Composition: From Snapshots to Great Shots, Second Edition

9. Black and White

ISO 200 • 1/1000 sec. • f/8 • 850mm

The Guidelines of Composition Apply to Black and White

“Life is like a good black-and-white photograph, there’s black, there’s white, and lots of shades in between.”

—Karl Heine

A color image has complementary or contrasting colors that aid in its ability to capture and hold viewers’ attention. A good black-and-white photograph relies on a palette of black, white, and various shades of gray (tonal values) to convey contrast, shadow and light, and patterns and texture. The process of making great black-and-white images requires decision making at the camera, such as whether to set the camera ...