Traditional film
To choose from the full range of films for
black-and-white, it is necessary to visit a good camera
store, either locally or online. Chances are there isn’t
even one roll of black-and-white film, much less a decent
selection, at your local drugstore or big discount store.
This is where the specialty store shines.
When you find a good
store, you’ll find a variety of great black-and-white film
in various speeds. The number that accompanies each film is
its ISO or speed. The higher the number, the “faster” the
film – meaning it is more sensitive to light. For most
users, we recommend using a 400-speed film; and for
low-light situations, we suggest trying one of the 1600 or
3200-speed emulsions.
There are other film
stocks to consider, such as Kodak BW400CN. It’s a 400-speed,
black-and-white film that can be processed in conventional
color negative chemistry, a process technically known as
C-41.
While we’ve discussed
only traditional film-based materials, keep in mind any
color photo can be converted to a black-and-white image on a
computer. Several digital cameras on the market also allow
users to capture images as black-and-white. How’s that for a
comeback?
Part one of a
two-part series, provided by Bernhard J. Suess
for the New York Institute of Photography (www.nyip.com). |