Here is the latest edition of me exploring value and composition through black and white photography. I love how it brings out textures, emphasizes patterns of light, and accentuates shape relationships. It helps us look closer at something. Color is fabulous and so appreciated by me, but when you remove it you see things differently, sometimes more clearly.

These value relationships also underpin what makes color so pleasing, so it is highly useful to understand what makes a compelling black and white, in order to utilize color and composition well. When I paint in color, one of the things I do it take a photo of my work, and then on my phone, desaturate the color out of it, to make sure the image is still compelling without the color. If not, it makes it clear what needs revising. As we artists like to say, “Value does the work but color gets the credit.” This is why I have a practice of taking photographs in black and white.

I recommend collecting your own repertoire of black and white photograph, to sharpen your awareness as well.