Creating Dramatic Black and White Photos in Monochrome Mode

I’m obsessed with color. Like, deeply. Bold tones, dreamy palettes, warm hues—color is one of the main reasons I fell in love with photography. But that doesn’t mean I can’t appreciate the raw emotion and timeless feel of a strong black and white photo.

So I decided to challenge myself: create a series of moody black and white images and shoot them like I meant it.

Why Black and White?

Color is beautiful, but it can also be distracting. Sometimes, all the vibrant details can pull focus from what really matters in a photo—emotion, contrast, composition, storytelling.

For this shoot, I wanted to strip all of that away. I switched my Canon R5 to black and white mode (technically called “Monochrome” under Picture Styles) so I could only see the scene in black and white as I shot. That decision helped me focus solely on the tonal range, the shadows, and the contrast within each frame.

When you’re not constantly checking for perfect skin tones or color balance, your attention shifts to shape, light, and feeling. Shooting in black and white is surprisingly freeing—and forgiving.

Raw vs. JPEG in Monochrome Mode

For anyone wondering about the technical side: yes, I was shooting in raw. That means even though I could only see the images in black and white on my camera, all the color data was still being captured. When you import those raw files into editing software like Lightroom or Capture One, you’ll see the full-color version and can decide whether to keep it in black and white or not.

But if you shoot in JPEG with Monochrome mode on, the black and white look is baked in. You won’t be able to recover any color information later. So if you're just experimenting, I highly recommend shooting in raw—you get the best of both worlds.

The Shoot

For this series, I photographed my friend Ali—better known as the incredibly talented musician Deau Eyes.

We shot everything in the living room of her home at around 5:00 p.m., so the natural light was already pretty low. David (my forever lighting partner) set her up with a Nanlite FC-120C fitted with a spotlight attachment. He softened it a bit so the light wouldn’t create a harsh circle around her—just a gentle highlight on her face and shoulders.

That single light source made her glow while letting the rest of the room fall into shadow. It was the perfect vibe.

I used my 85mm lens to create more intimate portraits and leaned into the moodiness. Shooting with a longer focal length like that really helped isolate her and brought out all the texture and detail in her expression. The one-light setup was more than enough.

We moved her around to different spots in her living room, and David would shift the spotlight slightly to keep her lit just right. The simplicity of the setup helped me stay focused on my goal: contrast, mood, emotion. No distractions.

What I Learned

Shooting in black and white isn’t just about removing color—it’s about seeing differently. You start to notice how light carves across a face or how shadows add depth and drama. It forces you to slow down and really look at what you're capturing.

This kind of challenge is something I think every photographer should try. It sharpens your eye, trains your brain to see light differently, and helps you create images that feel timeless and intentional.

I’ll always love color. But this experiment reminded me that sometimes, stripping things down to the essentials can spark something new. So if you're feeling stuck or just want to push yourself creatively, try switching your camera to black and white and see what you discover.