Black And White Photography - How Photographers See In Black And White
Accustom your eyes with how your images should look in B&W. The idea of black and white photography goes back many years to when landscape artists would use a black volcanic glass made from obsidian as a process to remove color from a scene in which they were trying to draw.
The process of using these obsidian mirrors allowed an artist to simply see a product in black and white, and allowing the artist to draw just the lines and shapes of a particular object. In today’s art world, these obsidian mirrors are not easily found, but can be found in some art shops labeled as scrying mirrors. For those serious photographers interested in viewing something in just black and white, a cheaper process would be to purchase a shiny piece of black plastic. Some photographers today use a special filter that allows them to view an object in black and white.
This filter is called a monochromatic viewing filter. These filters are only able to be used in short periods of time, as the photographer does not want the eye to reintroduce color as it readjusts from a simple black and white version. A monochromatic filter allows a dedicated photographer to view an object in black and white, which can provide the ability to look past the color of an object, focusing instead on the lines and textures of the object being photographed. If the ability to photograph an object without a monochromatic filter is not available, then the finished product can be very unsuccessful in grabbing a viewer’s attention.
A successful photographer will be aware of the lines and textures of an object and how important those features are in order to produce a photograph worthy of grabbing the viewer’s attention. In the past, before filters were available to assist photographers in viewing an object in black and white, the obsidian glass was used very successfully to produce a portrait in just the right frames to view the correct lines and textures of an object. The obsidian glass was an extremely important factor for many successful photographers who knew the importance of viewing an object in black and white in order to successfully view the specific lines and textures of an object in order to produce a successful portrait worthy of grabbing a viewer’s attention. Landscape artists for many years have been aware of the importance of viewing an object in black and white, and have taught this process to new photographers for many years.
Photographers feel it is very important to their work to be able to view an object in black and white. Photographers feel as if the quality of a picture done in simply black and white can be far above a picture in color in some circumstances. The idea of learning how to picture an object in black and white can allow a photographer to see past the color and view simply the lines and shapes of an object, which can make for a much sharper and clearer picture. Many photographers recommend to those just learning the art of photography to seriously consider learning how to view an object in black and white by closing one eye and scrunching up the eyelids of the other eye as a very productive trick in beginning to view an object without color. This will allow a photographer to view something in a very contrast form without the color.
A successful photographer will be able to look past the color of an object and view simply the line, shape, form and texture of an object. Shade and shape play a very important role in capturing the essence of an object for a perfect picture. A picture that will grab the viewer’s attention goes past solely the color of the object to the perfect capture of the lines and shape of the object in very clear form that allows the viewer to see the clear outline of a particular object. The sole purpose of a successful photograph is to force a viewer to view the picture in a way that looks past the color of an object to the lines and shapes in a clear form. It is not simply the color that is the most important part of a successful photograph. Many new photographers are not aware of the importance of being able to view an object in black and white, and it is definitely something that should be taken into consideration.
A very famous photographer by the name of Ansel Adams invented the term of pre-visualization. Pre-visualization states that the successful photographer will be able to view a photograph in simply black and white without the original color in order to produce a sharp photograph with very clear lines and textures. In today’s digital photography, this can be a difficult process for dedicated photographers, as all of today’s digital photography is mostly done in color. In order to produce a black and white photograph with today’s digital photography, a photographer must commit to this process post production, meaning after the original photograph has been taken.
Photographers who have the ability to use a monochromatic filter, which will allow the vision of black and white only, will be much more successful in producing a clearer picture in which viewers will be much more entranced with. It is highly recommended for those serious about taking the perfect picture to invest in a monochromatic filter.
Photography can be a very serious business for those invested in producing a high quality shot. A successful photographer will be able to capture the viewer’s eye in just seconds with the right shot. The ability to successfully shoot a picture in just black and white will produce results much sharper and clearer than anything remotely possible with a simple color digital camera. The ability to view lines and textures with a black and white photograph will bring out the clarity of the object being photographed. The successful photographer will grab the viewer’s attention with the clarity of the lines and textures of the object being photographed.
