Shooting in black and white can improve your composition.
Black-and-white photography and color photography have their places in the art. While color shots can seemingly jump off the computer screen or out of the photo album because of their vibrancy, black-and-white photos also have numerous benefits. By taking color out of the equation, a black-and-white camera allows you to focus on creating your shots so they have the most effect.
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When shooting a photo in color, it’s easy to capture something vibrant because you know color has a natural appeal to those who view it. The same isn't true for black-and-white photos. Without color to give your photos instant appeal, you’re forced to take more time to compose each of your photos for the highest impact. Switch your camera to its black-and-white mode and think about how the tones and shapes of your subject will impact the viewer before capturing it.
Light and shadows are some of the most striking elements you can capture with a camera, but when you do so with a color camera, they're often lost because of the color in the image. An advantage to using a black-and-white camera is that you’ll learn to notice how the light and shadows in any given setting can enhance a photograph. In black and white, shadows and rays of light become significantly more pronounced and can add to or detract from your photo.
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Shooting with a black-and-white camera or with a color camera’s black-and-white function allows you to enhance your ability to notice color balance in a photo. In black and white, the colors all appear as shades of black and white, and it’s important that the image doesn’t have too much of one shade. Using a black-and-white camera teaches you to look for color balance and contrast in each of your shots.
While you can use photo software to convert color images to black and white, using a black-and-white camera allows you to capture vintage-looking shots without having to first remove the color from them. This vintage look is traditional for several subjects, such as weddings and still life. Weddings are especially ideal for some black-and-white shots, as the bride’s white dress and groom’s black suit create the contrast that allows you to compose perfect shots.
