7 tips for black & white street photography with Alan Schaller

Black & white images and street art photography go together like two peas in a pod. But they both can be very challenging, even for experienced photographers.
That’s why we asked a real pro for advice: Alan Schaller! The London based street photographer shoots exclusively in black & white and is the co-founder of Street Photography International, a platform for talented yet unrepresented photographers.
Alan knows what black & white photography really needs, different angles and views for example, to add a nice twist to your images.

Find out more awesome tips from Alan in our video, which has been created in collaboration with Leica.

Tag @thecooph and #coophshoutout on Instagram for a chance to be featured in our stories. We can’t wait to see your pics!

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[francisco]

Tip #8 The golden hour is for color. In b/w photography, you want the opposite. Be out at midday, when you have bright highlights from streaming sunlight and dark shadows present. Those stark contrasts promote form where b/w film shines. You can get good reflections on windows during daylight hours that would be transparent at night.
Tip #9 Although digital software corrects lighting issues in camera, if you are using actual film, you can greatly improve contrast of sky, foliage, even brick buildings with color filters. Instead of blown out skies, you can see moody, even stormy looking skies with orange or red toned lenses. You can create some really dramatic effects. Blue filters can bring out the texture of aged hands or faces in a close up. A yellow helps cut those skin blemishes if you want to soften a complexion.

[fruitlp]

This was fantastic! No long intros, no babbling on, your just gave us what you advertised.
Easily the best Youtube video I've felt I've seen in years.

[nfornick]

0:21 #1 Shoot b/w on purpose
0:48 #2 Focus on what makes b/w interesting
1:25 #3 Adapt to your light situation
2:12 #4 Make good use of your environment
2:45 #5 Capture a good range of contrast
3:24 #6 Change perspective
4:09 #7 Edit wisely

[davehenderson]

This man is my favorite street photographer of all time! I have been following his work for years

[AlejandroRamos-imto]

Finally!! A photographer that goes right to the point on his tips. His work is just awesome!!

[newnatsfan]

So many pro photogs say never shoot in B&W because you can make any color photo b&w. I completely disagree, just as he says...seeing the world in b&w is so different than seeing it in color. Great tips!

[carlschnier]

Water is outstanding, rain, raindrops, puddles, reflections, still water, ripples, bird baths, it’s endless. Just imagine not being able to see color, now imagine what the image would be like if you could and someone described the color to you

[Darkmatter]

Brilliant. No fluff, straight to the point and very useful tips.

[albertsmith]

I have never seen a better 5 minute lesson that if followed can give years of improvement.

I set one of my Fujifilm bodies to permanent B&W, and go out to ONLY shoot mono with it. It really changes the way you "see" when you don't keep switching with color.

[wissnasraoui]

his photos are simply mind-blowing, and this video gave me the energy to go out and shoot, even though im living in a place where street photography is harder to do than other places.

[wahabdilawar]

Finally... someone with excellent tips and brilliant shots to back his ideas. Just perfect.

[dhaug]

The analogy of editing as varnish on a well made table is spot-on!

[jenohogan]

His work blows my mind. It makes me so happy.

[smaeyl]

The master of BNW street photography. For me, one of the best street photographers in the World. Thank you for the tips, Professor.

[seattlegrrlie]

Excellent video. My additional tip is go to the same place at different times of day on different days. Sometimes, it can completely change the look of the place

[circleofattention]

There's no such thing as bad light. Thank you for that! ❤️🙏

[xcx]

Good video. I'm so happy that No. 1 is what it is. I get very tired of internet-forum 'experts 'telling everyone to just shoot everything in raw and decide what to do with the file in post. They don't realise that they are broadcasting their total lack of artistic vision to anyone who has some idea what photography (and art in general) is really about.

[GaryR]

The "editing" is the digital equivalent of processing film and prints. It is as necessary to the process of digital photography as photographic chemicals and enlargers are to film-based photography. If you eschew the use of digital editing software, you are confining yourself to what came out of the camera. Ansel Adams never thought his images were "complete" by merely tripping the shutter and then using standard processing. His "Moonrise: Hernandez, New Mexico" wasn't as it was shot. Every photographer who ever had control over the processing of his film and prints always applied some degree of "manipulation" either in the enlarger or the developer tray. I've been doing photography since 1971, when I was a photo lab technician. The camera is only the beginning. The final image, whether on film or a digital sensor, requires processing, which is the final stage of the process of photography. Think of your software as an enlarger and developer. Too many people think of "Photoshop" whenever digital "editing" is mentioned.

[metaheisenberg]

He is my inspiration... been following his style for 3 years now, suddenly i am finding myself going through these tips again for the fact that his photography has been so captivating for me...

[andreasbeyer]

I take street photos with my Olympus EM 10 Mark II and an adapted Carl Zeiss Pancolar 50mm f1, 8 and it´s a great thing. Thank you for your tips!