Photography lesson · 6 min
Should I shoot RAW or use black-and-white mode in camera?
Use a monochrome preview to see more clearly while preserving the color information needed for a flexible edit.
For a flexible digital workflow, I shoot RAW and use the camera’s monochrome preview when it helps me see. The preview removes the distraction of color in the moment, while the RAW file keeps the underlying color information I may need to separate skin, sky, foliage, clothing, or painted surfaces later.
What I’m looking for
In the field.
- Set the camera to record RAW, or RAW plus JPEG if you also want the camera’s finished monochrome preview as a reference.
- Choose a simple monochrome picture style for the screen or viewfinder. Avoid an extreme look while you are still learning to judge light.
- Expose for the important highlights and watch the histogram or warning display without treating either as a substitute for the scene.
- In the editor, begin from the RAW file and compare a neutral conversion with the camera JPEG if you recorded one.
- Use the preserved color response to separate tones, then decide whether the camera preview captured an intention worth carrying into the final edit.
Keep this close
What makes it work.
- RAW file
- Retains substantially more capture information and editing latitude than a finished camera JPEG.
- Monochrome preview
- A seeing aid that shows a black-and-white interpretation on the camera while a RAW file can retain color data.
- RAW + JPEG
- Useful when you want both a flexible source and an immediate camera-made reference.
At your own pace
Try it.
Photograph one scene in RAW + JPEG with a monochrome preview. Edit the RAW from scratch before looking closely at the JPEG, then compare the two decisions.
Watch for
Do not underexpose every frame out of fear. Protect meaningful highlights, but remember that unnecessary underexposure can make shadow noise harder to manage.
Photography lesson and photograph by Tony Shepherd (pixbyshep).