Blondes do have more fun… in black & white
This article is written by a member of our expert community. It expresses that member’s views only. We welcome other perspectives. Here’s how to contribute to MM EDU.
Actually, the title should probably read, “You’ll have more fun with blondes in B&W.”
But whatever.
For the record, I’m a sucker for brunettes, but blondes photograph fantastically in B&W, especially if they have highlights, for the following reasons:
- Light color hair provides great fill on the darker portions of the face = more even exposure.
- Blonde hair (particularly with highlights) photographs with natural contrast.
See the following examples:
versus…
See how the highlights pop?
Save a kitten; shoot a blonde. 🙂
If you’re interested, you can learn more about B&W photography and other key techniques at one of my group workshops.
LUCIMA
Charles Lucima is a photographer/retoucher based in Los Angeles specializing in fashion, editorial, and beauty. His clients include designers, apparel brands, and modeling agencies around the world. http://www.lucima.com/
Follow Me:
September 30, 2011 at 8:34 pm, Tigran said:
If you view the hair as part of the composition of an image it is easier to describe the effect of blonde hair vs black hair.
Black hair tends to become a very strong compositional element, and when it’s not used correctly it may take attention away from your subject. However, it can be arranged to really add an exciting dynamic to your image.
Not much else should be said about this topic because there are so many things you can do with hair to create a beautiful photo, the color of it is just another tool.
I also recommend looking at some of the best photographers work for examples instead of regular shots.
http://www.google.com/search?gcx=c&ix=c2&q=demarchelier&um=1&ie=UTF-8&hl=en&tbm=isch&source=og&sa=N&tab=wi&biw=1767&bih=1036#q=demarchelier&um=1&hl=en&tbm=isch&source=lnt&tbs=ic:specific,isc:gray&sa=X&ei=PSSGTve7EZTViAKRybW0DA&ved=0CB0QpwU&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.,cf.osb&fp=8ecd50540c0d6b28&biw=1767&bih=1036
http://www.google.com/search?gcx=c&ix=c2&q=demarchelier&um=1&ie=UTF-8&hl=en&tbm=isch&source=og&sa=N&tab=wi&biw=1767&bih=1036#um=1&hl=en&tbs=ic:specific%2Cisc%3Agray&tbm=isch&sa=1&q=peter+lindbergh&pbx=1&oq=peter+lindbergh&aq=f&aqi=&aql=&gs_sm=e&gs_upl=20653l20653l6l21020l1l1l0l0l0l0l0l0ll0l0&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.,cf.osb&fp=8bcc20eb097b5695&biw=1767&bih=1036
http://www.google.com/search?gcx=c&ix=c2&q=demarchelier&um=1&ie=UTF-8&hl=en&tbm=isch&source=og&sa=N&tab=wi&biw=1767&bih=1036#um=1&hl=en&tbs=ic:specific%2Cisc%3Agray&tbm=isch&sa=1&q=helmut+newton&pbx=1&oq=helmut+newton&aq=f&aqi=g10&aql=&gs_sm=e&gs_upl=24905l26641l8l26756l13l11l0l4l4l0l260l1331l0.3.4l7l0&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.,cf.osb&fp=8bcc20eb097b5695&biw=1767&bih=1036
September 30, 2011 at 5:35 am, Anonymous said:
Great observation Charles, thanks for the tip. Love your work btw, even with brunettes!
September 30, 2011 at 2:35 am, Tiffany Katz said:
Hmmm…at first, looking at the difference in contrast in these two images I thought your thesis was misleading. However, looking objectively I can see that even if you increased the contrast on the second image; the shadow areas in her hair would still be lacking the detail. Great observation and thanks for sharing this!
September 29, 2011 at 8:04 pm, MEMAMEMO MEMAMEMO said:
I don’t know why some are taking this post personally. It’s good information. In black and white photography the recorded tonal range of darker objects is usually less than the tonal range of light objects. All objects can photograph beautifully, however black objects can record as gray and black, while lighter objects can record as white, gray and black, and thus produce a greater tonal range, greater contrast, and consequently be in greater harmony with elements of the image, which is usually considered aesthetically pleasing. It’s like a voice, some voices have a greater tonal range and can hit more notes.
See how the blond hair is in harmony both with the whites of the skin tones and with the blacks of the shadows http://photo.net/photodb/photo?photo_id=10140541
See how the light sheet is in harmony with both the whites of the skin and with the blacks of the shadows, while the darker hair is in harmony with the grays and blacks only and has muted impact. http://photo.net/photodb/photo?photo_id=6152140
Darker hair can photograph beautifully, when additional lights are used to create the bright areas or when the photographer is looking for a muted, monotone or soft contrast, played down look.
Here is an example how a beautiful vibrant red rose appears black and dead in a black and white photo – http://photo.net/photodb/photo?photo_id=13836875. It doesn’t mean the rose is not beautiful. It’s just hard to make a dark object appear vibrant in a black and white photo.
September 30, 2011 at 2:41 am, Tiffany Katz said:
Thank you for taking the time to elaborate on this. I’m a photography student with a couple of years prior experience under my belt but, this was enlightening.
September 30, 2011 at 6:28 pm, Sonya Grace said:
http://data.whicdn.com/images/13386004/actress-beautiful-brunette-clothes-drink-Favim.com-121935_thumb.jpg
There’s way more impact here than any of these alleged color schemas that have more of a tonal range. I rest my case.
September 29, 2011 at 12:28 pm, Borje Ensgard said:
How about reds? 🙂
September 29, 2011 at 8:36 am, Chris Zupo said:
Why not just have an actual side by side? Same editing, same lighting, same everything in one picture. Wouldn’t that make more sense if you want to compare one to the other instead of using two completely different images?
http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6086/6151307593_01250ae064_b.jpg
September 28, 2011 at 11:16 pm, Ethen Norton said:
Lucima is bad ass and right about these article. Blondes do photograph better in black and white. Don’t make a big deal about nothing.
September 28, 2011 at 10:07 pm, Rebecca Lawrence said:
Lucima, I love your work but actually prefer the brunette photograph here. I like how the same monochrome tones in her eyes are reinforced by her hair.
September 28, 2011 at 8:20 pm, ModelAfinity said:
The 2nd picture in this article has the contrast is edited down for the purpose of this discussion. Here are different examples from my port. Of the same girl (me), one with blond hair, one with dark ->
http://www.modelmayhem.com/portfolio/pic/1143017#1143017 18+ NSF
http://www.modelmayhem.com/portfolio/pic/674355#674355 18+ NSF
Both are equally hot with the right exposure and contrast.
September 28, 2011 at 5:57 pm, Steven Bagley said:
Charles, those are great examples..Thanks for sharing
Steven Bagley
September 28, 2011 at 12:16 am, CAT Productions said:
Thank you, Charles! 🙂
September 27, 2011 at 10:31 pm, Brooks Ayola said:
Wait.. Is this the educational section, or the editorial section?
September 28, 2011 at 3:38 pm, Sonya Grace said:
More like the blondes pushing blondes section.
September 27, 2011 at 10:28 pm, Acq said:
I can’t tell which one is blonde and which one is brunette since I can’t keep my eyes off the torso of the girl on the botton…
September 27, 2011 at 7:28 pm, Sonya Grace said:
Actually, the photos have been retouched differently. The one featuring the brunette is very foggy as opposed to the one with the blonde. Although, I do think blondes look great in black and white, I’m going to have to disagree with you. I think they have so much more to offer in color. Dark haired girls with alibaster skin and wide set dough eyes look way better in black and white. In color, they may appear a bit more “Morticia Addams”, however, in black and white–they are stunning and far more captivating. The blonde would need heavy eye make up to exude any form of ‘impact’, in said photo. This is just my opinion. 🙂
September 27, 2011 at 7:59 pm, Colten Audivaré said:
The most probable reason the photo of the brunette seems more “foggy” is because he lifted the dark’s a bit more to compensate for her dark hair. The overall image retains the same highlight values as the blonde.
I agree with Charles, black and whites are all about contrast and blonde hair can contrast more.
September 28, 2011 at 3:37 pm, Sonya Grace said:
Colten Dear…it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to see that the photo of the brunette’s midtones and lightness have been heightened and the contrast has been lowered. I can take that photo of the blonde and run it through photoshop with the same settings I stated above and produce the same poor image.
October 07, 2011 at 1:38 am, CP_ said:
Charles is talking about contrast and pop in the hair. The retouching has nothing to do with it.
September 28, 2011 at 2:26 pm, Alina Yakubova said:
I agree, this is not an apples to apples comparison. More like apples to mangoes. Too many differences in the final result to attribute them to just blonde vs. brunette deal.