by Editor Miro Susta 
Edited and published by Yvette Depaepe, the 22 of May 2026

Landscape photography lends itself well to conversion to black and white. Monochrome landscapes often evoke the creative experimentation of early photographers with the medium, whose photos exude a timeless and evocative aesthetic.
 

‘C Scape’ by DM Weber

Those who pay close attention to the world of photography may have noticed that black-and-white images remain an indispensable part of the art form.

‘Morning ride’ by Peter Svoboda MQEP

So, what exactly accounts for the appeal, touching quality and persuasive power of black-and-white images? When colours are absent, viewers are automatically compelled to look beyond the obvious and notice the atmosphere surrounding a photograph.

‘The Art of Frozen Time’ by Yvette Depaepe

The black-and-white technique has always held particular significance in the field of artistic photography.
This can be summed up in the statement: 'Colour is documentation; black-and-white is art' — a phrase attributed to photographer Ted Grant — which encapsulates a profound debate within photography and the visual arts. However, this is by no means an absolute rule, but rather an aesthetic approach.

‘Hunter in the fog BW’ by Vito Guarino

The advent of digital photography finally made it possible to edit colour images on a computer using the same techniques as those employed in the darkroom for black-and-white photography. This sparked a massive boom in colour photography, causing black-and-white images to fade from public view.

‘The Shape of Silence’ by Lucie Gagnon

Digital technology has now reached an impressive level of sophistication, with many active photographers returning to black-and-white photography in digital form. Others continue to work in the darkroom. Classic black-and-white photography genres include landscapes, architecture, people, street scenes and portraits.

‘Under High Mountains (soft)’ by Þorsteinn H. Ingibergsson

The landscape photographs selected for this article captivate the viewer’s gaze and evoke a particular mood through the unique lighting conditions combined with the featured structures.

The key elements and beauty of black-and-white landscapes

Emphasising contrast and light:
Without colour, the interplay of light and shadow is more pronounced. Photos are often taken in harsh side lighting, during stormy weather or in fog, lending the landscape a dramatic feel.

Structure and texture:
Black and white highlights the textures of rocks, tree bark, water surfaces and snow.

Minimalism:
Removing colour enables you to simplify the composition and focus on clean shapes, such as mountain silhouettes, rows of trees or rolling hills.

Atmosphere: Black and white is excellent at capturing mood, whether that be a melancholic winter landscape, mysterious forests or dramatic coastlines.

‘Sculpted by Time’ by Catherine Wang

‘Bardenas Reales’ by Jaume Estrada Martras

‘Dream vacation’ by Hadi Malijani (Malenjani)

‘Alpine Landscape’ by Daniel Řeřicha

‘Canadian Rockies 3’ by Patrick Ems

Popular subjects and locations in landscape photography

Alpine landscapes:
Rocks, snow, and ice, where the contrast is naturally high.

Winter scenes:
Pure white snow combined with dark trees or rocks.

Foggy mornings:
A landscape shrouded in fog creates soft shades of grey and a sense of depth.

Dramatic coastlines and water:
Rocky cliffs, long exposures of the stormy sea, piers, and lighthouses that create strong contrasts between dark water, reflections and a bright sky.

Minimalist scenes:
Solitary trees or calm water surfaces that emphasize composition and space.

Cultural and rural landscapes:
Fields, tree-lined avenues, old roads, and rural buildings that offer a lyrical and historical context.

‘Glacier and the mountainside’ by Miro Susta

‘The long way’ by Fabiola Amidei

‘Standing Strong’ by Tse Luk

‘Baldeneysee’ by Nina Papiorek

‘The loneliness of a cross-country skier’ by Marei

‘Yellow Mountain of China’ by Chong Q. Wu

‘.....mist in the morning.....’ by Johanes Januar

‘Morning at Ra Gusela’ by Lubos Balazovic

‘Tree and Bench’ by John Garofalo

‘Consuegra’ by Jaume Estrada Martras

Black-and-white landscape photography transforms reality into an artistic impression, capturing the essence of the scene. Black-and-white photography can be used to achieve particularly dramatic effects and interesting contrasts in landscapes. Without colour, cloud formations, mountains and trees often appear more striking and mysterious.

‘Countryside mood’ by Miro Susta

‘Tunnel View – Yosemite’ by Wanghan Li

‘Framed’ II by Minja Jovetic

Untitled by Val dOrcia photography

‘A Path of Light’ by Leah Xu

‘The Calm Lima Strait of Antarctic’ by Raymond Ren Rong Liu

Following selected inspiring quotes about black-and-white photography from great photographers.

“To see in color is a delight for the eye, but to see in black and white is a delight for the soul.”
~Andri Cauldwell~

“I believe that the essence of photography is black-and-white. Color is merely a deviation.”
~Ruth Bernhard~

 “Black-and-white photography has the potential to make every photographer a better photographer.”
~Rob Sheppard~

“Black-and-white create a strange dreamscape that color never can”
~Jack Antonoff~

“Seeing in color is a delight for the eye, but seeing in black-and-white is a delight for the soul” 
~Andri Cauldwell~

“A great photograph is one that fully expresses what one feels, in the deepest sense, about what is being photographed.” 
~Ansel Adams~ 

“When you photograph people in color, you photograph their clothes. When you photograph them in black-and-white, you photograph their souls.” ~Ted Grant~

‘Namibia’ by MIN LI

‘Sea Oats’ by David W Sussman

If you have never tried taking photographs in monochrome before, I would encourage you to give it a go. It sharpens your vision, teaches you to perceive light differently and enables you to connect with your subject on a deeper level.

‘Fortress of Time’ by Viktor Patoka

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