Although digital cameras all shoot colour photos by default, black & white photography is also possible. I'll discuss the best ways of doing that, but you might be wondering, "Why would I want to shoot in black & white?" In that case, stop by the public library and look at one of the books with stunning landscapes by Ansel Adams or the definitive portraits by Yousuf Karsh. Or use the Images option at google.ca and enter their names in the search field to view many of their photos.

Instead of a picture-postcard view, black & white, also called monochrome, provides an impressionistic glimpse of a reality the maker intended to convey, without the distraction of colour. This "abstract" representation of people, places and events often makes a more profound impression on the viewer's subconscious. And today, it's so much easier to achieve than it was in the past when we were shooting film and making our own prints in a darkroom. Here are the best methods to try if you're ready to create some monochrome images.

• Use the B&W Picture Style: All DSLR cameras and some high-end digicams lens offer Picture Styles in the menu, sometimes called Picture Control or My Colours. Typically one of the options is Black & White or Monochrome. If you decide to try it, be sure to find any available overrides for this style, such as Filters or Effects or Toning. Those can produce a wide variety of effects; and it's worth experimenting with them to find the ones that you prefer.
• Convert a RAW Photo to B&W: If you're shooting in the RAW (instead of JPEG) capture mode, do not use the Monochrome style. Shoot with one of the colour styles. Later, open your RAW photos in the converter software that is on a CD in the camera kit. Apply the utility that will convert them to black & white and also modify them to achieve the most pleasing effect before converting them to TIF. This method allows you to have both a colour and a monochrome version of the same photos. (In next week's Photo Tip, I'll discuss RAW photo capture and conversion in greater detail.)
• Convert a JPG to B&W: If you want to convert some of your JPEGs to b&w, you'll find that advanced image-editing software, like the recent programs from Adobe, provide a utility such as Convert to B&W. This provides a great deal of versatility in achieving the exact effect that would be ideal for each photo when it's converted to monochrome. (It's also worth using this utility to enhance images that are already b&w, achieved with one of the previous two methods). Or take advantage of other tools in your imaging program, such as Levels, Curves, Filters or the Channel Mixer.

Most serious photographers prefer colour for much of their work, but many do occasionally work in b&w. Consider for example the rough and weathered remains of a ghost town abandoned after the mine failed; or the reconstructed pioneer village now populated by interpreters in period costume working with age-old methods and implements. Or imagine a moving portrait of an aged war veteran, his timeworn face etched with lines of experience and character. These are but a few examples of the types of subjects that are ideal in black & white. The next time you find a suitable situation, try it yourself, taking the first step into a new avenue to imaging creativity.

Photo Caption: While we all love colour images, black & white works very well with certain types of subjects. You can achieve specific effects in-camera with the filter or toning options, or use the features available with image editing software. (c) Peter K. Burian

Article Tags:  Burian, photo, tip, b&w, black, white, monochrome, color, colour, Adobe, channel mixer, RAW, converter, JPEG, TIF, Karsh, Ansel Adams, filter, effect, style, menu, portrait, landscape