Challenge Your Creativity
Rediscover the World of Black & White Photography

Alfred Hitchcock was a master of the black & white medium. He understood the value, mystique, and intrigue that dark shadows projected to the viewers of his motion picture films. Hitchcock commented, with respect to his black & white films, "Suspense is like a woman; the more left to the imagination, the more the excitement." Suspense in photography is created by the interplay of light and shadows; the more that's left to the imagination, the more excitement the viewer feels. When it comes to the expression of light and shadow, black & white photography is king!

Black & white photography is about shape, form, and texture; but, even more than that, it's about the play of shadows and how they capture one's attention. It's all about reducing a subject down to its basic characteristics and structure. It focuses attention to the thing itself that's being photographed by eliminating a rainbow of distracting colors. You can't forcibly express concepts like poverty, depression, loneliness, and fear—even mystery—through color images. Color masks emotions; black & white images emphasize them.

To be a successful black & white photographer, you must have a reason for shooting black & white images. Any subject or scene that can be shot in color can be shot in black & white; however, color subjects do not require a reason to be photographed. A photo of a zebra is a good reason for shooting the subject in black & white; an abandoned house in a dark forest at dusk is a good reason for shooting in black & white (this photo is among the eight images showcased at the top of this web page); as is the study of forms, textures, shapes, and the mystique and intrigue that dark shadows project in a scene. Some genres of photography, like street photography and documentary photography, are better photographed in the black & white medium. Thus, the key to creating outstanding black & white images is to have a reason for shooting in black & white that cannot be satisfied through the use of color.

Is fine art black & white photography for you? See the special invitation at the bottom of this web page that gives you the opportunity to decide. Who knows? You just might be the next Ansel Adams or Annie Leibovitz!

Fine Art Printmaking
Black & white photography is and continues to be the artist's gold standard for fine art printmaking. Shooting black & white images and obtaining rich black & white tones with distinct separations of gray is truly an art in itself. Most photographers know that shooting perfectly exposed black & white images and obtaining rich black saturation and high-contrast dynamic range, while preserving aesthetically pleasing "bokeh" (a soft or "creamy" background with smooth circles of light and no hard edges) and distinct details in highlights and dark shadows in photographs, is more challenging than shooting color images.

Certified Black & White Photo Artist
As a Certified B&W Photo Artist, Robert Devere, Director of the Robert Devere School of Photography, not only specializes in bringing the black & white medium back into the public limelight, but back into vogue within the photography community, too. (Click the tab on the menu bar at the top of this web page labeled Robert Devere to read his biographical sketch). Many amateur photographers have asked Robert why he shoots only black & white images—and because it's a good question—he has provided a detailed answer on this website. Click the tab on the menu bar at the top of this web page labeled Shooting Black & White Images to read his answer. Hopefully, you will appreciate his response and it will generate enough excitement in you to want to explore the beauty, intrigue, and mystery found in black & white photographs.

What Is a Black & White Photo Artist?
A black & white photo artist is a fine art photographer who specializes in the black & white medium and advocates for the preservation of black & white photography in both the public domain and the visual arts community. Photo artists actively encourage and support the marketing and distribution of new and advanced digital cameras and associated digital technologies to camera manufacturers. They are also active in the preservation of printed black & white heritage photographs (paper-based prints) created from digital files. It is the image itself, and not just the means by which it was created, that is preserved for the purpose of posterity. Photo artists also actively participate in the practice of restoring the appearance of physical photographs that have been damaged by natural, manmade, or environmental causes or simply affected by age or neglect, sometimes using digital means to protect film images.

An Invitation and a FREE Lesson
The staff at the Robert Devere School of Photography invites you to view this website to learn more about our passion for fine art black & white photography. We also invite you to explore our online B&W Photo Workshop created by professional photographers, art directors, photo editors, and art critics with many years of progressive experience, specifically for those who share our enthusiasm for the black & white medium. Before you can enroll in the workshop, you must Take a Test Drive to help you determine if fine art black & white photography is for you. The test drive is a free, comprehensive, introductory presentation to black & white fine art photography. If, after completing the test drive, you decide black & white photography may indeed peak your interest, you can even take the first workshop lesson presentation titled An Introduction to Black & White Printmaking for free, too! Now that's a great invitation! If you love black & white photography as much as we do, feel free to send us a line or two via email and introduce yourself. We are always eager to meet fellow aficionados of black & white photography.

Black and White IQ Quiz
Think you know a lot about black & white photography? Take a fun B&W IQ Quiz. You may be surprised by what you don’t know. Click Here to test your knowledge.