Monochrome
Get to know the pro
Name: Markus Hartel
Website: www.markushartel.com
Photographic specialism: Street photography
Improve
your black-and-white images with guidance from this award-winning photographer.
Favourite subject to shoot in black and
white? People and their environment
Natural light or controlled flash? Natural
light, with fill-in flash
Preferred kit? Leica M9 with 28mm Elmarit
lens
Mini bio: Markus was born in Germany and
moved to the United States in 2002. He has been photographing the streets of
New York City ever since. His award-winning work has been published
internationally, he also runs black-and-white photography workshops
Markus’s suggestions for shooting B&W
Markus’s
suggestions for shooting B&W
Find interesting light
Avoid flat lighting and avoid shooting in
the midday sun. Find spots where there are interesting light and shadow details
that bring out textures and patterns.
Shoot at nigh
The light, or lack thereof, is more dynamic
and looks fantastic in black and white.
Use the right equipment
A calibrated computer monitor is a must if
you intend to edit and print your black-and-white shots. It gives you more
control over the final results as you can proof the prints.
Bring out the shadows
Check your levels for punchy blacks; it’s
okay to block the shadows a little. When using levels in Photoshop, turn on the
warning tool by pressing the Alt/Option key when moving the sliders.
Add in grain
Digital files look better with film grain
imposed. In Photoshop, add in a grain layer and adjust the opacity. If you’re
working in Lightroom, you can use the grain palette.
Shoot in RAW
Take your photos in RAW for more flexibility
when shooting. You can adjust -1/3EV to protect the highlights in your
exposure. Some camera models also allow for a black-and –whitte preview on the
black LCD screen.
How to boost your shots
Enhance contrast
Black and white lends itself well to
shooting abstract shapes. Compose your image and adjust your camera settings to
bring out the unique dimensions using contrast.
Bring out texture
Considered a classic form of photography,
black and white is particularly popular with street photography and
portraiture. Find unique characters or older faces to photograph as black and
white is great for bringing out texture within the skin.
Shoot in colour
Always shoot in colour, even though it’s
contrary to your intent. This will give you more options when editing and more
control over the outcome of your conversion.
Dodge and Burn
Edit your digital black and white image in
the same way you would a film capture in the darkroom. Use the dodge and burn
tools to make specific adjustments. Don’t forget, dodge is to lighten and burn
is to darken.
Use coloured filters
Shoot with coloured filters to bring out
tonal contrast; it’s a great way to halve your editing time. Use the red filter
to enhance a dramatic sky and orange to get flawless skin.
Vignette the sides
Add a vignette around the edges of your
frame to help contain the viewer’s eye within the image. This works
particularly well if there are no clouds or areas of interest within the sky.
Adjust colour channels
Adjust
colour channels
When converting to black & white in
Photoshop, don’t just desaturate your shot. For more control, use the Convert
to Black and White tool to adjust colour channels.
Reduce noise
Keep your ISO low when shooting for
B&W. Noise is great way of adding texture, but it’s better done in
Photoshop where you have more control.
Putting it into practice
1. Settings
Shooting in the studio give you more
control over the light and therefore the contrast in your image. Set up a
still-life shot using just one key light to maximise your results.
2. Setup
Ensure your shutter speed is set to
1/125sec. You can the adjust your aperture to control more artistic results. If
you’re working with a shallow depth of field, ensure your focus is sharp on
your main subject.
3. The results
Flowers make great black-and-white subjects
whether you’re shooting an abstract image or a standard still life. The detail
in their form can be brought out beautifully by simply controlling light and
contrast.
