:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/32837589@N07/3502432076/in/set-72157616417532761/

[Nicole Benitez]

http://perfectlyposhphotography.blogspot.com/2009/05/posh-events-first-holy-communion-teaser.html
Here is a recent that I am in love with! This also happens to be one of my own daughter's .. so I might be biased. :-)

[kosenrufu mama]

I use b/w when I want add another deep meaning at the picture like these...
http://esterdaphne.blogspot.com/2009/04/lunga-assenza-grande-liberazione.html

[Marcie]

Or - some images just 'happen' in black and white:

http://www.marciescudderphotography.com/index.php?showimage=679

[Sebrina]

I just did a photoshoot yesterday and the mom wanted mostly all B&W. http://www.flickr.com/photos/sunmamma/3535771736/ scroll through to see a few more.

[wilsonian]

It tends to be about form for me. If the form is strong, if the image has strong lines, if the story is in the shape and the light itself... I go black and white. Like your image above, it's all about form and shape and light. If colour would add something to the visual story... I go colour.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/wilsonian/3466559645/

[elk]

i shoot in black and white often ~ mostly in my garden where you would think color is needed but not true all the time

http://www.flickr.com/photos/sammymom/3419279389

[Leslie]

I love B&W's here's one of my favorites.

http://lesliephoto.blogspot.com/

[Puna]

Wow, what a compelling and seductive shot.

[brittany]

this one makes me smile every time.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/sivyerfamily/3311610375/

[kristin]

yesterday he made many wishes.
tomorrow he turns 5 and will wish on candles.
may all his wishes come true.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/14811117@N02/3535133603/

[Anna/NotAnna]

I've done a little experimenting with color-to-b/w conversion. Much to learn. Much to learn.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/31866449@N04/3517347102/in/set-72157615212423266/

[s]

http://www.flickr.com/photos/sandis_art/3535210691/

I enjoy looking at B and W photos. Trying to do some myself these days.

[carolyn]

In my opinion B&W work when they share that contrast that midtones border on silver!

here's a recent fave I came across on Flickr:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/adrianacasellato/3532677775/

[Charlane]

I go through spells of love of BW and then back to color and back to BW. this is my lastest that I think turned out ok.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/charlaneg/3528588145/

your shot is so beautiful.

[Jody]

http://www.flickr.com/photos/jodyangel/3460866942/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/jodyangel/3460866942/

Love playing with BW!!

[Crisse]

I have always loved the simplicity of BW shots. They can evoke such emotion and intensity as well. I've tried my hand at it a bit and here is one I just love...

http://www.flickr.com/photos/tildabelle/3180807000/in/set-72157612084978311/

[Kate Baumert]

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_eb4yVn8ui7k/Sg6_2w9TzAI/AAAAAAAANBk/JTG3Yu0hwiw/s1600-h/DSC_0016.JPG

This is actually a black and white, I just filtered in some brown.

[Linda Jacobs]

I'm really liking this site! I always find that I'm stretching my infant photography skills by trying out new things and looking at my pics through fresh eyes. Thanks!

http://garlinjake.blogspot.com/2009/05/black-and-white.html

[Tripping the Light Fantastic]

I'm still learning to experiment with B&W conversions. Fun to have a mess around with it!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/26239056@N05/3536347892/

[Elizabeth]

Been shooting a lot of black and white to really flex my technical skills. It's a great learning process.

http://www.skymeadow.blogspot.com/

[Jody]

OOoo I found some more to share!! And hubby asked me to take his photo this am ... and said "do it in BW"
Must be a mind reader lol.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/jodyangel/2808466083/in/set-72157606984122832/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jodyangel/2909779377/in/set-72157606984122832/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jodyangel/3407635045/

[Grey Street Girl]

I've been working on my B&W this week. It's been so much fun!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/greystgirl/3534411583/

[Jaana]

Black and White is hard for me because I just LOVE colors! But sometimes its obvious what needs to be black and white. Thanks for the reminder that my B&W photos need work! I will practice this week. :)

http://photographybyjaana.blogspot.com/2009/05/black-and-white.html

[Uphilldowndale]

British photographer James Ravilious used black and white because he said Britain was just too green
http://uphilldowndale.wordpress.com/2009/01/28/by-coincidence/

At this time of year, I know what he means
http://www.flickr.com/photos/9623286@N08/2219425862/in/set-72157604624660625/

[Belinda]

I'm a living history geek, so I tend to seek out images that lend themselves to being processed in a way that makes them look as though they were taken 80 years ago. Here are two examples taken locally:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/selfsufficiencygirl/3536831288/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/selfsufficiencygirl/3536016787/

[mary]

I like the simplicity of certain flowers in b&w:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/9068078@N05/3468996292/in/set-72157617234362650/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/9068078@N05/3468996292/in/set-72157617234362650/

[mary]

Ooops, here is my second link:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/9068078@N05/3485885090/in/set-72157617234362650/

[Jennifer]

It had not even occurred to me to convert this pic to black and white, but love how shutter sisters inspires me to try new things and experiment. http://www.flickr.com/photos/veridianblue/3536924972/

[Dawn Suzette]

Thanks for the reminder...

Here is one of my old attemps:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/32006501@N04/3030335600/in/set-72157608631649532/

Now I am looking at my recent photos with B&W eyes!

[Vanessa]

before i even shot this, i knew it *had* to be b/w!: http://www.flickr.com/photos/vanessa_r/3505422437/in/set-72157607450910728/

other times, when i'm playing around, it just sort of happens: http://www.flickr.com/photos/vanessa_r/3511573024/in/set-72157607450910728/

[Alicia]

here's the photo in color
http://www.flickr.com/photos/34467943@N07/3536469923/in/photostream/

here's the photo in b&w
http://www.flickr.com/photos/34467943@N07/3536469049/in/photostream/

also, threw in a b&w picture with my post today!!
http://aliandsethinthecity.blogspot.com/2009/05/high-dive.html

[Jamie]

I chose to black-and-white this one because of the contrast between the bright shed and the dark shrubbery:

http://camerashy.cemestos.com/shed/

And I agree - some photos are just meant to be in black and white!

[Bonnie]

I just got this shot today at a garden tour.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/bonniebythebay/3537779406/?eOrig=3536938621

[claudia]

I probably don't try often enough. I was going to try to shoot a 365 in b&w this year and stopped after only a few weeks. Maybe I'll try again.
Here's one from the other day, I did convert.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/laurohunt/3535217771/

[sandra]

a couple of my fave b&w

http://www.flickr.com/photos/myinspiredheart/3275805442/in/set-72157603751474911/
and
http://www.flickr.com/photos/myinspiredheart/3339413402/in/set-72157603749582558/

[randiman]

black and white photos are really great as they give a more focus to the object rather than the surrounding

[Michelle]

I love portraits in b&w. They are so classic and timeless.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/michelleclark/3536432680/

[Haley]

I chose to black-and-white this one because of the timeless feel to it and I found the colour version to be distracting:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/2hcreative/3527082934/

[Kelly D.]

Most of the time I end up changing an image to b&w because the colors in the photo don't work well together or it's underexposed and looks "funny" when I lighten it. My mistakes usually turn into greatness after running a simple b&w action.

One of my favorites ...
http://www.flickr.com/photos/thislifephoto/3219545296/in/set-72157612036106618/

[Sue A]

I love black and white. I'm not sure why I choose it. Somtimes it's due to the funny colors or lighting of the 'color' version and sometimes the subject just lends itself to b/w.

this is one my favorite b/w..

http://www.flickr.com/photos/49492184@N00/3539125383/

[jenica]

i believe that black and white exposes the soul. with no colors to distract with, the subject matter is clear and emotions rise to the surface. here's a sp i did: http://www.flickr.com/photos/onelittleone/3437640193/ the color version has a completely different feel to it in my opinion.

i love black and white, just going through my stream to find a few, i realized that a huge portion of my stream is in b&w! http://www.flickr.com/photos/onelittleone/3450386400/in/set-72157617268484874/

i also use b&w to help something small stand out, like this one: http://www.flickr.com/photos/onelittleone/3534936675/

[Eileen]

I like to use B&W when I try and portray shape..the above photo is beautiful.. if it had been in color the accessories in the background would have distracted from it. When I only did film.. I mostly took B&W.. partly because I had a B&W dark room, but you also get to the meat of the matter with B&W. Nothing distracts from what you are focusing on.

[Mrs. B.]

This is one of my favorites that you've hilighted here. Love it.

[Diane]

I convert to black and white a lot. I have some much nicer but not posted at Flickr ... here is what I have at Flickr:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/27458974@N00/sets/72157612292218554/show/

I do all my conversions in Lightroom because I didn't like the PS results at all. I tend to go for higher contrast, increasing the blacks, the clarity and sometimes playing with the brightness too. The point curve is my friend too. And sometimes I play with the hue in split toning.

With your photo I adore the natural light and the simplicity offered by the black and white -- very appropriate!

[Lottie]

OK if I join? I have a black and white photo I'd like to share: http://lottieeriksson.se/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=117:black-and-white&catid=87:shutter-sisters&Itemid=58

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