Using Film Speed Effectively (Black & White Film Thoughts)

It's hard to find sometimes but it's making a resurgence, black and white film. If you've never used this film now is the time to try it out. Here are some tips to using b&w film and what you can expect from the results.

1. Forget color. This is the hardest thing to do and the number one reason that you will not get good results with b&w film.

2. Look for contrast. Once you can ignore color look for contrast. You will want your image to have a bit more contrast than you would normally want in a color image.

3. Consider shooting situations that are more formal. Black and white film gives such a wonderful timelessness to an image and it's perfect for formal situations.

4. Keep your photos simple. Black and white film simplifies so don't fight it. Keep the images simple by keeping close to your subject or place your subject against a simple back drop.

5. Babies and pets look great on b&w film. Place the pet or baby on a white background and you'll be stunned at the beautiful results.

Black and white film creates a timeless simple look. It's wonderful for portraits and formal events. After shooting a few rolls of b&w you'll notice that you start to pay attention to composition of your image more, since you don't have to worry about color. If you're just learned photography try using b&w film for awhile it will help you teach yourself good composition. Think of light and dark, black and white, and good composition and you'll find that b&w film could be a whole new hobby for you.

Copyright 2004 Kelly Paal Kelly Paal is a Freelance Nature and Landscape Photographer, exhibiting nationally and internationally. Recently she started her own business Kelly Paal Photography (www.kellypaalphotography.com). She has an educational background in photography, business, and commercial art. She enjoys applying graphic design and photography principles to her web design.

In The News:


A photographer's personal Golden Gate
Washington Post (blog)
By May-Ying Lam When photographer Richard Misrach and his wife trimmed back the vegetation that pressed up against their new home perched atop a steep Berkeley hill, a stunning view met them. Across the way, the Golden Gate Bridge in miniature rested, ...

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UD researcher uses know-how to photograph local eagles
Dayton Daily News
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Art Daily
The National Galleries of Scotland announced that The Robert Mapplethorpe Foundation has made a major donation to the new Photography Gallery in the recently refurbished Scottish National Portrait Gallery in Edinburgh. The Foundation is giving a total ...


Painterly Photographs on Exhibit at a Gallery in Washington
Litchfield County Times
Those are the words of gallerist and photographer dealer Kathy McCarver Root, whose latest show of fine art photography in her Washington Depot space is devoted to works by Ms. Gall. The exhibition at KMR Arts, “Sally Gall: Selections From 25 Years of ...


General restricts war-zone photography
Marine Corps Times
By Dan Lamothe - Staff writer CAMP LEATHERNECK, Afghanistan — Marine commanders in Afghanistan have cracked down on war-zone photography in the wake of two international scandals this year in which US troops were depicted posing with dead Taliban ...

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Photographer to showcase collection of miniature pictures
Amarillo.com
By Chip Chandler Photographer Jim Jordan's “Just a Minute: Instant Photography Premiere Exhibition” opens Friday at Bois d'Arc Press, Studio 65 inside The Galleries at Sunset Center, 3701 Plains Blvd. Jordan's show features 32 miniature photos, ...


Stellar shots in 'History of Space Photography' show
CNET
"The History of Space Photography" features 150 images, selected by guest curator Jay Belloli and several consultants at JPL. Most are from the last 50 years or so, but some date back as far as the 19th century. The exhibition wrapped up its inaugural ...

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TIME

Google Shows Off Project Glass Photography
PCWorld (blog)
By Jared Newman, PCWorld May 24, 2012 8:31 AM Google is pitching its Project Glass eyewear as the next step for mobile photography, and has shown off a bunch of new photos to prove it. Max Braun, a tech lead on Project Glass, took the stage at the ...
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