The very first color photo was taken in the 1860s. That means that for more than 30 years, all photos were in black and white.
Today if you scroll through Instagram it’s a riot of color as people use filters to turn up the saturation to the max.
Black and white photos still have their place, however. They can be really stylish and will often stand out against the other color photos on Instagram.
Read on as we look at five cool black and white pictures you need to try.
1. Street Photography
Urban photography is perfect for black and white.
To be honest, a lot of the buildings around us aren’t the most colorful anyway. Shooting in black and white gives street photography a real sense of grit that is well suited to urban landscapes. Try throwing a figure into your shots to give them a sense of scale.
2. Portraits
Shooting in black and white can make your portraits really pop.
This is particularly true if you’re taking photos of people who have been around the block a little. To put it bluntly, the monochrome look really brings out every line and wrinkle. Thankfully the lack of color means that it makes the people in these portraits look full of interest rather than just plain old.
Black and white portraits aren’t just great for people of a certain age, however. Any portrait photo can really stand out in black and white.
3. Abstract Geometric
The beauty of black and white photography is that it takes away any distractions that color might bring. It means you focus purely on the lines and curves of the image.
This makes it particularly suited to taking abstract geometric shots. These are the kind of shots you’ll have seen on Instagram, such as the classic shot down through a spiral staircase. They emphasize the geometric patterns found all around us, and make us view everyday objects in a different way.
4. Animals
Just as shooting in black and white can really make your portraits of people stand out, the same is true for the shots of your beloved pets.
Try getting up close and personal for your black and white shots. If you can get them to look straight at the camera that’s even better, although they do say never work with children and animals!
If you’ve already got some great shots of your pets in color, you can always use a black and white photo editor to see how they’d look in monochrome.
5. Travel
We’ve all seen those photos of stunning blue skies and turquoise waters that make us wish we had a career as a travel blogger.
Travel photos can also look great in black and white, however. You can get a unique take on well-known spots just by turning off the color. It’s a step up from the same old hot dog legs.
Ready to Take Some Cool Black and White Pictures?
Have these ideas inspired you to take some cool black and white pictures? We hope so.
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