Black and white landscape photography is an art that goes beyond just removing color from your images. It’s about understanding the deeper elements that make a black and white photo impactful—contrast, luminosity, and structure. These elements come together to create images that are not only visually striking but also emotionally resonant.
Coming to you from Alister Benn, this insightful video dives into the intricacies of black and white landscape photography. Benn emphasizes that black and white photography in 2024 is a creative choice, not a limitation. He takes a simple image from his Lightroom catalog and walks you through how to transform it into a powerful black and white photo by focusing on tonal transitions, contrast, and the underlying structure of the landscape.
Benn’s approach begins with recognizing the different types of contrast present in your image—tonal contrast, color contrast, and atmospheric contrast. By converting the image to black and white, you strip away the color contrast, forcing the viewer to engage with the scene’s structure and tonal differences. This shift brings attention to the geometric shapes, the depth of shadows, and the highlights in the clouds.
Another key point Benn discusses is the use of color filters during the black and white conversion process. These filters can dramatically alter the contrast within a scene by lightening or darkening specific tones. For instance, using a red filter can increase contrast by blocking blue tones, making the image more dynamic. Benn demonstrates how to apply these filters carefully, balancing contrast without overwhelming the scene.
Benn also touches on the importance of midtones in black and white photography. Midtones play a crucial role in setting the mood of the image. Darker midtones can create a moody, mysterious atmosphere, while lighter midtones can make an image feel more airy and ethereal. Adjusting midtones requires a delicate touch, and Benn advises against following a one-size-fits-all approach. Instead, he encourages you to experiment, allowing your images to evolve over time. Check out the video above for the full rundown from Benn.
And if you really want to dive into landscape photography, check out our latest tutorial, "Photographing the World: Japan With Elia Locardi!"
One of the best by products of black and white photography is never having to answer the question "did it really look like that?"