Without catchy colors how can you make your pictures stand out? How can you convey your message and inspire people with just two colors? A challenge yes it is, do you need a DSLR? Not really, A DSLR is just a tool, you can try this challenge even with your regular point and shoot. Why? Because black and white photography relies only on great composition, lighting and context.
Let me share just 2 tips in taking black and white photos:
1) Shoot in color - Yes you read it right, yeah I know almost all cameras even a point and shoot have a black and white presets but don't use it, just do post processing and convert the photos in black in white, the effect is always better. You can experiment on this too for you to see the difference.
2) Composition - composition is the secret to great photographs, it is your eye not the camera that determines how the picture will turnout. Yes you read it again and again in all my photography posts, and I will keep on repeating them, we don't need an expensive camera to take a good photo, simply put, Cameras "take" pictures but you make a good photograph by composing it. Before pressing that button, envision the scene you want to capture, the message you want to convey, that is what we call "Composition".
Let me share some of my work, photos are all taken using my bridge camera (Lumix FZ35) and mostly all are from my travels, enjoy the photos! They may not be that top notch quality, but I am proud of each one..
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| from my recent trip to Bali |
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| a stolen shot of a couple in Saigon (check more here) |
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| my try on cloud photography |
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| a stolen shot of a bride in Saigon (more here) |
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| Burj Khalifa shot from the highest Observatory Deck in the World |
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| stolen shot of my lovely niece Dhee from our backyard |
Subject for black and white photography is vast, don't stop exploring because each one that you shoot with a story would surely be a masterpiece.. believe me. So just shoot and most of all have fun!!
Camera Used: Panasonic Lumix FZ35
Photographer: Vivi
Thanks so much for viewing! Until my next photo adventure!
These are beautiful photos again. I am trying my hand at photography using just my point and shoot camera. Sometimes they do turn out great but most of the time, they do not. Haha. I guess I need to practice more and hone my "eye' for that background, frame, angle.:)
ReplyDeletethanks so much Blanca! Just keep on shooting in time you will find your niche... find the subject that you really love, maybe street photography? or you can start with your kids.. kids are always fun to photography. goodluck! ;)
Deletethe 3rd nad 4th photo really caught my eye.
ReplyDeletethe photo of Burj Khalifa, the 2nd to the last is a unique shot. I've never seen a photo of Burj Khalifa similar to it.
I agree with "it is your eye not the camera that determines how the picture will turnout".
cheers =)
Great photos! I love the saigon park and the stolen shot of the bride! The b&w drama is a plus :D
ReplyDeleteBeautiful photos, I esp. like the Saigon & Bali photos. I'm a photography enthusiast, can't call myself a photographer (feelingera lang...hehe), all I do is trial & error, don't have the eye I guess and it's kinda hard for me to remember the correct camera settings. But I'll keep on shooting because I love taking photographs. Anyways, sometimes I get lucky, I was able to take some good ones. ;)
ReplyDeletemezmerising and very tastefully done! love every bit of your photos...may I know what type of camera and lens you used on these?
ReplyDeleteHi Joy thanks for dropping by. I don't have a dslr, I'm using a bridge camera. ;)
Delete"...your eye not the camera that determines how the picture will turnout". - Amen! I love the Bali snapshot.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful photos!
ReplyDeleteShoot in colors, I agree!
Editing to black in white does it better.
I don't normally edit my pics to black and white except sometimes for portraits,
where I feel B/W would be better..
What I like about B/W is that it adds that sense of drama in the photo,
they do not feel old but rather melancholic,
so normally when I shot pictures of people that matches this settings,
I edit to b/w. :)
I definitely agree with everything you've posted. The camera can only do so much. At the end of the day, it's the cameraman's artistry that'll make a huge difference.. :) Anyway, love your beautiful photos sis! I've always wanted to practice shooting in black and white. Hopefully I get to find time to do it.. :)
ReplyDeletei agree with you, i attended a birthday party before and i did not bother to take some pictures because one of the birthday celebrant's relatives is using dslr camera. he's so busy taking pictures but when he uploaded all the pictures, blurred mga shots namin. malinaw pa yung isang picture ko sa cellphone. =( it's not really the camera.
ReplyDeleteThese photos are exquisite! And I actually learned something new, as I didn't know that post processing and converting the photos in black & white will have a better effect. Will surely try this on my point-and-shoot. Thank you for sharing this!!! =)
ReplyDeleteWonderful pix all! I should try B&W more often. It does highlight composition more than colored pix. Colors give more visual "noise" I suppose. I usually use B&W in post-prod when the photo is blurred. I should experiment with it more. Thanks for the tips! :)
ReplyDeleteYour tips, photos, travels and your creativity inspires me! Way to go vivi!
ReplyDeletethank you Ms Gemma! ;)
Deleteinteresting post I enjoyed browsing around your blog :)
ReplyDeletethanks Pa UI for dropping by! ;)
Deleteall are gorgeous!!! wanted to try to do some of this shots as well thanks for the advice!! love the droplet photos and your nephews shot!
ReplyDeletegreat shots! I only use a P&S camera but will try B&W photography.
ReplyDeleteganda tlaga ng PUTI at ITIM! got an idea to try B and W phtography iba ang dating at emotions:)
ReplyDeleteI actually love the black and white effects on photos. :) I wanna try it as well.
ReplyDeletelove the pics - full of emotions! so difficult to choose my fave haha as if i'm being asked. but really they turned out awesome. and thank you for the tips on how to make them. i do B and W using Picasa, but most of the times i like the colored ones.
ReplyDeleteAng ganda ng mga shots! Lalo na yung ceiling ng Vatican atsaka yung girl in Cambodia. Panalo! I wish I would be as good a photographer as you.
ReplyDeleteI shoot in color and post-process if I want a monochromatic effect too. Nice shots! :)
ReplyDeleteI like the 9th photo- Glass Ceiling at Vatican Museum, Vatican City and the 15th- your niece Gail. They're beautiful! As always!
ReplyDeleteIndeed, without proper lighting and composition, black and white photos are nothing
ReplyDeleteI also have a black and white photo in my wedding gown. And I super love it!! Parang mas meaningful and memorable sya for me.
ReplyDeletebeautiful photos mam. keep it up :)
ReplyDeleteBEAUTY truly is not based on the colors that are seen with our eyes....
ReplyDeletebut the brilliance and deepness of meaning that are felt by the heart.
so true Marri! ;) thansks for dropping by. ;)
DeleteMonochrome dramas <3
ReplyDeletei love!!! ang ganda ng BW shots mo... shows life RAW. great composition :D
ReplyDeleteAng gaganda ng picture :)
ReplyDeleteganda nang shots mo!!!
ReplyDeleteWow, those black and white shots are really good. I have yet to learn my point and shoot camera, these tips are handy. Thanks for sharing the tips! :)
ReplyDeletei love the your shoot in Saigon Park, and your cute niece. Saigon Park reminds me of a dramatic movie.. napaka-ganda!
ReplyDeletethese photos are beautiful!
ReplyDeletethank you so much! and thanks for dropping by! ;)
DeleteLove your shots, keep it up!
ReplyDelete:))
No one can leave this post without a comment unless they can't enjoy photography. some of your photography are really awesome. I like the shots 'creepy walkway from Cambodia' and water drop... in black and white photography, light plays major role. the photo of Buddha from bali is fantastic. I think it's background was already in dark. that's why the photo looks so great. good job... keep it up
ReplyDeletethank you Nabeel! yeah light plays a vital role in photography. Goodluck on your photography too, keep on shooting and have fun! ;)
DeleteVisiting! :) Super like. <3
ReplyDeletethank you Cris! ;)
Deletebeautiful photos! Indeed, B&W photography is very challenging, and not all colored photos can be converted to B&W. there has to be that contrast. I particularly like that Bali shot where there is strong contrast of black and white.
ReplyDeleteNothing could beat black & white photos.... Beautiful shots... :D
ReplyDeletenice shot :) lalo na yung Saigon Park, Saigon Vietnam.
ReplyDeletethis is a nice blog. :D feel good sya! keep it up!
ReplyDeletethank you so much for the compliment and for visiting my blog. ;)
DeleteHey Ate Vi, Nice shots! Surely people don't need to use a DSLR to take awesome pictures as long as you take it from the heart and that's it. Fall in love with the subject, it will turn out really great. I do agree too in what you said that "it is your eye not the camera that determines how the picture will turnout" Keep it up!
ReplyDelete