B_P_2015_04_

cellphone Technique

What I like the most

about VSCO is its Fade

option. This gives the

image a slightly more

flat and dreamy feel.

With Instagram’s

Inkwell, you are able

to produce a classic

black and white image,

without any additional

distractions to it.

For dedicated black

and white filter apps,

you could use Black

and White Camera

Pro (Android)and

Camera Noir (iOS).

Apart from applying

a filter, you have the

option of shooting

in black and white

with your native

camera app. Or,

you could also use

apps like Hipstamatic

and Hueless.

Other Options

This was the original

colour photograph that

was processed through

the three apps.

All photographs by Natasha Desai

53

Better PhotograPhy

53

T

here are several ways of creating

exceptional black and white

imagery on your cellphone today.

If you think that only the paid apps

are able to provide the kind of

stunning results you yearn for, think again.

VSCOCam, Snapseed and Instagram are

three of the most popular free photo editing

apps available today and are more than

adept to help you realise your vision.

Filled to the Brim

All three apps come with pre-loaded black

and white filters. Instagram lets you choose

between two filters–Inkwell, which has

a slightly darker feel to it than Willow.

Snapseed comes with six filters that are

incredibly good. They include a basic

monochrome look, a dark noir feel and

everything in between. Additionally, it offers

add-on frames and an insane amount of

additional filters to make your images look

anything from grungy to vintage. On the

other hand, VSCOCam originally comes

with three, but you have the option of

buying more black and white filter packs.

Exercise Control

Furthermore, all three apps offer you a

great amount of control over the basics

like exposure and contrast. In Instagram,

you can take the Inkwell and Willow

filters to a whole new level with inbuilt

editing tools. VSCOCam and Snapseed

even offer excellent highlight and shadow

recovery, and VSCO also gives you option

of adding in a fade effect. Snapseed wins

in this respect with the option of selective

adjustment and a host of other options like

HDR, Drama, Center Focus and Tilt Shift.

Let it Grain

One of the most utilised features when

creating black and white images is the

addition of grain. Snapseed and VSCOCam

both give you the option of adding in as

much as you want. However, one man’s

grain may be another’s noise.

I personally prefer the aesthetic of

VSCOCam’s filters, but, there is an

undeniable flexibility in functions that

comes with Snapseed. However, if you like

simplicity then Instagram is the way to go.

It is ultimately, a matter of preference.

april 2015