Article · National Air and Space Museum
The Power of Black and White Photography: Learning to See in Shades of Grey
By Jim Preston
- Type
- Article
- Level
- Beginner
- Price
- Free
- Published
- 2019
About this lesson
The Smithsonian museum's chief photographer describes his own method of visualizing a scene in shades of grey before shooting, prioritizing tone, quality of light, contrast, composition and texture over the color information in front of him.
Related lessons

What 7 Black & White Masters Taught Me About Seeing
Free
Video · 13 min
The Photographic Eye

7 tips for black & white street photography with Alan Schaller
Free
Video · 5 min
COOPH

Black and White Photography Techniques You Didn't Know You Needed
Free
Video · 18 min
fototripper

How To Make LONG EXPOSURE Fine Art Landscape Photography
Free
Video · 13 min
Mads Peter Iversen

9 quick tips for BETTER BLACK & WHITE photos
Free
Video · 11 min
Jamie Windsor

Five Black-and-White Editing Mistakes (and How to Fix Them)
Free
Video · 9 min
Walk Like Alice