Black and White Photography for Family Photos

Most of us use digital cameras these days, but we seldom think to switch the options to black and white photography. Back in the old days of film, you had to buy a separate type of film and take only black and white photos until it was done, but now you can easily switch back and forth without difficulties.

So, why would you choose to take colorless pictures? There are many reasons that black and white photography is preferred over color. It adds a special touch to pictures, a gentle classy look, even in silly situations. Grey tone photos offer a more romantic look at the world around us, without the distraction of color.

Black and white photography was left by the wayside once color was invented. Before that, there were no options, so people were thrilled to be able to capture the brilliance of a rose, or the exact shade of a Latina woman's skin. But have you ever stopped to think of how distracting color can be?

For example, it's nice to have a shot of your newborn baby with his bright blue eyes wide open, but that same shot is so much more effective in black and white photography. The darks and lights combine to grab your attention and hold it, with all the subtle shadows suddenly so evident.

The advantage of digital photography is that you can set your camera to whichever setting you prefer. And even if you forget and take all your photos in color, they can be turned into black and white photography later on through the wonders of Photoshop.

If you were to take a photography class, you would be required to do a study on black and white photography simply because it causes you to take a closer look at things. Instead of capturing a shot for the bright shades and tones, you will be looking at the light and how the shadows fall. This teaches us a valuable lesson that works even with color photos. Being aware of how light works within a scene is extremely important to the artist, even if the artist is just a parent taking a picture of his child.

It's an interesting challenge, to turn your camera from color to grey tone and see what stands out. That lovely rose might not be such an interesting subject anymore. Rather, you will be looking for interesting shapes, like a rock that sits beneath a tree, and textures. Likewise, the texture of the family dog's wet fur stands out so much better in black and white photography.

There is nothing more classic than a series of photos in shades of black, white and grey, framed in simple black frames and arranged on a mantelpiece. It is really a great way to capture the magic of childhood in all its textured glory, without focusing on the bright red shirt that your son was wearing!

The next time you want to take a truly stunning family photo, why not try taking it in black and white. You might be surprised at how well the shot turns out.