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Do You Really Need a Monochrome Camera for Great B&W? (2 Lightroom Edits)

Walk Like Alice

13,850 views

Before you buy that Leica Monochrom camera, take a look at this video. I'll discuss why you don't need a black-and-white camera to get fantastic monochrome photographs. Through two Lightroom edits, I'll show you why a colour camera could be all you ever need.

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🎞️ SILVERCHROME

Every black-and-white digital image you’ve seen online — on our websites or in videos — has been edited in Lightroom using our SilverChrome profiles.

If you want to know what they are and how they can improve your b/w editing, check them out at:

https://jeffascough.com/silverchrome

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📷 TUITION

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Chapters:

00:00 ALICE INTRO
00:08 Monochrome vs Colour Cameras for B/W
02:22 Jeff's Colour Image Edit
13:55 Sarah's Monochrom Image Edit

20 Comments

@highwayman1224 1 month ago

I just got a Ricoh GR IV Monochrome yesterday and took it out this morning and played around with it. Really liking using a monochrome sensor camera, had a lot of fun with it today.

@Joanne_Mahlmeister 5 months ago

I love watching these videos, you point out so many small details and processes. While each individual step can be subtle, the overall effect on the final image is very striking.

@kbstabs5982 5 months ago

Another excellent video. I'm always amazed how free and easy you are withe your brush masks, not minding the overlaps onto adjacent areas.

@rogertebb1997 5 months ago

Another great tutorial. Many thanks.

@robertgordon6362 5 months ago

Very well done. Helpful. Thank you.

@itonuoro3813 5 months ago

Very interesting, thank you!

@DI-cm5xc 5 months ago

🎉Thanks Jeff. Always learn something new following your editing. I really like my Zf with the handy BW switch. Best of both worlds for my use.

@etra0516 5 months ago (edited)

Have to say — sincee youtube recommended this channel I've been binge watching a lot of videos. They're interesting, the examples are great and the tutorials amazing. I truly feel my bnw images in particular have improved greatly. Thank you a lot!!

@ChristianLawrence 5 months ago

Great video. The tutorials are really great, always struggled getting the depth and contrast in bnw edits. You have given some great pointers, never thought to use the tone curves with the brash tool. I have set up a profile up on my a7cr so i can see the bnw image whilst shooting, i find this helps loads. Just stumbled on a video where you took Don McCullin out with his first digital camera. Amazing guy and what a life he lead. 😊

@armandoaguirretovar6089 5 months ago

Es impresionante como manejas la visión para una sutil edición. Gracias por tu gran aportación. Saludos desde Monterrey, México.

@lorenschwiderski 5 months ago

Nikon monochrome JPG look great. When using my Z5, it is set up for Monochrome JPG + RAW, so I have both images taken each time. A monochrome + colour image in each snap --- what's not to like? Some say they prefer a preview in B&W, and have it when set to monochrome JPG + RAW for the colour. Sometimes I edit the RAW to monochrome, or just go with the JPG, and spice it up a bit.

@fotojobo 5 months ago

Brushes are the secret weapon in Lightroom

@StarrysLostandFound 5 months ago

I use primarily the Pentax K3 mk III Monochrome and the Ricoh GR IV Monochrome. Love this video and your edits. All the best and keep up the great work ❤.

@davidfearn8635 5 months ago

Excellent video. If it inspires one to get out and actually take some pics (as it does me), then job done. 👍

@SEAKPhotog 5 months ago

Terrific edit of the color image. I appreciate and agree with your thoughts on the upsides to using a color sensor for BW. As tempting as a dedicated BW camera is, the ability to use the color channels as one would use color filters for a BW cam is huge.

@thomps91 5 months ago

My everyday walkaround camera is the Q2Monochrom and initially, I nearly sent it back as I struggled with adjusting my processing sufficiently to get results that I liked. Now, I'm happy with the images (especially in lower light) but still find that a colour file to work from brings much more flexibility.

@emanueletorrisi4173 5 months ago

Molto bene❤

@RonalParme 5 months ago

Excellent tutorial as usual. I am always in awe with how you are able to do so much with the tone curve. I seem to remember a comment in a previous video that you were doing a separate video on using the tone curve. Have you done one or did I miss it?

@chrisduzynski6559 5 months ago

Great tutorial. I’ve been a Capture1 guy for well over 10 years. As I start to play with b/w conversions, I’ll need to emulate your b/w grading process to the CaptureOne workflow. I’m guessing the end results will be similar to LR, with only the path to get to the desired result being somewhat different!

I also recently adapted the x2d100C to my workflow. For that effort it will be a bit convoluted because I first do a base grade using Phocus (primarily on the iPad), processing the raw to a very neutral tif and then finishing the tif grade to b/w in C1Pro. I always process my color x2d files this way with great results. Never processed any of the ‘Blad. raws to b/w, so it should be an exciting adventure. Keep up your fantastic tutorials!

@TheUrbanViewfinder 5 months ago

Exactly ! I just sold a Q2 monochrom for this reason ! I still very much prefer monochrome but shooting on a colour sensor gives me more flexibility. Don't get me wrong if I could've afforded to keep it I would have but I did feel restricted in my editing.