Do you shoot in Black and White?

Thoughts on this underrated medium of photography...

Hey friends,

Greetings from Ashoka University, India!

Why do you shoot in BNW Ishan?

This is probably one of the most common questions I get. People seemed bewildered that someone would shoot in BNW, especially when camera technology has made so many strides towards enhanced colour photography.

Well my answer is that BNW photography achieves a certain look that colour photography rarely manages to cover. That look is formed by these main characteristics:

1. Dramatic Contrast: BNW editing allows you to enhance the difference between the blacks and whites, making your image pop and stand out. This grabs your viewer’s attention.

   

2. Distracting Colours: BNW photography gets rid of colours that could lead your viewer’s eyes away from the main subject of your shot. It allows you to focus on the theme of your image, be that a particular person, animal, or situation

3. Texture: While editing in BNW, you can dig deep into those blacks to really emphasise texture and form

So whether you do photography professionally, like a hobby, or just on your phone, think about shooting in BNW. It could even be the next selfie you take when you get your hair done, or the next pleasant sunset you come across. Convert the image to BNW, and push your creative limits when editing. You might be surprised at the result.

This Week’s Links

Documenting the Fauna of Ashoka University, Haryana, India: Over my last few semesters here at Ashoka University, I’ve gone out and listed down all the birds, mammals and reptiles I’ve encountered here. I’ve also mapped out the distribution of some of the common birds that frequent the campus and the surrounding areas…

JK Rowling and Oprah Winfrey: One of the best interviews I’ve seen. Just phenomenal. If haven’t seen this yet, you’re missing out.

J.K. Rowling Speaks at Harvard Commencement: This is what a well-written speech looks like. Pay attention to how she plays with words here. It is a class above the rest…

Postcard

I know this issue is about BNW photography, but I’ve been dying to share this recent image from my trip to Agumbe, Karnataka a few weeks ago. It is of a large female Malabar Pit Viper ( Craspedocephalus malabaricus ) that I named “Large Marge”.

Nowadays, too many photographs appear flat. Very few try to capture depth in their shots, and this is a pity. Photographs, by their very nature, compress our three dimensional world into a flat 2D rendition. Depth is one way to make your shots stand out.

Favourite Quote

I live on Earth at present, and I don’t know what I am. I know that I am not a category. I am not a thing — a noun. I seem to be a verb, an evolutionary process – an integral function of the universe. —R. Buckminster Fuller

Have a creative, energetic and inspiring week!

If you’re new, welcome to The Owlet! My name is Ishan Shanavas, and here I talk about my work, along with curating the most interesting ideas on the internet. I confine them to topics like Nature, Culture, Photography, and Art but often fall prey to other genres.