Black Photography Tip White
Emphasising the Sky - using black photography tip white
Whether it is strong cloud formations of a stormy sky, a dramatic sunset, where
the clouds are fringed by the dying sun, or a blue sky with white, cotton wool clouds,
skies can make or break a landscape photograph. The problem that many photographers
have is getting the exposure correct. All too often, either the sky comes out overexposed
so that the clouds have virtually disappeared, or the foreground is so underexposed
that it is impossible to see any detail there either and all the drama of the scene
is lost.
Using filters to correct exposure
The reason for this difficulty is that the exposure required for the sky can be
several stops different from that needed for the foreground. The most effective
way to correct
this imbalance is to use a graduated
neutral density filter. This will help to even out the exposure of the sky and the
foreground by cutting down on the amount of light entering the lens from the sky
portion of the picture. These filters come in different densities and can be doubled
up for a really dramatic effect. As with so many accessories the type of camera
they work best with is the SLR. The reason for this is that you can see the effect
that the filter is having as you look through the viewfinder. This means that you
can get into the precise position for the most effective result.
Always be on the look out for different lighting conditions, which can occur quite
suddenly and totally alter the feel of a landscape photograph making the difference
between an ordinary view and a spectacular one. An example of this kind of situation
is where dark, almost black, storm clouds appear as the backdrop, while the sun
still shine brightly on the foreground. To capture this type of effect requires
fast reactions as such conditions can change rapidly.
Shooting into the light and exposing for the highlights is another way of emphasising
the sky. This method can add drama especial if there is an expanse of water in the
foreground. A low viewpoint and a wide-angle will also increase the dominance of
the sky.
Architecture in black and white
As buildings are permanent fixtures, the observant photographer has the advantage
of seeing them at different times of day and night, in varying lighting conditions
and through every season. It is through awareness of the effect of these changes
that we can start to see ways of photographing different types of architecture under
the best possible circumstances.
With many buildings, especially modern scrapers, the tendency is to point the camera
upwards. It is understandable, as this is usually the only way we can get the whole
building into our shot, but it always results in what is known as converging verticals.
This means that the building appears to taper towards the top. While this can look
dramatic and be used to creative effect, some buildings, for example a cathedral,
can look distorted.
Rectify the convergence problem
There are two ways of rectifying converging verticals, either by using a perspective
control lens (PC lens), or correcting the perspective in Photoshop. PC lenses are
sometimes referred to as
shift
lenses, With this lens, providing the film or sensor plane is kept parallel to the
subject plane, then all uprights will remain vertical. With a normal lens, setting
up the camera in this position would result in the top of the building being cropped
out. By adjusting the shift of the PC lens, the top of the building can be brought
info view without having to tilt the camera upwards.
Modern buildings are well suited to black and white photography because their surfaces
of bright metal and glass provide good contrast and strong geometrical shapes, with
colour really an irrelevance. Also, many modern buildings carry their services on
the outside. These shapes, made up of pipes and ducts, high tension cables and ventilators,
are perfect for going in close, either physically or with a telephoto lens. Because
of the graphic nature of much modern architecture, the subject lends itself to high
contrast printing to create abstract images.
Here at black photography tip white we hope you’ve enjoyed this article on black
and white photography. Why not try one of our other Photography Tips article. Check
the menu down the left of this page.