What Is Black and White Photography Called?

There’s something hauntingly beautiful about black and white photography. Stripped of the noise of colour, what’s left is raw—shapes, shadows, lines, light. It’s not just nostalgia. It’s precision. It’s emotion. It’s control. So, what is black and white photography actually called?

You’ll often hear it referred to as monochrome photography. However, 'grayscale' is the more accurate term for images composed of varying shades of gray, ranging from black to white, as it precisely describes the technical nature of such photographs. But here’s the thing—“monochrome” is a bigger umbrella. Let’s unpack this properly, not from a technical spec sheet, but from someone who’s spent a lifetime crafting images where every tone matters. 

What Exactly Is Monochrome Photography?

Monochrome photography means creating images using variations of a single hue. One colour, many shades. In other words, a monochrome photo is made up of different shades, tints, and tones of a single colour. Now, most of us instantly think of grayscale when we hear that—and for good reason. Black and white photography, arguably the most iconic form of monochrome, relies on nothing but the spectrum between deep black and stark white.

"If you’re drawn to the honesty of black and white, take a look at my Black and White Photography Collection—these are real places, real light, and real moments."

But monochrome isn’t limited to grayscale. Think of sepia-toned prints—warm, almost amber memories that carry the weight of age. Or cyanotypes, those dreamy blue-toned pieces that look like they were pulled from the pages of some 19th-century explorer’s notebook. Each of these processes results in a monochromatic image with its own unique mood.

But black and white? That’s the heavyweight champion. That’s the language many of us learn before colour. And, at least for me, it’s still the most honest form of photographic expression.

All of these styles are monochromatic images, but the difference between them lies in the colour or tone used. Understanding the difference between black and white, sepia, and other monochrome processes helps photographers choose the right technique for their creative vision.

Why Black and White Photography Matters

Without colour to lean on, black and white photography strips everything down to fundamentals. This approach places more emphasis on light, contrast, and composition, making these elements stand out in every shot. And I’m talking fundamentals that hit you in the gut—light and shadow, contrast and depth, texture and line.

When I shoot in black and white, I’m forced to pay attention to what the scene is actually doing. Is the light wrapping? Is it harsh and splitting the frame? Are the shadows swallowing a subject whole, or just cradling it in mystery?

It’s the kind of shooting that demands you slow down. You need to consider the entire image, ensuring every element in the frame contributes to the overall mood and balance. You’ve got to see the bones of the image before you raise the camera. It makes you a better photographer. Or, at the very least, a more honest one.

"Curious how sepia compares to black and white? Here’s a breakdown of what sepia really is—and why it still carries emotional weight."

These principles apply to all monochrome photos, not just traditional black and white.

The Tools Are Simple—The Intent Is Not

Let’s debunk a myth right now: you don’t need a special monochrome-only camera. Sure, Leica makes a tempting one, and sure, the purists might argue the case. But let’s be real—any decent digital camera will do the job if you know what you’re doing. Most cameras have a black and white mode or monochrome mode built in, letting you preview and shoot in black and white directly. You’ll often find options like monochrome mode, black and white mode, or even white mode in your camera’s settings, each offering a different approach to capturing black and white images. The magic isn’t in the sensor—it’s in your eye.

That said, there are smart choices. Shoot in RAW. Always. Why? Because a RAW file gives you the full tonal range—the depth you’ll need when you go to convert the image. JPEGs? They toss out too much. Shooting in JPEG or using in-camera monochrome mode creates smaller files, but you lose editing flexibility compared to RAW. You want all that glorious data at your fingertips when you start sculpting your tones in post.

And let’s not forget filters. A good red filter can turn a blue sky almost black in a grayscale image. A polariser? That’s your secret weapon for deepening shadows or controlling reflections—things that matter more when you can’t fall back on the wow factor of a sunset’s colour.

Shooting Black and White with Intent

Composition shifts when you’re shooting black and white. Without colour to guide the viewer’s eye, it’s the contrast and composition that take centre stage.

When I’m out shooting, I often look at how light moves across the frame—not just where it lands, but how it falls off. Lighter areas in the image can draw the viewer’s eye and help guide their attention through the composition. Dark shadows, on the other hand, can add drama and intensity, making certain elements stand out. That edge where shadow meets light? That’s gold. That’s where your story lives.

You also need to watch the tonal balance. Capturing a full range of tones from deep blacks to bright whites is essential for a compelling black and white image. Subtle grey tones can add depth and dimension, giving your photo a more nuanced and layered feel. I’ve ruined more than one shot early on by getting too excited about the subject and ignoring how the tones played across the image. A brilliant white cloud can draw the eye away from the subtle expression of a subject’s face if you’re not careful.

Post-Processing: Where the Real Work Begins

If you think shooting black and white is about slapping on a “B&W” filter in Lightroom and calling it a day… well, you’ve missed the point.

Post-processing black and white images is an art form. Black and white conversion is the process of transforming a colour image into black and white using editing software like Lightroom or Photoshop, allowing for creative control over tones and contrast. Converting photos from colour to monochrome involves technical decisions about how each colour channel is rendered, which can dramatically affect the mood and impact of the final image. It’s where you take the raw light you captured and decide what kind of emotional punch you want to throw. High contrast and stark edges? Soft, delicate gradations of grey? A bright foreground that fades into moody, enveloping darkness?

Lightroom and Photoshop both give you the tools—clarity, tone curves, and selective contrast. For white conversion, you can use adjustment layers, black and white sliders, or camera calibration settings to fine-tune the monochrome effect. But the tools are only as good as your intent. For me, the real fun is in dodging and burning. That old darkroom technique where you selectively lighten or darken parts of the image? Still as powerful in digital as it ever was with paper and chemicals.

When creating a black and white photo, it’s important to have a clear vision of the story or emotion you want to convey. Editing choices, such as contrast and exposure, will determine how deep or rich your image's black appears in the final result. Every photo deserves careful consideration in post-processing to achieve the desired artistic effect.

Landscapes in Monochrome: More Than Just Pretty Views

One of my favourite things to do is strip colour from a sprawling landscape. Why? Because what’s left feels ancient. Eternal. Monochromatic photos in landscape photography can dramatically enhance mood and draw attention to light, contrast, and composition.

"Monochrome shines in the city—explore my Urban Wall Art Collection to see how shadows and structure shape the scene."

Mountains don’t need colour to look majestic. A moody sky swirling over a windswept valley? That’s emotion carved in light. Add a long exposure and suddenly the clouds smear across the frame, pulling the viewer into the scene like a whispered invitation.

Black and white turns landscapes into sculpture. You start to see the shape of the land—the way it rises and falls, the way it echoes back the drama of the sky. Monochrome images emphasize form and texture, allowing subtle details to stand out. A well-crafted monochrome image can highlight the interplay of light and shadow, creating a timeless and artistic effect.

Using a monochrome setting on your camera can help you visualize the final result before you even press the shutter.

Creating Visual Poetry in Shades of Gray

When I think about what makes a strong black and white image, it usually boils down to three things: composition, contrast, and tone. The best photos have strong composition and intentional use of tone, which helps them stand out and tell a compelling story.

But here’s the kicker—you can’t fake any of them. Not in black and white. If your composition is weak, it falls apart. If your tones don’t play nicely, the whole thing looks like a muddy mess. And contrast? It’s not just about dark versus light. It’s about how you control the visual tension between the two.

Texture is your best friend here. Think peeling paint, wrinkled skin, bark, stone, weathered metal. Texture grabs the eye and holds it. A good black in the image enhances depth and impact, making the photograph feel more dimensional. The use of pure black can also create dramatic contrast, adding mood and definition to your composition.

The Role of Texture in Black and White Images

Texture is one of the unsung heroes of black-and-white images. When you strip away colour, what’s left is the interplay of light and surface—how it glides over smooth pebbles, clings to rough bark, or dances across weathered stone. In a black and white image, texture isn’t just a detail; it’s a main character. The absence of colour means our eyes are drawn to the way different tones reveal the tactile qualities of a scene.

Think about the legendary black and white photographs of Ansel Adams. His images of the American West are more than just landscapes—they’re studies in texture. The crags of a mountain, the ripples in a river, the delicate grain of sand—each is brought to life through careful attention to light and shadow. By emphasizing texture, Adams created black and white photographs that feel almost three-dimensional, inviting viewers to reach out and touch the scene.

When you create black and white images, pay close attention to how light interacts with surfaces. The right lighting can turn a simple white image of smooth pebbles into a study in elegance, or transform a black and white photograph of tree bark into a dramatic exploration of nature’s patterns. By exploring different tones and textures, you can create images that are rich, detailed, and endlessly fascinating—proof that black and white photography is about so much more than just the absence of colour.

Why Photographers Still Love Black and White

Black and white photography endures because it feels. While the vast majority of photographs today are in colour, black and white stands apart for its unique emotional resonance. It doesn’t rely on the gloss of modern colour trends or flashy editing. It cuts straight to the emotion, the form, the raw story beneath it all. The expressive value of black and white is distinct from colour photography, which offers its own vivid, true-to-life possibilities.

From documentary work to portraits, street scenes to abstract art, black and white gives you permission to focus. To see. To feel.

Some of the greatest photographers in history—Ansel Adams, Sebastião Salgado, Henri Cartier-Bresson—they didn’t need colour to stop time. And neither do we. Some photographers even choose to create both a color version and a black and white version of the same image, exploring the different moods each can convey.

Tips That Help (and Mistakes to Dodge)

Here are a few lessons I’ve learned the hard way:

• Don’t trust your camera’s black and white preview. Always shoot in RAW + colour. This way, you can create multiple black and white or monochrome versions from the same photo to match your artistic vision.
• Learn to “see” in monochrome. Practice mentally stripping colour from the scene.
• Avoid over-processing. Too much clarity or contrast, and your image turns crunchy or fake. Preserving image quality during editing is essential for the best results.
• Don’t forget your shadows. That’s where the story lives. Keep in mind that shadows can appear differently in print compared to on-screen.
• Pay attention to the background. In black and white, clutter becomes chaos.

Going Deeper: Advanced Approaches

Once you’re comfortable with the basics, start playing. Multiple exposures, intentional camera movement, long shutter speeds—these are not gimmicks. They’re tools to break the mould, to show something deeper.

Try blending motion and stillness. Use reflections as abstract forms. Or shoot through glass, water, fog—anything that distorts and reshapes reality. Black and white images thrive on ambiguity and tension.

And if you really want to understand where you stand with your photography, try printing in black and white. Big. On real paper. Seeing your work printed allows you to evaluate every detail and tonal transition. There are distinct differences between digital prints and those made from traditional black and white film or white film, each offering unique qualities. Remember, black and white images do not use the full spectrum of colours, focusing instead on shades of gray. For maximum impact, strive to achieve absolute black and absolute white—or pure white—in your prints, as this full tonal range brings depth and drama to your images.

Converting Colour to Black and White: A Creative Choice

You don’t have to shoot in black and white to make black and white images. Some of my strongest black and white prints started as colour files that just didn’t sing until the colour was stripped away. This is where black and white conversion comes in, allowing you to transform a colour image into a striking monochrome photo. When converting photos from colour to black and white, consider the technical aspects, such as preserving detail and flexibility for further editing.

When converting, don’t just hit “desaturate.” Use the colour channels. Push and pull them until the image tells the story you want. For more control, try using dedicated white conversion techniques in software like Photoshop or Lightroom, which offer advanced tools for fine-tuning your results.

Sometimes, it’s only once the colour is gone that the image’s soul becomes visible.

"Black and white gives street photography its bite—see it in action in my Street Photography Collection."

Some conversion methods, such as shooting in JPEG or using in-camera monochrome modes, can result in smaller files compared to RAW. When printing your black and white images, the quality and depth of black ink play a crucial role in achieving sharp, detailed results.

The Future of Black and White Photography

The future of black and white photography is brighter than ever, thanks to the rapid evolution of digital photography and the creative energy of many photographers around the world. With powerful editing tools like Photoshop and the accessibility of digital cameras, it’s never been easier to create striking black and white images that stand out. Social media platforms have opened up new avenues for sharing black and white images with a global audience, sparking fresh inspiration and innovation.

One of the most exciting trends is the embrace of high contrast and deep shadows to create bold, dramatic images. Photographers are pushing the boundaries of what’s possible, using digital post-processing to sculpt light and shadow in ways that were once only possible in the darkroom. This approach brings a new level of intensity to black and white photos, making them pop with emotion and energy.

Landscape photography, too, is experiencing a renaissance in black and white. By removing colour, photographers can focus on the raw shapes, lines, and textures of the natural world, creating images that feel timeless and powerful. The ability to experiment with contrast, tone, and composition in digital photography means that the creative possibilities are virtually endless.

As technology continues to advance, the tools for creating and sharing black and white images will only get better. But at its core, black and white photography remains a deeply personal and expressive art form—one that challenges us to see the world in new ways. Whether you’re just starting out or have been shooting for years, the future of black and white photography is full of opportunity, innovation, and inspiration.

The Heart of Black and White Photography

So—what is black and white photography called?

Technically, it’s monochrome. But labels only go so far. What it is, in its truest form, is a practice. A commitment to craft. A way of seeing.

Black and white photography demands more from us—and gives back even more. It challenges us to strip away distraction, to confront the essence of what makes an image work. And when does it work? It’s magic.

Not because it’s old-fashioned. Not because it’s trendy. But because it’s timeless.

And in a world flooded with filters, colours, and AI-generated noise, black and white remains the quiet, deliberate voice in the room—the one that still speaks the loudest.

In conclusion black, mastering black and white photography is essential for understanding the fundamentals of image-making and appreciating the enduring value of monochrome artistry.