Color vs. Black & White: I'm new to photography and have started to print my photos. While I can turn my color photos into black and white when I print (and they look good), is it...

Newcomer Loc: New Jersey

I'm new to photography and have started to print my photos. While I can turn my color photos into black and white when I print (and they look good), is it still better to shoot in black an white rather than switch while processing?

luvmypets Loc: Born & raised Texan living in Fayetteville NC

I always shoot in color and then convert to B&W. This way I will always have the color version. There are a few of my photos that look good both ways so I will always have both to choose from.

Just my personal opinion

Dodie

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

You have more options by shooting in color and using your computer's software to convert to B&W and edit the image to completion.

Newcomer Loc: New Jersey

Thanks, that's the kind of help a new person needs.

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

Newcomer wrote:

Thanks, that's the kind of help a new person needs.

Another new person tip: use the <Quote Reply> button to target comments to specific posts.

Cameras capture in Color. If you shoot in JPEG, the camera converts to B&W in the camera, outputting the baked-in B&W conversion.

If you shoot in RAW, the camera still captures in color, the RAW remains in color, and a 'recipe' of the B&W conversion is provided such that software that can read that recipe can repeat the camera's conversion. Or, you can just start with the RAW, edit and convert using any software desired.

Although I shoot in RAW, even if I was in JPEG, I would edit that image to completion in color, then select the B&W conversion method, than continue to edit that B&W to the desired end-result. I prefer a higher B&W contrast, as one 'finishing edit' I'd likely make to the software's initial B&W conversion.

rook2c4 Loc: Philadelphia, PA USA

If you have black & white contrast filters, there are some situations when shooting in black & white can be advantageous. Specifically, to prevent blowout of certain tones. But this requires you to have the correct contrast filter on hand, and also to understand exactly how the filter will impact the image captured.

If you don't have contrast filters, you are most likely better off shooting in color and converting to black & white later in processing where you have far better control over the rendition of color tones to black & white.

Denny357mag Loc: Sparta,Mi

I shoot in raw then I can do whatever I want.

srt101fan

Newcomer wrote:

I'm new to photography and have started to print my photos. While I can turn my color photos into black and white when I print (and they look good), is it still better to shoot in black an white rather than switch while processing?

[Deleted]

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

I always shoot in color and convert.

I'd hate to shoot B&W only at a place to which I might not easily return and tale color later.
Plus, if I decide I'd like to see the shot in color, I have it.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

Denny357mag wrote:

I shoot in raw then I can do whatever I want.

All well and good if the camera will accommodate that.
One of mine will not.
Not all cameras do.

tramsey Loc: Texas

I print mostly in color. I do not like black and white except for lines, textures and shapes. But there are a few that print only in black and white. I've seen canyons and landscapes in b/w that lost a lot because of it

BebuLamar

Unless you have one of those monochrome camera you should shoot in color then convert.

larryepage Loc: North Texas area

Newcomer wrote:

I'm new to photography and have started to print my photos. While I can turn my color photos into black and white when I print (and they look good), is it still better to shoot in black and white rather than switch while processing?

My thoughts are a little different on this subject. If you are looking to emulate the black and white snapshots of the 1940s and 1950s, pretty much any approach will work. But, if you want to create artistic black and white prints, it may be helpful to build a more intentional process that goes beyond simply dialing the color out of standard images.

This involves visualizing your subjects as they will appear and is not a normal process for most of us. One benefit that our digital cameras can provide us is the ability to immediately see what our monochrome captures look like while we can compare them to the original. So I suggest committing to black and white while shooting for black and white. Rarely do the best color images make the best black and white images.

If your camera allows saving both raw and JPEG files, using the black and white setting will not change what is in the raw file but will allow for a monochrome review image to be seen on your camera's display. This will preserve both options for you.

DWU2 Loc: Phoenix Arizona area

Newcomer wrote:

I'm new to photography and have started to print my photos. While I can turn my color photos into black and white when I print (and they look good), is it still better to shoot in black an white rather than switch while processing?

Shoot in color - it'll give you more options. I suggest you look at post-processing plugins such as Nik Silver Efex Pro or Topaz B&W Effects. These products give you the ability to create a wide-range of very different black and white photos.

DirtFarmer Loc: Escaped from the NYC area, back to MA

Newcomer wrote:

I'm new to photography and have started to print my photos. While I can turn my color photos into black and white when I print (and they look good), is it still better to shoot in black an white rather than switch while processing?

Because of the way camera are made, they shoot in color. They do not shoot in black and white (unless you modify the sensor). They will give you a black and white jpg version of your photo, but it is converted from color to black and white in the camera.

Most people find they have more options if they convert the color image from the camera. There are many different ways to change color to black and white. They assign different shades of grey to each color. So you will get different versions of the black and white from different conversion algorithms. If you send a color image to a black printer with white paper, you will get the algorithm the printer uses. If you convert to black and white in postprocessing, then send it to the printer, you have more control over the result.

If you shoot in raw, black and white is not an option in the camera. It has to be done in postprocessing.