LESSON 6: Camera Settings for Black and White Photography
Shooting in black and white requires a slightly different mindset than color photography. Instead of focusing on vibrant hues, you’re working with light, shadow, tone, and texture. To capture the full depth of these elements, you’ll want to understand how your camera settings affect monochrome images.
Here’s a beginner-friendly guide to the key settings you should master.
1. Shoot in RAW
Why it matters: RAW files preserve all the data your camera’s sensor captures, giving you more flexibility in post-processing. JPEGs, on the other hand, compress and discard information.
For black and white: Shooting in RAW lets you adjust exposure, contrast, highlights, and shadows more precisely, which is essential for strong monochrome images.
Tip: If your camera allows it, shoot in RAW+JPEG. You’ll get the instant gratification of a monochrome JPEG preview plus the editing flexibility of a RAW file.
2. Exposure: Balance the Light
Exposure determines how much light reaches your camera’s sensor. In black and white, small exposure changes can drastically affect mood.
Underexpose slightly to deepen shadows and add drama.
Overexpose slightly to create soft, dreamy tones.
Use your histogram to avoid losing details in highlights or shadows.
Tip: Don’t be afraid to experiment. Sometimes a “technically incorrect” exposure creates a striking artistic effect.
3. ISO: Control the Noise
ISO sets your camera’s sensitivity to light.
Lower ISO (100–400): Best for sharp, clean images. Use in daylight or well-lit conditions.
Higher ISO (800+): Increases brightness in low light but introduces grain (digital noise).
In black and white: Grain can actually add character! Don’t be afraid to use higher ISO if it enhances the mood.
4. Aperture: Depth of Field and Focus
Aperture controls how much light enters the lens and how much of the scene is in focus.
Wide aperture (f/1.8–f/4): Creates shallow depth of field. Great for isolating subjects in portraits.
Narrow aperture (f/8–f/16): Keeps more of the scene in focus. Ideal for landscapes and architecture.
Tip for monochrome: Think in terms of shapes and layers. Use aperture to control how those layers interact.
5. Practice Exercise
Pick a subject (like a tree, building, or portrait).
Shoot it in RAW.
Take one image at a low ISO (100–200) and one at a higher ISO (800–1600).
Vary your aperture between wide and narrow.
Experiment with slight underexposure and overexposure.
Compare the results. Notice how changes in exposure, ISO, and aperture affect the mood, texture, and tonal range of your photos.
Final Thought
Understanding camera settings is the foundation of great black-and-white photography. By mastering RAW, exposure, ISO, and aperture, you’ll gain the control you need to create images that reflect your artistic vision. Remember: in monochrome, it’s not about getting the “perfect” settings—it’s about using them intentionally to capture light, shadow, and emotion.