Black and White Masterclass Page 3: shape and form, patterns and textures, filters

Shape and Form

Concentrating on interesting shapes can be a great way of crafting a bolder image. To appreciate an object’s outline there needs to be tonal variation between subject and background. Reducing your focal point to a silhouette is a marvellously effective method to achieve this. Base your exposure on the bright background, take an average reading, and be sure to select a foreground subject that is easily recognised.

Understanding the impact of form on your final image is also useful. For example, having the sun at your back certainly ensures even illumination, but sadly produces an image that often looks flat. However, simply adjusting your relationship to the light can have a great improvement. Moving to an angle of between 45° and 90° will give a heightened sense of volume by placing useful shadows on the far side of your subject.


Patterns and Textures

Following on with the concept of contrast, have a hunt for striking patterns and textures. One way that you can make a study of patterns is by keeping an eye out for recurring themes. Looking at architecture and public structures should yield some promising subjects. Consider using a telephoto lens to ‘stack up’ the image elements one on top of the other. A large aperture can be useful here to help to pick out one plane in particular and thereby establish a focal point. In order to avoid camera shake when handholding, ensure that the shutter speed equals the focal length. Alternatively, gain access to longer shutter speeds by using a tripod.

Alternatively to, or in fact concurrently with, textures, many objects and surfaces have interesting textures which lend themselves to black & white. However, without the right kind of lighting this can go unnoticed. Imagine for a moment the surface of the moon. The craters nearest the terminator are the easiest to distinguish because sunlight is striking them obliquely creating highlights right alongside strong shadows. Scale this down and the same kind of harsh, slanting light can be just what’s needed for bringing out texture. Use direct flash or a spotlight and position it low and to one side. Effective lighting really is the key to revealing texture.


Use Filters

Coloured filters have long been associated with black & white photography. This is because they have the remarkable ability to lighten their own colour, while darkening their opposites. For example, a red filter can turn a blue sky almost black. It’s worth noting that digital cameras often offer a filtering option already built into them, meaning that you can have a play with this effect in-camera before investing in an expensive set of filters.

The humble polariser is a filter worthy of consideration here too, due to its ability to remove glare and saturate skies. The impact this can have when it comes to post-processing is striking. Depending on the situation, a polariser can either heighten or lessen contrast, so sample with the filter and see what produces the best results.

Another useful filter when shooting black & white is a neutral density (ND) filter. Allowing extended shutter speeds in bright conditions, using an ND filter allows more control when shooting moving water, for example, and can mean more post-production creative freedom.