Black and white in the spotlight: Quick tips for better shots

Black and white photography is more than just stripping away colour. Instead, the best black and white images place greater emphasis on light, texture, and composition.

Here are some quickfire tips to elevate your monochrome work.

1. See in Tones, Not Colours

Train your eye to visualise the world in shades of grey. Reds and greens may appear dramatically different in colour, but in black and white, they can render nearly identically unless adjusted in post.

Use coloured filters (or their digital equivalents) to selectively darken or brighten specific tones—red filters, for example, can deepen skies and enhance contrast in foliage.

2. Chase the right light

Strong directional light is a black and white photographer’s best friend. Harsh midday light, often avoided in colour work, can help create crisp shadows and striking contrast - landscapes and urban spaces are a good setting to practice this type of photography.

Low-angle light at sunrise or sunset reveals textures and adds dimensionality. Overcast skies, meanwhile, provide soft, even tones ideal for portraits or subtle street scenes.

3. Embrace contrast and texture

Without colour, contrast becomes a key visual tool. Look for scenes with a wide dynamic range, such as those with deep shadows and bright highlights, to add depth.

Rough textures like peeling paint, weathered faces, or worn stone come alive in monochrome. If you can, use side lighting as this is the most sympathetic for portrait subjects. 

4. Compose with Simplicity and Geometry

In black and white, cluttered compositions can quickly become overwhelming. Focus on clean lines, strong shapes, and negative space. Leading lines, repeating patterns, and symmetry are hugely important when colour is no longer in the picture.

5. Post-process with purpose

Shoot in RAW to retain maximum tonal information, then convert to black and white in post. Use the channel mixer or HSL sliders to control how colours translate to greyscale.

It's worth making local edits such as dodging and burning to selectively guide the viewer’s eye. Don’t be afraid to deepen blacks or push highlights. I'll always make strong adjustments to Clarity and Texture when editing portraits.

Monochrome, perhaps even more so than with colour images, rewards boldness in editing - so don't be afraid to crush the blacks (underexpose/darken) and up (overexpose/lighten) the whites.