Digital Photography 1 on 1: Episode 67: Lighting for Black and White Photography

In this episode, Mark explains how to best light a subject for black and white photography and get dramatic results. Learn how adjusting the position of light can change contrast in relation to the subject. Mark walks you through studio exercises to fully illustrate the relationship of shape and color.

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[kaisar1]

why ISO level is up to 4000? i mean you have quite bright light available in your studio. 

[snapfactory]

@kaisar1 The first shot was only available light. Despite how it looks the studio is pretty dark. At 1/60 and 5.0 I had to bump up the ISO to get a decent exposure. I kept the ISO at the same level when I added a strobe just to keep things simple and consistent. The camera settings aren't really important, it's the concepts that matter most.

[Khmerv3]

its WHO LIEO!!! not JULIO

[CAJUNNSC]

You're killing Mark, just when I feel I am catching up with the gear I need, yall blow my mind and make me want more stuff. I guess that's the ticket right, nice work. Thanks One never has enough gear !

[kaouthiavideo]

Neat video, but would've been nice for you to add a rim light at the end for a bit of separation and keep the black background. :)

[strikerblade1]

"some are bent" :p

[churybury]

GREAT

[abbadi004]

what was the setting of the strobe, is it TTL or Manual ?

[applepiewithtoast]

@jgvfgc Yeah, that's correct. I tried shoting in JPG and it worked. But I rather change to B/W in LR than shoting in jpg.

[jgvfgc]

@ayandutta101 It was grey because it the camera settings underexposed the background. That's why the white is darker, which turned out grey in this shot.

[jgvfgc]

@applepiewithtoast You are probably shooting in RAW. RAW will not save the settings like white balance, mode (b/w, sharpness, contrast, etc). If you want it to stay in b/w, then shoot in JPEG or have the camera save both RAW and JPEG. The JPEG will have the presets such as b/w applied, but the RAW will not.

[LightingShowroom]

Appreciated your efforts

[LightingShowroom]

Good work

[ruelect2]

@consultm just you

[ayandutta101]

Hi Mark,

how did the background go grey (by removing the black cloth) when you were taking the photo of the camera man? wasn't the background white? (!!?!)

cheers,

[KerenGraphics]

Thank you so much for the info.

[WiseGuy02]

@applepiewithtoast If you're shooting in RAW it won't keep the B&W setting.

[consultm]

Does anyone else have a problem with this fella's voice or is it just me?

[Brenniman65]

Nice video tutorial. Thank goodness that the camera man, Michael, smiled at the end. I was getting a little worried there for a bit.

[applepiewithtoast]

@ether hmm... maybe. but I never shoot in JPG. well, it's not hard to turn them into B/W in LR =)

[ether]

@applepiewithtoast It's probably b/c you're shooting in RAW only. You'll get the B/W version if you shoot in JPG (or RAW+JPG, I think).

[robertlam18]

Not sure I like high contrast bw photos

[applepiewithtoast]

If I set my camera to B/W, the pictures will turn out B/W on the screen but when I import them to LR they are in color... weird beard.

[enzo226]

cool, thank you for the info