Black and White Photos: When and How to Convert Colour Images

Black and white photography has been around since the beginning, and it remains popular because it emphasises shape, texture, light and emotion rather than colour.

Why choose black and white

• It removes distractions. A busy or clashing colour palette becomes a quiet, unified image.
• It highlights texture and form. Wrinkles, stone, fabric and water are easier to see without colour.
• It rescues awkward colour. Photos with bad colour casts, mixed lighting or noise often look better in monochrome.
• It feels timeless. Black and white gives a classic, sometimes nostalgic, quality.

Subjects that work well

• Portraits, especially emotional, candid or expressive ones
• Street and documentary photography
• Architecture and geometric shapes
• Landscapes with strong light and clouds
• Old buildings, textured surfaces and weathered objects

Subjects that don't

Photos where colour is the main point, such as flowers, sunsets, food or a bright market, usually lose their appeal in black and white.

How to convert

1. Apply the black and white filter or reduce saturation to zero.
2. Adjust contrast. Black and white images often need more contrast than colour images to look punchy.
3. Adjust brightness and highlights. Make sure the whites aren't blown out and the blacks aren't crushed.
4. Add clarity or sharpening for texture if the photo suits it.
5. Consider a slight tone. Some editors let you add a subtle warm or cool tint, which can give a vintage feel.

What to look for

A good black and white photo has a full range of tones from deep black to bright white, with a variety of greys in between. A flat image with only mid-greys tends to look dull.

Colours turn into greys

When colour is removed, different colours become different greys, and colours that look distinct can become the same grey. A red flower against green leaves might turn into a flat grey blob. Check that the subject still stands out.

Grain

A touch of grain can add a film-like quality, and it helps hide noise. Too much looks messy.

High-key and low-key

• High-key photos are bright, with mostly light tones, and feel airy and clean.
• Low-key photos are dark, with deep shadows, and feel dramatic and moody.

Black and white for consistency

If a set of photos was taken in mixed lighting, converting all of them to black and white gives a consistent look.

Common mistakes

• Converting a colour-dependent photo.
• Forgetting to boost contrast.
• Letting shadows or highlights lose all detail.

Practice

Take a colour portrait, a landscape and a street scene. Convert each and see which suits monochrome best.

Apply black and white and other filters with Cinexa →