I’m going to put this out there – I’ve got a little bit of a problem. It’s a black and white problem. I’ve tried the matte look. I’ve tried all sorts of mid-tones in my greys. I’ve tried all sorts of presets, layers, and rumored “one-click-wonders.” I keep on coming back, though. I come right on back, every time, to a good, solid, contrasty black and white.

It started out as some preset (I’m pretty sure…), but I’ve done so much tweaking and pinching at it, that now it’s my very favorite, my absolute go-to for black and whites. I just can’t help it. I love when the blacks are so dark, the whites are crisp and brilliant, and those middle tones are pushing toward the edges. I absolutely love it.

What does it say about me? I know that my Myers-Briggs has a really strong (a little bit scary-robot-strong) “judging” component, so maybe I see my black and whites in just this way – either this or that, little room for wishy-washyness in between. Maybe I just prefer that strong, determined “here’s the subject” clarity in my black and whites. I’m sure there’s some amazing analytical wizardry that can be read into it all. What I know, though, is that I really do love them this way.

So, how do you flavor your black and whites? If you’re a film kid, I’m sure there’s a stock that you prefer – what makes it your favorite? Is there a go-to filter on your phone or in your post-processing workflow? What kind of black and white makes your heart do that extra little skip?

Alison