Shooting for Black and White

[Arnold F.]

Is there anything special I should do when shooting scenes (in this case, a music video) that are meant to be finished in black and white?

 

[Mark Toia]

Nope.... nothing at all.

You can thank modern day grading tools and plugins for hundreds of different black and white looks.

 

[Matt Ryan]

well, in order to keep the image from looking a bit flat, light with some contrast in mind. Backlight darker haired subjects to separate them from backgrounds etc. In black and white you need that separation more than anything or you will end up with really flat images.

 

[Michael Millichamp]

Well it depends on what kind of black and white you are looking for.

Old fashioned black and white, low contrast black and white. There are a million different black and white looks. Find the what you want and light accordingly.

 

[Christopher Barrett]

i would think about monitoring in black and white. That could have a big impact on how you light and compose. Back in college I worked as a black and white printer. We did a lot of jobs in color that also had a b/w neg shot for record. The b/w images never had as much impact as the color versions because the hue contrast was a big part of the imagery. Without that contrast, black and white can fall apart.


CB

 

[Robert L. Mickles]

well, in order to keep the image from looking a bit flat, light with some contrast in mind. Backlight darker haired subjects to separate them from backgrounds etc. In black and white you need that separation more than anything or you will end up with really flat images.

Kinda sounds like Robert Rodriguez's 15 Minute Flick School: Sin City there. lol.

 

[Ken Willinger]

I filmed a B&W feature last year. Did all the on set monitoring for lighting in B&W (including the viewfinder). It's the way to go.

 

[Bob Gundu]

B+W is all about what to leave in shadow and what to let blow out. It's much easier to monitor in Black and White to make those decisions.

 

[Cédric Laty]

Hi, just finish a feature in B&W shot with a non MX R1. It was great and we are very happy with the work.
Like it was said before, you must monitor in BW.

cheers