Black & White Wildlife Photography Challenge

Objective:

Train your eye to see beyond colour and focus on light, contrast, texture, and composition to create more powerful images.

📸 Challenge Breakdown

Step 1: Set Your Camera to Monochrome Mode (Optional but Recommended)

If your camera has a monochrome or black & white preview mode, turn it on.
If not, shoot in RAW so you can convert the images later.
This helps you visualise how the final image will look without colour.

Step 2: Focus on Light & Contrast

✔ Find strong light and shadow interactions (e.g., early morning or late afternoon).

✔ Experiment with backlighting, side lighting, or dramatic shadows.

✔ Look for high contrast scenes where the subject stands out.

🔹 Exercise: Shoot the same subject in different lighting conditions and compare which one works best in B&W.

Step 3: Capture Texture & Detail

✔ Zoom in on fur, feathers, skin, or tree bark—anything with an interesting texture.

✔ Use side lighting to enhance textures and bring out intricate details.

✔ Try macro or close-up shots to emphasise fine details if you like.

🔹 Exercise: Take three close-up shots of different subjects focusing on textures. Insects, birds, the neighbours dog ... whatever you have nearby! I'm always photographing my 2 'regulars' who make easy practice subjects from my back patio.

Step 4: Strengthen Your Composition

✔ Pay attention to lines, shapes, and patterns instead of colour.

✔ Use techniques like leading lines, symmetry, and framing to guide the viewer’s eye.

✔ Experiment with negative space for a minimalist and artistic effect.

🔹 Exercise: Capture a wildlife subject using leading lines or symmetry.

Are you on the path to improve your photography? Me too! I'm documenting my journey towards creating high level bird and wildlife photography. I invite you to join my newsletter for latest news and notification of new videos and blogs. I only send one email per month or so. Fear not, I'm too busy looking for birds to spam you 😂

Step 5: Capturing Emotion & Storytelling

✔ Look for expressive gestures, interactions, or dramatic moments.

✔ Focus on eye contact, posture, or movement to tell a compelling story.

✔ Consider how black and white enhances the mood and emotion of the scene.

🔹 Exercise: Take one image that conveys emotion.

Final Step: Review & Edit

Convert your best shots to black and white in post-processing (if shot in RAW).
Adjust contrast, highlights, and shadows to enhance depth.

Bonus Challenge: Share & Reflect (and share with me!)

🔹 Choose your top 3 B&W wildlife shots and ask yourself:

✅ Does the image still work without colour?

✅ What elements stand out most?

✅ What did I learn from this process?

I would love to see your final 3 images! Tag @flyingparrotphotography on Facebook or Instagram or say hello and send via email : flyingparrot@bigpond.com