A guide to high-contrast photography.

What is high contrast photography?

High-contrast photography showcases tonal contrast, or how dark and light elements in an image interact to draw the eye. Like in feng shui, high-contrast shots need all the elements to be in balance and harmony.

“It’s the dramatic yet delicate dance between rich, velvety blacks and pure, clean whites, and every tone in between,” says photographer Trevor Traynor.

The range of tones in any image can create a sense of visual unity and intrigue in your work. “There’s high contrast, or contrast in general, in almost all aspects of photography. Maybe it’s a big place with a small person, maybe it’s in complementary colors,” says photographer Andrew Kearns.

High-contrast photography 101.

Seek out the right locations and lighting.

The lighting in different locations (or lack thereof) will help you achieve higher contrast in your shots. Outdoors you’ll have more natural light sources — but less control over that light. In the studio, you’ll have more control, but that requires you to work to create contrast instead of finding it.

“If you’re shooting in an environment inside or outside, you’re sculpting the light,” says Traynor. “It can be found or created.”

For outside shots, go on bright, sunny days when harsh light is prevalent. This lighting casts a stronger shadow, and thus adds more contrast. See how shaded areas play with direct sunlight and find places where those levels of lighting come together. Scout locations that may also help your conceptual contrast needs, like a lush, green forest that frames a single dead tree.

For indoor shots, you can create the contrast you’re looking for with lighting equipment and the right positioning. Trying lighting a subject just from one side. Use a single light source directly above or below your subject.

Plan your shots.

Before you begin shooting, visualize where the contrast will appear in your picture. You can adjust once you start shooting, but an idea, visual concept, or goal you’re aiming for will help you get more out of your shots.

In the studio, you’ll have a controlled set that allows you to manipulate your subjects or props without the worry of external interference. Maximize the contrast in your image by arranging them beforehand in a way that highlights and strengthens their unique connection.

Adapt the plan.

While direct sunlight produces higher contrast, experiment with light as it changes throughout the day. As the sun moves across the sky, see how shifting shadows change the type of contrast you can capture. Leverage the range of tones they add to your shots during your photo session.

Experiment with exposure.

Take multiple shots of the same scene or subject with different exposure levels to see variations with low, medium, and high contrast. Adjust ISO to raise the light sensitivity of shots to amplify contrast. Shooting in manual mode will help you more intimately learn your camera settings and how to produce better high-contrast results. “Once you dial in your settings, you have complete control over the light to get those high-contrast looks straight in-camera,” says Kearns.

Shooting slightly underexposed can help you in the editing booth. Doing so will help retain the quality of the dark backgrounds and bright spots of your original when it’s time for post-processing. “If I see something with beautiful hard light shining through, I might bring down the exposure to pop up the contrast, which brings that dramatic view I’m seeing to life,” says Traynor.