In a couple of weeks (June 18, 2026) I am hosting a workshop on Black and White photography through The Victoria Photography Meetup Group. (as of this writing, there are still a couple of spots left. Contact me for info)

Black and White photography (B&W) has a bit of a mixed reputation, It can invoke historical vibes, as colour photography did not appear until photography was well established. B&W can also be seen as a bit of a crutch, “if you can’t make it good, make it black and white”

However I feel B&W images can be their own unique artistic expression.. Kind of like how watercolours and oils are each very unique forms of painting.

B&W tends to emphasize tones and textures. By removing the distraction of colour and colour contrast, you can create a different statement about the scene or subject you are shooting. Images become more “timeless” Maybe this is the origin of “if you can’t make it good, make it black and white”

Technically you need to pay attention to tones and be aware if different colours may merge when they are only represented by light or dark tones. In post processing, you need to control contrast not only between the areas reflecting more or less overall light, but also to control the way different colours are represented as only monotone.

The image at the top of the page works better in B&W in my opinion in spite of the fact it was shot on B&W film (before digital TBH) especially when you know the story behind it (captions). Bright red lipstick would tell a completely different story.