Question regarding B&W

[v3nom]

Im wondering what the difference is between taking a shot with the setting on my camera set to B&W and taking a full colour shot and converting it to B&W in post pro?

Im still undecided which themes interest me so im trying to get a taste of as much as possible and then focus on the ones that excite me. Tomorrow im dedicating to B&W, so any hints and tips would be fantastic.

 

[KmH]

The setting in the camera is probably actually monotone, not B&W.

By shooting it as a color image, you can subsequently adjust the contrast of each color when you convert to B&W, giving you more control.

A Photoshop B&W adjustment layer gives you control over the contrast of 6 colors:

1. red
2. yellow
3. green
4. cyan
5. blue
6. magenta

Controlling the contrast is the holy grail of a B&W image.
Having details in both the whites (if any) and the blacks (if any) is also highly desirable.

It is much more difficult to make a stunning B&W image than it is to make a stunning color image.

 

[D-B-J]

The setting in the camera is probably actually monotone, not B&W.

By shooting it as a color image, you can subsequently adjust the contrast of each color when you convert to B&W, giving you more control.



A Photoshop B&W adjustment layer gives you control over the contrast of 6 colors:

1. red
2. yellow
3. green
4. cyan
5. blue
6. magenta

Controlling the contrast is the holy grail of a B&W image

Exactly what i just did in lr3 with my self portrait. As KmH stated, it allows you to control six individual colors. By using the camera's b&w settings, you are removing your ability to adjust contrast well. It's best to shoot in RAW and full color all the time, and do your color editing in post, as you can do more that way. Basically, using the camera's b&w settings constrains your ability to manipulate the image to your liking.

Regards,
Jake

 

[GooniesNeverSayDie11]

Because when converting to black and white, altering colors in turn alters the tones in the black and white conversion. For instance, if someone has a blue shirt on in a shot, you can lighten or darken the blues which will lighten or darken the shirt in the B&W once you convert. In the film days, these types of things would be done using colored filters on the lenses. So basically it just gives you more adjustment opportunities. If you simply shoot black and white and then try to just adjust the tones with contrast or levels, it will be harder to isolate specific tones.

Hope this helps. There is tons of tips for good B&W online. Google is your friend.

 

[v3nom]

Superbly conveyed advice, thankyou all very much. Color/colour it is!

 

[stroker]

If you are seriously interested in the simple beauty of black and white I have one recommendation. Ditch the digital for a while and pick up an old manual 35mm. You can find a nice Pentax ME super, and a good range of glass for under $100, also get a red filter. To me black and white film produces a better looking image than a converted digital (but I’m partial to film).
Sorry that doesnt help much with your question but its my $0.02 on the topic.
cheers!

 

[v3nom]

If you are seriously interested in the simple beauty of black and white I have one recommendation. Ditch the digital for a while and pick up an old manual 35mm. You can find a nice Pentax ME super, and a good range of glass for under $100, also get a red filter. To me black and white film produces a better looking image than a converted digital (but I’m partial to film).
Sorry that doesnt help much with your question but its my $0.02 on the topic.
cheers!

Thanks, Im not sure that i am seriously interested with B&W just yet as i havnt really explored it. (still i total noob to photography )

 

[ann]

just to clarify so there is no confusion.

There are "Colored filters" for the use with color film, and then there are filters for black and white , that are various colors, they are not the same and can't be used the same way.

"Colored filters" are used to ajust for color temperature, think correcting WB,

Filters for black and white, separate greyscale values. They lighten their own color and darken their opposite color on the color wheel.

PS, or other editing programs create those effects after the fact , not before , as would be done with film. Except WB which can be done before or after firing the shutter and without a correcting filter on the lens

 

[KmH]

To me black and white film produces a better looking image than a converted digital (but I’m partial to film).

Better looking? How?