{"id":117626,"date":"2018-11-09T13:11:42","date_gmt":"2018-11-09T21:11:42","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/?p=117626"},"modified":"2018-11-09T13:11:42","modified_gmt":"2018-11-09T21:11:42","slug":"7-simple-black-and-white-photography-tips","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/2018\/11\/09\/7-simple-black-and-white-photography-tips\/","title":{"rendered":"7 Simple Black and White Photography Tips"},"content":{"rendered":"

Simple is better:<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

1. Shadow<\/h2>\n

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When shooting monochrome, make photos with a ‘cherry on top’ (a small, subtle, yet beautiful detail).<\/p>\n

For example in the above photo, you see the ‘pinnochio nose’ shadow. What is the symbolism of this shadow?<\/p>\n

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2. Put your hand in the photo<\/h2>\n

\"Cindy\"<\/p>\n

Put your hand in the foreground of your photo, to add more personal-ness to the photo, and another interesting detail.<\/p>\n

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3. Presets<\/h2>\n

\"eric<\/p>\n

Shoot in RAW, use a high-contrast black and white preview on your LCD screen, and use FREE ERIC KIM MONOCHROME presets<\/a> (see all presets here<\/a>).<\/p>\n

I think post-processing your photos into monochrome is essential. Play around with the ‘blacks slider’ (I prefer the ‘crush the blacks<\/a>‘ aesthetic).<\/p>\n

There is no ‘good’ or ‘bad’ aesthetic in black and white. Just post-process your photos until the photos look beautiful to you.<\/p>\n

4. Use a flash<\/h2>\n

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Flash will add more contrast and help your subjects ‘pop out’ from the background. Experiment with a flash in your monochrome photos.<\/p>\n

5. Simplify<\/h2>\n

\"Cindy<\/p>\n

Seek to simplify your photos. Simple tip:<\/p>\n

\n Shoot from a very high angle, and point your camera downwards.\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

I recommend using a camera with an LCD screen to do this.<\/p>\n

6. Separate your subject from the background<\/h2>\n

\"Cindy<\/p>\n

It is good to photograph your subject, especially when they are wearing a white outfit, to separate then from the background (figure to ground<\/a>)<\/p>\n

7. Obscure is good<\/h2>\n

\"Cindy<\/p>\n

Obscure your subject, by photographing them through obscure backgrounds — such as a semi-transparent background, like glass walls, or windows. This is an example of a Chiaroscuro<\/a> composition — which means “clear + obscure”.<\/p>\n

Make sure your subject is clear (white space around them), but also obscure them. This is also when shooting blur<\/a> is good.<\/p>\n

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More Monochrome<\/a><\/h2>\n

\"eric<\/p>\n

All black everything:<\/p>\n