BBC HomeExplore the BBC
This page has been archived and is no longer updated. Find out more about page archiving.

2 September 2014
Accessibility help
Text only

BBC Homepage

Contact Us

How to Take Good Photos: Colour

Previous Page - emotion
Use of colour Light Emotion Black and white
 

Black and white

Woman pushing a bicycle, photo by Tom Ang
© TOM ANG
  1. Black and white can be used to create a more intimate portrait or a more atmospheric landscape.
  2. Black and white is more dependant than colour photography on shape and form to create interest.
  3. Slanting or 'oblique' lines imply movement, action and change.
  4. Experiment with high and low contrast to give your pictures increased drama. (Contrast is the proportion of black to white in your shot.)
  5. In this picture, the complicated shapes and colours are reduced to simple forms to great effect.
Previous Page - emotion
Use of colour Light Emotion Black and white
 

How to take good photos
  Composition   Light   Colour
  Landscape   People   Being Ready
 
 


About the BBC | Help | Terms of Use | Privacy & Cookies Policy