The age-old question that plagues photographers everywhere: to shoot in black and white or to convert later in post? It’s like asking whether pineapple belongs on pizza. Everyone has an opinion! But let’s dive into this deliciously complex topic with a sprinkle of wit and a side of enthusiasm.
First off, here’s the RAW, unfiltered truth: I don’t know! Not quite the answer you were hoping for, huh? But let’s be real. When it comes to art, using words like “should,” “never,” or “better” feels like trying to fit a square peg into a round hole. Every artist has their own unique lens (pun absolutely intended!) through which they see the world.
Now, don’t dismiss shooting B&W in-camera just yet! For many photographers, it’s the golden ticket to unlocking their creative genius. If you’ve ever dabbled in the world of black and white film, you’ll know the thrill of transforming a technicolor world into monochrome magic. Back in the day, you had to be a wizard at visualizing how vibrant hues would translate into shadows and highlights, without the luxury of instant feedback.
Picture this: you’ve loaded your camera with a roll of B&W film, and now you’re left to your own devices for the next 24 frames. You had to master the art of seeing in tones rather than colors, and you probably got cozy with a few color filters along the way, because why not jazz things up a bit? Remember that red filter that made skin tones pop and skies deep blue? Good times!
Fast forward to today, where you can change your mind more often than you change your socks! With digital cameras, you can experiment in real-time, crafting your black and white images on the fly. It’s all about developing that keen eye for B&W, seeing the world through a different lens, if you will.
If you’re always shooting in color and only seeing the B&W version at home, you might find yourself in a creative labyrinth. Sure, practice makes perfect, but the fastest route to mastering B&W is to capture it in-camera. And if your camera has an electronic viewfinder (EVF)? Well, congratulations! You’re in for an even quicker ride to B&W brilliance.
Now, let’s address the elephant in the room: shooting digital means your camera is capturing color, even when you’re previewing B&W. Fun, right? So if you want a truly solid B&W image, you might find yourself reaching for JPEG instead of RAW. But fear not! You can have your cake and eat it too, most modern cameras let you capture both formats simultaneously. Simply set your camera to RAW and follow along…
Setting up to shoot black and white is a piece of cake. With just a little understanding of filters, you can express yourself creatively without lugging around a bag full of them. Digital B&W offers unparalleled convenience.
For my Nikon friends (and really, for anyone with a digital camera), it’s as easy as pie! Just navigate to the Shooting Menu, select “Set Picture Control,” and voilà, choose “Monochrome.” From there, you’ll be greeted with an array of options like Sharpening, Contrast, Brightness, Filter Effects, and Toning. Sounds fancy, right? But don’t fret; it’s simple.
The filters? They’re just there to lighten specific tones and darken their opposites on the color wheel. For outdoor portraits, a red filter will brighten skin tones while deepening those skies. And let’s be honest: who doesn’t want a little more drama in their shots?
There are plenty of reasons to embrace shooting B&W in-camera. It’s not just easy to set up, but it also allows you to experiment without the hassle of carrying around physical filters. Plus, if things don’t turn out as planned, you can always drop that RAW shot into Lightroom, and use my black and white AI Profile for Imagen. B&W perfection in an instant.
So, whether you choose to shoot in B&W or convert later, remember that it’s all about what works for you and your artistic vision. Now, go forth and create some stunning black and white masterpieces!
my B&W AI profile for Imagen
Hypersensitive Panchromatic
This isn’t just another preset. It’s a finely tuned AI-driven editing profile created from the analysis of over 10,000 of my personal black & white photo edits. The result? You get instant access to the clean, film-inspired look with the perfect contrast between tones that I provide to my own clients. Now available to you at the click of a button.
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