When making a Black and White photo, is it better to set Camera to B/W or shoot in color and convert in pp
Generally you have more control if you convert in pp, but it will depend on the software. Nik Collection's Silver Efex is awesome.
luvmypets
Loc: Born & raised Texan living in Fayetteville NC
I prefer to shoot in color and convert to B&W. Sometimes a photo will be great both ways and if you only shoot it B&W you may miss that opportunity.
Dodie
htbrown
Loc: San Francisco Bay Area
I too vote for color and converting in PP. I use an elderly version of LR, which has the ability to set the luminosity for various colors when converted to grey. I imagine most if not all PP programs have something similar. By selecting how each color gets converted, I can mimic all the colored filters I used to use when shooting B+W film. In addition, I can create mixes never possible with film.
If you shoot RAW, setting the camera to B&W lets you see the B&W image in the camera LCD?viewfinder but still produces color RAW files for editing.
tfgone wrote:
When making a Black and White photo, is it better to set Camera to B/W or shoot in color and convert in pp
"I" like to shoot in color and convert to black and white.
That way I have both. (It's easier for me to remove color that add.)
Good advice so far. I'll point out
that basically the common theme
in most replies is this: When you
press the shutter release, you're
better off to record as much data,
at that moment, as is possible.
A camera set up for monochrome
capture clearly collects less data ;-)
I shoot in color because I never know if a photograph speaks to me in B&W until I’ve studied it.
tfgone wrote:
When making a Black and White photo, is it better to set Camera to B/W or shoot in color and convert in pp
I think for most people they will get better results by taking the photo in color and converting later. However, starting with the camera set to b&w, although tougher to get good results, may teach you to “see in b&w” better.
htbrown
Loc: San Francisco Bay Area
MW wrote:
I think for most people they will get better results by taking the photo in color and converting later. However, starting with the camera set to b&w, although tougher to get good results, may teach you to “see in b&w” better.
MW makes a good point. As someone else said, if you shoot in RAW+JPEG, you can have a b+w jpg and a full color raw. The jpg helps you learn what works in b+w and the raw gives you all the data you need to fine tune the final product.
I convert from color to b&w and I use Topaz B&W Effects 2. No complaints.
Jeffcs
Loc: Myrtle Beach South Carolina
ALWAYS shoot a RAW even if your more of a jpeg person
So shoot a B&W jpeg but make sure you capture a RAW and in pp convert you can use B&W filters as if you were using film with filters
tfgone wrote:
When making a Black and White photo, is it better to set Camera to B/W or shoot in color and convert in pp
I shoot in RAW. I will set my camera to monocrome so I can see what it looks like. When i import the image to LR, I see the color version and then switch it to B&W. Other times I have the camera set to Natural and may or may not convert to BW. probably not the answer you were looking for.
Shoot color for sure to get all the tonal values and convert in Photoshop by using gradient mask adjustment layer that will get you total tone control adjust from there
If you want to reply, then
register here. Registration is free and your account is created instantly, so you can post right away.