High Key Black and White
I love converting to black and white – and I really love the high key look. This shot is from Marble, Colorado. I brightened the whole scene when I converted to black and white – except for the dark patterns on the bark. The result is a simple composition that showcases patterns and lines. If you want to see the original, color image, check out my tutorial on thinking before you shoot.
Here are a few tips for converting to Black and White:
1. Keep your composition simple. Complicated compositions can make confusing black and white photographs.
2. Think about how you can make sure that your point of interest will stand out from the rest of the image. You won’t be able to rely on the pop of color… so pay attention to tonal differences, lighting, and contrast of pattern and form.
3. Think outside the box. There are lots of ways to draw attention to the most important element in the frame. In this case, I made my foreground stand out by contrasting the sharply focused tree in the foreground with very soft focus behind.
About Author Varina Patel
There is nothing more remarkable to me than the power of nature. It is both cataclysmic and subtle. Slow and continuous erosion by water and wind can create landscapes every bit as astonishing as those shaped by catastrophic events – and minuscule details can be as breathtaking as grand vistas that stretch from one horizon to the other. Nature is incredibly diverse. Burning desert sands and mossy riverbanks… Brilliant sunbeams and fading alpenglow… Silent snowfall and raging summer storms… Each offers a unique opportunity. I am irresistibly drawn to the challenge of finding my next photograph, and mastering the skills required to capture it effectively.
