Mastering Black and White Landscape Photography

Mastering black and white photography can transform your landscape images into stunning works of art. This video offers a five secrets to elevate your black and white photos, guiding you through techniques rarely discussed.

Coming to you from Dave Morrow, this insightful video dives into his five steps for black and white photos. Morrow emphasizes the importance of shooting with black and white in mind, rather than converting failed color photos. The first step involves using color harmony to decide if a scene should be in black and white or color. By checking the RGB color wheel, you can determine if the scene lacks complementary colors, making it a candidate for black and white photography. This method helps in making informed decisions while shooting in the field.

Morrow also discusses the significance of good light. Diffuse light, such as that filtered through clouds, creates depth and contrast in your images. He explains that without proper lighting, landscape photos can appear flat and lifeless. Morrow uses examples from his backpacking trip to show how diffuse light and dappled light on mountain peaks enhance the three-dimensional quality of the scene. This understanding of light is crucial for capturing dynamic and engaging black and white landscapes.

Another critical aspect covered in the video is composition. Morrow stresses the importance of creating layers within your composition to add depth. By positioning elements in the foreground, midground, and background, you can guide the viewer's eye through the image. He demonstrates this technique by showing how different tonal values and layers create a sense of scale and depth, making the image more compelling. That's just the start, though, so check out the video above for the full rundown from Morrow.

And if you really want to dive into landscape photography, check out our latest tutorial, "Photographing the World: Japan With Elia Locardi!"