Create an atmospheric filmic black and white image with this software technique

Future
Before - the image lacks colour and depth (Image credit: Future)

Some days just aren't meant for drama. The light is flat, the sky overcast and colors are anything but impactful. That doesn't mean you can still get usable images though and a clever monochrome conversion can save the day!

Don't misunderstand - black and white is not a get-out-of-jail free card - it can't miraculously save any photo. There has to be some though put into the creation of the frame in the field. In this image I liked the arrangement of the trees and foreground leaves, so shot this frame in portrait format. This conveyed the height of the trees and created a looming feel to the forest environment.

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Peter Fenech

As the Editor for  Digital Photographer magazine, Peter is a specialist in camera tutorials and creative projects to help you get the most out of your camera, lens, tripod, filters, gimbal, lighting and other imaging equipment.

After cutting his teeth working in retail for camera specialists like Jessops, he has spent 11 years as a photography journalist and freelance writer – and he is a Getty Images-registered photographer, to boot.

No matter what you want to shoot, Peter can help you sharpen your skills and elevate your ability, whether it’s taking portraits, capturing landscapes, shooting architecture, creating macro and still life, photographing action… he can help you learn and improve.