|
In today's full-colour world, the old-fashioned look of a black and white or
sepia-toned picture can be eye-catching. Many digital
cameras now include settings that allow you to capture such ?monochrome? images
directly, making it very easy to recreate some of
that 'old time' feeling in your photographs.
Sepia toning can add an 'old time' feeling to contemporary photographs.
|
|
The Monochrome setting can be found in the Picture Style, 'My Colours' or
Colour settings menu in the camera. Most cameras offer black and white (B&W)
and sepia,
although some include other monochrome settings like blue and green. More
sophisticated cameras allow you to add filter
effects to the monochrome mode so you can replicate the effect of, say, red or
yellow filters with B&W film.
These filters can help you to emphasise white clouds against a blue sky in
monochrome pictures.
They can also allow you to selectively lighten any colours in the subject that
are the same as the filter?s hue.
|
|
|
|
|
The pictures above show two of the most useful monochrome 'filters' for
landscape photography: the
orange and red filters. Both darken blue skies and at the same time lighten
reds, oranges and browns in
the subject. The effect of the red filter is slightly stronger than the effect
of the orange filter.
|
What to photograph:
Subjects that are ideal for monochrome treatment include:
-
Cityscapes and landscapes with strong structural elements. In such subjects,
sunlight can create dramatic shadows that
emphasise the patterns in the subjects.
-
Set the camera's exposure mode to Manual and the shutter speed to B. The
camera?s ISO sensitivity should be set to
any value below 400.
-
Romantic or nostalgic scenes take on a classic allure when photographed in
monochrome. Reducing the image to a series
of tones emphasises delicate tonal nuances and textures.
-
Portraits can look great as monochrome pictures and you can choose the
appropriate treatment for the subject by changing
the lighting. Directional lighting will emphasise lines and facial structure,
while soft lighting minimises blemishes.
|
|
|
|
|
Subjects with strong structural elements are ideal for monochrome treatment.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Monochrome treatment is also effective for portraits of people and pets ?
provided the composition is simple.
|
|
Factors to consider:
-
Before switching to monochrome, it's important to understand that this setting
discards the colour information
recorded by the camera's imager as the first step in producing monochrome
pictures. Although you can convert any colour
image to monochrome very easily and effectively on your computer, once you
choose the monochrome mode on your camera,
you can't bring back the colour ? unless you shoot in RAW format.
-
Shadows, structure and detail are the key elements in most monochrome pictures.
To record the maximum amount of detail
and emphasise structure, keep the ISO setting low (ISO 200 or lower works
best).
-
Don't be afraid to use flash for fill-in light, either indoors or outdoors.
What looks washed-out in a colour shot
can often become dramatic in a monochrome image.
-
Match the monochrome selection to the emotional effect you wish to create in
the picture. Straight black and white is
perfect for subjects with strong structural elements and detail. Sepia tone
produces a softer, more 'old-world' look
that is better for more delicately-nuanced subjects. Other colours can add
different effects, as shown below.
-
Try out all the filters your camera offers before embarking on a monochrome
shooting session, so you understand fully
the effect they will have on your pictures. This is particularly important with
colour effects as some subjects will
look better with certain colour tones and very much worse with others. If you
don?t like the filter you?ve used, delete
the shot and try something different.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The pictures above show two of the most useful monochrome 'filters' for
landscape photography: the orange and red filters.
Both darken blue skies and at the same time lighten reds, oranges and browns in
the subject. The effect of the red filter is slightly
stronger than the effect of the orange filter.
|
