Black and White: Why and How

Another photography tutorial from photographer and life-long educator, Judy Hancock Holland. Learn about what makes a good black and white photograph, the difference between black and white and monochrome, and the best ways to convert an image from colour to black and white.

[@Jack_Schularick]

You are the Sherlock Holmes of B_W photography Judy: you find something interesting looking in everything. Must be a very humbling experience for folks who travel to Iceland and the Tropics to find something interesting to shoot. They could just as well start taking a closer look at their garbage can first. For one, it's way cheaper and usually just as rewarding.

[@judyhancockholland8007]

Your comment made me laugh. I've never thought of myself as Sherlock Holmes! And I agree we can find good subjects anywhere if we sharpen our noticing skills.

[@lukaswelser3697]

Excellent presentation and wonderfully explained. i like your work very much.

[@judyhancockholland8007]

Thanks so much.

[@cindypetti5714]

Just wonderful. Presentation and content holds interest. I love everything about it.

[@judyhancockholland8007]

Thank you! Glad you enjoyed it.

[@zenonbillings9008]

your depth of knowledge is outstanding and your communication skills are so lacking in our modern photography community in comparison. zen billings in niagara.

[@judyhancockholland8007]

Thank you! Glad you found it helpful.

[@Exercises10]

Judy your work is very inspirational! Thank you for sharing your talent. I have watched your other videos and I too love minimalistic photography. Best wishes!

[@judyhancockholland8007]

Thank you so much! You might enjoy the new slideshow I just posted... "Calla Grace".

[@briandurell]

Greetings from Ontario. I seldom watch TH-cam videos that run for an hour or more. So glad I made an exception in this case. Just last month at our Prince Edward County FotoClub meeting, one of our members did a presentation on B&W conversion using the slider method. However, he didn’t mention targetting selections. I’m now eager to get to my computer and give it a try. Thank you.

[@judyhancockholland8007]

So glad you found the video helpful.

[@8corsican]

I think this is a really outstanding presentation… beautiful images and really practical, useful information, it’s really transformed my approach to black and white photography… thank you so much! 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼

[@judyhancockholland8007]

I'm so glad you found it helpful. Have fun exploring.

[@santo7798]

Thank you. I'm learning BnW. I was constantly chasing 'how' to edit in BnW. But your discussion around 'why' has been eye opener. Thank you 😊

[@judyhancockholland8007]

Excellent!

[@toine1915]

Hi Judi.
An excellent video.
Very educational and excellently explained.
This is what black and white photography is, exactly as you tell it.
For me, black and white photography is giving a photo a soul.
Last year I only made color work but I think this year I will slowly go back to black and white.
In a black-and-white photo, there are feelings and emotions.
I thoroughly enjoyed watching it and will definitely do so again.
Kind regards from the Netherlands,
Antoine.

[@judyhancockholland8007]

Thanks, Antoine.

[@stevecrawford3551]

Thank you… very educational. A nice “how to” workshop. Good luck. 😀

[@judyhancockholland8007]

Thanks, Steve. Glad you enjoyed it.

[@Mrsdls77]

Excellent presentation. I learned so much from it👍 Thank you

[@judyhancockholland8007]

Thanks. I'm glad it was helpful to you.

[@mark1hancock]

Brilliant, thanks

[@judyhancockholland8007]

You're very welcome.

[@gregscott2330]

Thanks for sharing. I think that black and white images provoke more emotion than color. In the future I am going to experiment more with black and white.

[@judyhancockholland8007]

I'm glad you foudn it helpful.

[@danielbustillos8573]

Thanks for sharing!

[@judyhancockholland8007]

You're very welcome.

[@michalislytras8023]

Εxcellent.!! Thank you for sharing.

[@judyhancockholland8007]

You're most welcome!

[@hweinkum]

Great presentation, thank you!

[@judyhancockholland8007]

Glad it was helpful!

[@uaebifvideo5472]

Thank you!!

[@judyhancockholland8007]

You're very welcome.

[@jacjanssen]

Thanks for sharing this video.

[@judyhancockholland8007]

My pleasure. Thanks for watching.

[@user-hv9lq6po3m]

Thank you, a wonderful journey using your eyes. I enjoy your photos, still, as you said, I feel different with some pictures like the tulip (like the color more, it breathes for me.. B/W is lovely, but in comparision to color this one not for me.) The horse and child is a wonderful theme, I for myself and please don't take this as a critique, I would wish it would be sharper.... it might just be YT and my hardware, don't know.... After all, I still have quite some way to go in your video. My personal travel started in 1987, congratulations and a big thank you for the amazing insights and gorgeous pictures. I do learn indeed a lot watching your content and hope, you are going on and doing well for a long time. Some are using high-end hardware , and some are creative masters like you are. It isn't important what gear you use, just keep going on.
Thank you and fare well!

[@judyhancockholland8007]

Thanks. I'm glad you enjoyed the video and hope it helps you pursue your own unique path.

[@ChristineWilsonPhotography]

Very interesting video , I process the same way most of the time in lightroom using the sliders, landscapes work really well in b&w, cole Thompson has some excellent work, Jack Curran does alot of landscape b&w

[@judyhancockholland8007]

Great to hear! I like some of Cole's work very much, too. His Auchwitz shots are amazing.

[@andreasgrabinski2286]

Judy I totally agree with the all the others - excellent explanations and examples!
So isn‘t it a sin to give up all the opportunities to convert the colors by using a monochrome camera?
Even in raw out of a monochrome camera you just got (only) blacks an whites to play with, some contrast and depth.
Are those expensive tools only for night photography, or do you think you could make more use of it that would be worth to get one?
Yeah, I purchased a pre owned one, but the first shots were just disappointing even with filters… did I wrong, am I just a victim of advertising?
Kind regards,
Andreas Grabinski, Germany

[@judyhancockholland8007]

My own view is that Leica is a "status symbol" camera. Great cameras, to be sure, but I would never buy a monochrome only camera. I want all the data of a full colour RAW file, because it allows me so much more scope for creative processing.

[@stephenchurch1784]

Shooting monochrome jpeg + raw and shamelessly chimping really helped me start seeing the world in black and white

[@judyhancockholland8007]

Yes, that can be a good way to get started. Eventually you learn to "see in monochrome".

[@mjgbirder]

Great presentation and photos :-) M

[@judyhancockholland8007]

Thank you.

[@Jack_Schularick]

As concerns light: I prefer LED light to flash. It takes a lot of experiments and adjustments to hit home with flash. Manipulating LED gives a more nuanced result without constant shutter activity.

[@judyhancockholland8007]

Do what works for you.

[@PedroLeitao]

interesting video!

[@judyhancockholland8007]

Thanks, Pedro.