10 Things You May Not Know About Black and White Photography

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I’ve been shooting black and white film more and more recently. Here are some of the things I’ve learned since shooting in black and white.

One: Black and white photography is cheap. Black and white (B&W) film is cheaper than color. You can often find it in reduced prices.

Two: Developing B&W film in a lab usually costs a bit more than C-41 color. However, it’s easy to develop B&W film yourself at home. The cost for developing a roll yourself works out at about £1 (USD 1.50 / EUR 1.20) a roll.

Three: If you decide to develop your own B&W film you can keep the developing fluid after use and reclaim the silver which is left over from the developing process. You’ll have to do lots of developing to get any significant quantities of silver, though!

Four: Developing your own B&W film requires the following equipment: changing bag, bottle opening, scissors, developing tank and reel, developing fluid, stop bath, fixer, water.

Five: It doesn’t really matter if it’s an overcast day when shooting B&W. Clouds are white, so is your film.

Six: Printing B&W film is also pretty easy. It’s a great feeling being in charge of the whole photographic process from shooting and developing through to printing.

Seven: It’s possible to use different colour filters (yellow, orange, and red) to change the tones of the photo. Using filters darken the sky and make clouds look more defined.

Eight: Because B&W film is cheaper to buy and develop it’s a lot more affordable to try new techniques and experiment.

Nine: B&W film takes great portraits.

Ten: Black and White film rocks!

This article was written by Community member bsmart.

written by bsmart on 2012-05-07 #gear #tutorials #film #black-and-white #monochrome #portrait #white #tips #self #black #filter #tipster #cheap #10 #b-w #lomography #print #develop #ten #cost #requested-post

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24 Comments

hxloon · 2012-05-07 20:10
All hail to B&W
lakandula · 2012-05-08 01:19
Great tribute to the black and white film! Easy read with lots of awesome shots.
roby · 2012-05-08 10:58
great article :-)
roby · 2012-05-08 10:59
oh, and very nice photos! :-)
slumbrnghok · 2012-05-08 12:48
Awesome article :)
chib3h · 2012-05-08 13:27
Too bad black & developing prices and film prices are expensive here... :(
dreadlockboy · 2012-05-09 07:08
yes...i love BW :)
chilledvondub · 2012-05-09 16:24
you failed to mention B&W chemicals stink though :P especially Ilfostop its like mouldy vinegar
medeaviii · 2012-05-10 07:08
what camera was used for these photos? they are very clear and your focus is amazing,...
the tunnel photo is my favorite
bsmart · 2012-05-10 13:47
All sorts of cameras. The tunnel was taken with a Trip 35. The first and 3rd was a bronica etrs. The second and a few others were with a Pentax me. There's a pinhole shot in there and a holga shot too.
annetsueshalle · 2012-05-11 20:53
i just got my first roll of BW photos! www.lomography.com/homes/annetsueshalle/albums/1842201-we-a…
134340 · 2012-05-12 04:28
great!!
brandkow93 · 2012-05-12 18:19
great article, i have been saving up my saturated fixer, and im going to borrow equipment for my college and leech out the silver. what camera did you use for the photos?
jeffr · 2012-05-13 15:13
really great article! i hope to develop my own b&w film soon
freckleface · 2012-05-13 15:43
b&w developing truly is the best! Now I just have to figure out the best way to get my prints on here... lol.
bsmart · 2012-05-13 16:32
@freckleface Just scan then and post them up. That's what I've done: www.lomography.com/homes/bsmart/albums/1814962-darkroom-pri…
adash · 2012-05-14 07:46
£1 (USD 1.50 / EUR 1.20) a roll? What are you using, man? A 500ml bottle of Rodinal will last 100 films and will keep for years, and a kilo of thiosulphate is $5 at your local chemistry supplier. That translates to less than 20p per roll, developed, fixed, dried and ready for scanning.
BTW, silver stays in the fixer and not in the developer. Well, some may stay in it too, depending on the formula, but generally fixing really removes all undeveloped silver from the emulsion.
adash · 2012-05-14 09:29
I would however like to know how you keep your negatives so clean. Is it the tap water, or is it the air in my bathroom, but it always has specks and tiny fibers.
alix-mansell · 2012-05-17 08:35
Two days ago I ordered 9 rolls of Earl Grey. Yesterday I discovered you cannot use C41 on it. Will someone please tell me what I need to buy (on a budget)? Thanks!
bsmart · 2012-06-07 21:17
@alix-mansell Have you managed to develop your film already?
alix-mansell · 2012-06-09 10:56
@bsmart No, not yet but I plan to speak to someone when I have a few rolls under my belt! This is what I'm considering: www.thedarkroom.co.uk/traditional/black-and-white/chemicals… - Just down the road from me :)
bsmart · 2012-06-09 10:59
@alix-mansell You'll also need a changing bag, developing tank, thermometer. You should be able to pick these up pretty cheap on ebay. It looks quite daunting - but is actually pretty easy.
alix-mansell · 2012-06-09 11:09
Thanks @bsmart I have those for C-41, now I just need to upgrade to B&W
she_likes_hair_bands · 2015-11-22 05:33
Never get tired of B&W people photos!