Requirement
4 images
Purpose
To understand how colours affect tones in black and white images
Technical learning
- Black and white photography has revived in the digital era: post-production makes 2 important features easy - monochrome conversion and adjusting tones to suit intent
- Colour filters brighten their applicable colours and darken their opposites, e.g. a red filter enhances reds but darkens blues.
Exercise instructions
- Make a still life with 4 objects: 1 coloured red, 1 yellow, 1 green and 1 blue on a mid grey brackground
- Take 1 photograph
- Convert image to monochrome in Photoshop
- Produce 4 further images by dialling up in the monochrome conversion tool (a) the red component, (2) blue, (3) green and (4) yellow.
- Each case keep the tone of the grey bcakground unchanged
Images and review
A favourite old coffee mug almost fits on its own the subject requirement for this project. Large Orange (instead of Red), Green and Blue Polka dots on Yellow. The neutral grey came courtesy of a predominantly grey packing blanket lying forgotten in the garage.
Converted to black and white without colour filtering effect
After applying Blue filter effect..
After applying the Green filter effect...
After applying the Orange filter
Finally, after applying the Yellow filter
Colour Original |
Neutral Monochrome |
Blue Polka Dot assumes a light tone whilst all of the other (brighter) colours become signficantly darker, most noticeably the Yellow and Orange |
Green Polka Dot becomes lighter, the Blue is unchanged, whilst the Yellow and Orange have turned a shade darker |
Orange, Yellow and Green Polka Dots lighten, the Blue darkens |