Shaping Stories in Black and White
Plus: Capturing High-Contrast Emotions & More
Jeff Tan
August 12, 2025
"There’s a time when people say your work is revolutionary, but you have to keep being revolutionary." — David Bailey
Hello Shutterbugs,
Black and white photography can strip a scene to its core—whether it’s crafted in-camera, discovered in post, or pushed to bold extremes of contrast. This week, we’re looking at award-winning monochrome work, the emotional weight of documenting conflict, and practical tools to keep your own skills growing.
Step into the challenge of shooting in black and white from the start, and how it compares to converting after the fact. TAKE A LOOK →
30 award-winning black and white photographs show that color isn’t required for impact—whether it’s a quiet portrait, a bold landscape, or a passing street scene. TAKE A LOOK →
Build your skills with a collection of cheat sheets, exercises, and ideas designed to keep your photography sharp and inspired. TAKE A LOOK →
High-contrast black and white turns light and shadow into the main characters, adding drama and texture that pull the viewer in. TAKE A LOOK →
Ukrainian photographer Maxim Dondyuk documents the war in his homeland with raw, personal images—preserving moments of conflict and loss that go beyond the headlines. TAKE A LOOK →
"Every photograph is like a composer’s score and the print the performance." — Ansel Adams
Tomorrow: Flattering portrait poses with a simple shoulder trick.
— Jeff