B_P_2015_04_

Slow shutterspeeds

and long exposures are

great ways to reduce

clutter in your frame,

and further emphasise

the form of your subject.

SHOOTING T ECHNIQUE

BETTER PHOTOGRAPHY APRIL 2015

68

W

ho is the first person that

pops into your mind

when you read the term

‘black and white nature

photography’? For me,

it all goes back to the legend Ansel

Adams, who pretty much introduced

the world to a whole new way of seeing

nature in monochrome. How can we take

inspiration from his work today?

We see the world in colour, and for a

subject that is bursting with it, shooting

in black and white is more often than not,

overlooked. Let’s explore how you can

photograph the natural world in B&W.

Seeing With a Difference

Previsualising a scene in B&W while

difficult, can also be immensely rewarding.

Look at the different colours in the scene,

and ask yourself which shade of grey will

they translate to. A yellow flower might look

light grey, while a deep blue sky could turn

dark grey. Similarly lit reds and greens might

end up translating to similar hues of grey,

while contrasty lighting might make various

shades of the same colour appear disparate.

Going Black and White

Every camera today allows you to shoot

in black and white, so simply switch to

Shooting technique

Sarang Naik