Jimbolarue77 Loc: Hampshire, UK

Tell me guys, what is it that prompts you to turn a colour shot to black & white? I've done it myself a few times but with me it always seems to be a random impulse. I'm sure there are many ascetic reasons to do this but I'd really like to learn from all your hard earned experience. So, c'mon, guys educate me!

haroldross Loc: Walthill, Nebraska

I intentionally set out to take black and white photographs. I look for high contrast lighting situations. After many years of using black and white film, I just look for strong possibilities. I prefer some things in black and white. Years ago I took a photo of the U.S. Capitol and it looked okay in color but when converted to black and white, it became one of my favorite photos.

I have also heard about people converting photos to black and white in an attempt to rescue a poor quality photo.

Jimbolarue77 Loc: Hampshire, UK

"I have also heard about people converting photos to black and white in an attempt to rescue a poor quality photo".

Interesting, thanks Harold. That reminded me once I was asked to convert a colour shot that had a sun bleached smear on it and it did wonders.

Jim Bob

I think you may mean "aesthetic" instead of "ascetic". But maybe not. Some images have more impact in b & w, particularly those with very strong contrast. For example a white bird situated on black slate rock.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

That would depend on the mind set of the photographer. :D

Jim Bob

That's why I included the disclaimer, "Maybe not." :D

Erv Loc: Medina Ohio

Hi Jim! You are doing it right. Random thoughts are always good! If you look at a shot and go HUMMMM. then try it. The nice thing about digital is it is free to try and the delete button.:)

minniev Loc: MIssissippi

Random impulse is not a bad way to start, but eventually you will learn from this experimentation which images convert nicely and which ones are better left in color.

Now (not when I started though) I notice which scenes or subjects lend themselves to monochrome and shoot with conversion in mind while in the field. Street photography, architectural photography, and some kinds of landscapes often fall into this group.

I also look for potential conversion subjects when the light is already too contrasty or is simply too boring for good color photography but I'm in a location where I am not going to quit shooting just because it isn't the golden hour.

Once back at home in front of my computer, I look again for captures that have "surprise" conversion potential.

Good conversion software helps too. While Lightroom is an excellent way to learn the process, there are other tools that will take you further, including NIK Silver Efex, One One's B&W tools, Topaz filters, and MacPhun Tonality. I would recommend that someone starting out on this path learn conversion using the LR or ACR tools first, then go to plugins and actually learn how to use them, rather than just picking a preset and clicking OK. There are so many nuances in conversion that you'll not be able to take advantage of if you don't dig in kinda deep.

This is a fascinating topic and has potential for being a learning thread so I hope others will participate, and possibly even share images to illustrate.

rjaywallace Loc: Wisconsin

Like Harold Ross, I spent a good deal of time taking and processing B&W photos during the film era. I believe viewing an image in that form takes the 'distraction' of color out of the equation, leaving the focus on light, tone, texture and composition. IMHO, B&W images are more viscerally dramatic, but I don't consider them crude. I'm not fond of the digital trend toward the term "monochrome" because it seems to denigrate images as being something "less" or "inferior" to the same or similar image in color. Admittedly I've seen many truly GREAT color photos in which color plays a significant, enhancing role, but I will continue to personally enjoy B&W as a photographic art form.

Chicago's Picasso in the Loop district


Tucson church in early evening

Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington

A poorly focused image usually looks terrible in b&w, and a boring subject or composition is not improved by converting.

Black and white is about textures, shapes, form and light. The absence of color tells a different story. It's a creative decision.

Really not much different from making choices regarding composition, lighting, lens, depth of field, your subject at a certain angle of view or in a certain setting. It's all about the art and what you want to convey.

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Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington

An interesting point!

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

:thumbup:

rjaywallace Loc: Wisconsin

I think Minniev makes a good point when she recommends "that someone starting out on this path learn conversion using the LR or ACR tools first, then go to plugins and actually learn how to use them, rather than just picking a preset and clicking OK." Tools are great, but even greater is gaining an understanding first about what conversion does to an image and how the result can be judiciously improved by prudent application of an add-in filter or overlay. Add-ins are not a panacea, or, as noted UHHogger SonnyE would likely say in his joking manner, "not a paramecium".

Jimbolarue77 Loc: Hampshire, UK

Thank you all guys, I think I'll just stick to my gut feeling on this!

You are quite right JimBob, I did mean "aesthetic". Thanks for putting me right.

Michael Hartley Loc: Deer Capital of Georgia

Not ALL photos, are good candidates for B&W conversion. Probably, only a small percentage.