Wildlife Photography in Black and White to Create Unique Photos

Photograph in black and white of a waterbuck in Kenya. Photograph by Amar Guillen, photographer artist.

This photograph of a waterbuck in Kenya is well-suited for the use of black and white.

Why: Creating Animal Photographs in Black and White

Creating animal photos in black and white has many advantages. I will list some of the most important reasons, and I invite you to memorize them so that you can recall them in the field.

Black and white allows you to create unique photos that convey emotions that cannot be found in color. This technique evokes more mystery and contemplation.

Since reality is always in color, black and white becomes an interpretation of what you see. It is an artistic form. As the color is removed, the viewer is forced to add his own emotions to the photographs.
Using color in photography is like writing a novel. You describe each element, each detail precisely.

Black and white is like poetry : its strength does not come from what it is said but from everything that is suggested.
Using color in photography is like writing a novel. You describe each element and each detail precisely.

Black and white is like poetry: its strength does not come from what is said but from that which is suggested.
In black and white, the impact of wildlife photos is increased tenfold. The animal truly becomes the master of the game. The black and white technique places animal at the center of all the attention of the viewer: we solely notice him. The black and white technique places the animal at the center of the attention of the viewer: we solely notice him.

On the contrary, color is very distracting for a viewer. Natural environments like foliage or blue skies will attract the gaze of the audience, since it is more saturated and has more intense colors than the animal. In the absence of color, the gaze will be attracted to what is essential: the animal.
Black and white is a perception, an interpretation of reality. Color, on the contrary, is adapted to the descriptive scenes.

Since it is an interpretation of what you see, you can more easily express your emotions and send messages. Of course, black and white can be descriptive. Art photography in general may be descriptive. You can display exceptional animal behavior. But you must always have a good reason. You must justify it with your photographic vision.
Black and white makes it possible to highlight the animal, which is the main photographic element. The space around him is less important.
Black and white emphasizes details and light. This is what you are looking to do in wildlife photography. Do not forget that in black and white, you must favor lines, shapes, textures, and contrasts.
Black and white is timeless. It is always difficult to date a black and white photograph, unless external elements reveal the decade. Color is often linked to a time or an era.
Black and white photographs can be captured at any time of day, even if the sun is at its peak. To capture the best color photographs, the early morning or twilight is ideal, unless the skies are covered. Color does not favor strong highlights.
The cloudy and dark skies can produce beautiful black and white photos. These atmospheres enhance the textures and details of the plumage or coat.

This is not the case for color photographs, because you need a grazing light to highlight these elements.
Today, most cameras allow you to view black and white photos either before shooting or after. All it takes is a simple setting change.

Although it is true that this preview image has a lower quality than the image you can see on your computer, it still certainly provides you with an excellent idea of the final result. Do not forget to check if you have that feature when you buy a new camera body.

How: Creating Wildlife Photographs in Black and White

Whether you are on the field or in post-production, you should always think in black and white.

I will give you a small, non-exhaustive list of tips for getting the most out of creative black and white wildlife photography.

Photographing in RAW mode. In the early post processing stage, you will always accurately adjust the white balance and the exposure of your images. If your photo is in JPEG format, you will still need to adjust these two parameters, but you will not have the precision you have in RAW format.

The RAW format is a format which exploits all the possibilities of your camera's sensor. JPEG is a compressed format, causing some of the details to be lost.

The RAW format will always give more depth to your wildlife photographs.
You should always have a plan before you begin your photo project or your photo session. You must know what you want to do and how you are going to do it. Never forget that if you do not know where you want to go, it will be nearly impossible to reach a satisfactory product. Mental preparation is essential.
Your compositions should be as simple as possible. They must highlight the animal. Remember that black and white is made to showcase the subjects, which are the main photographic elements. It is a technique that does not distract the eyes. I advise you to also utilize the bokeh technique, which will allow you to isolate the main subject even more from the background.
When possible, use either the high key or low-key technique to create special atmospheres and mood.

The two techniques can be used in shooting by overexposing the highlights for the high key and under-exposing low lights for low-key.

The development on your computer will allow you to accentuate each of the two effects. The high key and the low-key photography are processes which intervene throughout the creation of an animal photograph in black and white.
When selecting decor for the background of black and white wildlife photographs, use green background, and be sure to capture the wild animal in good lighting.

During the post-processing, you will lower the brightness of the green layer: the background will become dark. This is one of the techniques I use for the low-key. Then, you bring out the details in the dark areas to give depth to your photographs.

How to Create Wildlife Photos in Black and White

Have you ever wanted to create wildlife photographs that have impact and convey authentic emotions? Have you ever wanted to go beyond a simple descriptive photo of an animal living in the wild?

In this article, I propose some tips and recipes for creating meaningful black and white photos.

If you are already using this creative technique, the ideas developed in this article will supplement your current practice or provide some new alternative creative paths.

If you are not a fan of black and white, you will discover an extraordinary universe without limit of creativity.

Young walia ibex photographed in black and white in Ethiopia.

Page 1

Page 2

Page 3

The Little Story Behind This Article

My passion for the technique of black and white photography began with landscape photography. Since I live in the United States, I often travel the mineral landscapes of Texas, New Mexico, Utah, Arizona, California, and Nevada.

With the use of black and white, the details, the shapes, and the structures are quite easy and natural. With extensive practice of capturing images of these landscapes, I was able to develop my expertise in black and white.

In the fall of 2013, I decided to spend, like I do every year, three weeks in France to photograph the rut of the deer.

This year, the season of summer lasted several weeks longer than usual. At the end of September, the foliage and the ferns were still a beautiful bright color. I was also fortunate to have been granted special permission to capture photos on the Hennessy domain in Charente-Maritime.

Since hunting was conducted on specific dates, I could move freely on the “off-days” without fear of being mistaken for a wild animal.

I had spotted a rather large clearing surrounded by hardwoods, which is quite rare for that region. The decor was perfect.

After several waiting sessions, I had the chance to photograph a solitude red deer stag that came to bugle. Well hidden in my blind, I was able to capture a magnificent series. He stayed more than three hours to bugle, graze, and sleep. It was an unexpected pleasure to witness such a sight.

When I decided to develop the photos, I naturally chose to use color.

The developed photos were interesting. They were well-constructed, with magnificent décor, and had a beautiful light. But they were all classic photos, and it felt as if I had already seen them hundreds of times.

The series of six photos was spread out in front of me. I was somewhat satisfied, but I could not feel the emotions generated by the power and the beauty of the animal. I felt as if I had returned to illustrative photography, which I had abandoned three years ago.

It was then that I decided to convert them to black and white. I realized that I could darken the green color of the leaves in the background to enhance the shape of the animal.

I could easily highlight the dark orange coat of the deer stag by overexposing it a little more and creating a better contrast.

The dodge and burn that I applied to the eyes allowed me to accentuate a fierce, wild and determined glance.

By applying a dark and gradual vignette around the deer stag, I accentuated the contrasts even more. The red deer was very highlighted.

I applied the same development to the collection of six photos. Once finished, I had in front of me a set of coherent and consistent pictures. The photos were creative, different, and unique. I had finally been able to photograph the bugle of the deer as I wanted. I finally had captured the emotions I had experienced in the field. The wild beauty and the natural power of the animal were accentuated in the black and white.

The technique of black and white had allowed me to create interesting and different pictures which communicated to the soul of the viewer. That was the beginning of my work in black and white wildlife photography. The years that followed have proved to me that I had made the right choice, because I had found a way to express myself in wildlife photography. In the rest of this article, I will explain the elements of black and white photography which propelled me to success.

Qualities to Develop to Become a Wildlife Photographer

Before giving you tips for creating animal photos in black and white, it seems especially important to me to list some qualities necessary to make exceptional photos of wild animals in the field.

First of all, you must have a real passion for wildlife and its diversity. Never forget that you are taking good pictures of that which you know well. Be curious! Read books on species that inspire you. Watch all the animal reports concerning specific fields or areas that interest you. The more you know about key behaviors and animal habits, the better your photographic creations will be.
Never forget that a wild animal is unpredictable. Even if you are well prepared, even if you have learned as much as you can about a species, you will always encounter surprises. Nothing will ever match your expectations. A wild animal always reacts according to its primary instincts which are surviving, reproducing, and eating. Try to anticipate as much as you can.
Be a good observer. We live in cities and towns in which our collective life is organized according to our needs as human beings. Our senses have been developed for this urban environment.

In nature, everything is different. You must relearn to observe the signs of wildlife. The smells, the direction of the wind, the morning dew, the shape of the clouds, a bird's cry are some signs that can provide precious indications of what is going to happen. You must learn to practice mindfulness.
Learn how to improvise. You must be ready to face the unpredictable once you are on the ground, but you must also be prepared to improvise.

For example, knowing how to create a blind in the field with leaves and a few branches is an elementary act to discover photos of red deer or bear in Europe. Improvisation management can be learned. You should always practice these skills, even if you find yourself in a situation where you believe you are becoming a master.
Always ask about the weather. Knowledge of the weather is a real asset for you. If it is raining, you must prepare your clothes and the blind accordingly. The knowledge of the wind direction is essential. Wild animals always walk facing the wind to detect predators or a danger. Therefore, you must position yourself so that they do not smell your presence. Poor knowledge of weather conditions can lead to a disastrous photo session once in the field.
Respect nature and wild animals. In my opinion, these are the two essential qualities of a good wildlife photographer. The more you respect nature and the animals you photograph, the more likely you are to blend in with the surroundings and become a part of your environment.

The more you show respect, the more you will anticipate the details of nature and blend in with the landscapes. This attention to detail is reflected in the quality of your photographs. Never disturb an animal to take a photo. Indeed, the frightened or constrained look of a wild animal never produces a good photo. When the attitude is more natural, the finished picture is more beautiful.
Be patient. Underwater and terrestrial wildlife photography is one of the most difficult photographic fields to master. When creating interesting pictures, time is not measured in days, weeks or months. It is measured in years.
Knowing how to take sharp, well-composed, and well-framed photos takes just a few days. However, creating meaningful animal photos requires a great deal of self-knowledge, humility, and patience.