There is something really appealing about black and white images. They have a distinctive timeless quality to them. A lot of reputed photography professionals, including Bruce Weber Photographer, are attracted to this style. Black and white images can be breathtaking, engaging, striking, and moody. This style removes the distraction of colors for photographs and encourages the viewer to put more emphasis on other elements. These elements can include the subject, shapes, textures, patterns, and the composition of the image.
Bruce Weber Photographer offers an overview of the important elements of black and white photography
Broadly speaking, the elements important to black and white photography include its composition, contrast, shadows, and shapes. Composition in photography refers to the placement of components and objects in the frame. Examining the subject and their surrounding is crucial when composing a black and white image. The photographer needs to think about how dark or light shall part of the image is. They should try to incorporate interesting shapes in the frame for maximal contrast. Manipulating the background or foreground to provide an improved contrasting surface the subject can pop against, will also be a good move. A really interesting black and white photo can be created by rearranging the components of the image and balancing them with space.
All photographers must remember that eliminating color from an image invariably creates a greater emphasis on tonal contrast. This refers to the difference in shades from light to dark, as well as their relationship to each other in a photo. If possible, photographers must seek subjects that are in high contrast with their environments. An image whose components have a wide distribution between the darkest and lightest tones generally comes out really well.
Shadows are not simply the darker regions of a photo in the case of black and white photography. They are crucial elements of the frame, and can be considered to be subjects themselves at times. No matter whether they contain certain details or are just black, shadows help enhance the overall impact of black and white images. With shadows, it will be ideal to look for solid blacks as subjects that are set against a light background. It can be a tree, a person, or even a building casting an image on the ground or elsewhere.
In addition to shadows, shapes are also quite important to black and white images, especially with the absence of colors. Shapes determine how people appreciate and identify the scenes and objects in the image. The best black and white photos ideally use an interesting combination of textures and shapes to help viewers experience their subjects.
Bruce Weber Photographer is renowned for his black and white images that effortlessly capture an all-American feel and look. He commonly works in portraiture, and tries to capture the emotions of his subjects. In many ways, Bruce has helped define an idealized and iconic American look. His 1980s advertisement campaigns for brands such as Abercrombie and Fitch, Ralph Lauren, and Calvin Klein particularly contributed to his incredible popularity.