Black and white was the first type of photograph to be taken and remains a favorite to this day. Removing color tends to reduce distraction, allowing the subject and artistry to stand out even more. Photographers and photography clients alike love this simple, classic type of picture.

However, many otherwise capable photographers find that while some black and white photographs pop, others fall short. Here are a few rules for making sure that all of your black and white pictures are as stunning as can be.

Tell a story.

There is a reason black and white photography is often used in photojournalism and other storytelling media. With color removed, people can see the emotion and untold story more clearly. If you are trying to communicate, leaving out the color can actually add something to your narrative, removing elements that detract from the storyline.

Concentrate on shape, pattern, and lines.

This is the most important rule of black and white photography: without color to distract the eye, the ‘bones’ of the photograph must be as perfect as possible. This can be a good or bad thing depending on your eye and your level of skill. You have become not just the portrayer of a moment, but the architect of one. In fact, many aspiring photographers use black and white to hone their ability to evaluate lines, shapes, and other basic elements of a photograph.

Work with light.

No form of photograph will respond to subtle changes in light and shadowing so much as a black and white one. It is the perfect way to capture a beam of light coming through a narrow knot-hole in a fence or the dense shadows in an alley. Light creates mood, and this mood becomes exponentially more powerful when color is no longer there to distract your eye from the contrast.

Avoid subjects that are dependent on color.

There are certain subjects that need color in order to seem complete, such as sunsets, birds, and rainbows. Taking these photos effectively without the color that defines them can be disastrous and is best left to the very bold and highly experienced.

Emphasize seriousness and refinement.

This is the reason that black and white remains a favorite for both art photography and wedding photography: it gives a classic, timeless feeling that color simply cannot match. Even the most garish or lighthearted subject becomes a little serious when the color is removed. Play around with some of your favorite photos and see how they are transformed when the color is removed.

Mitigate poor color or light.

Sometimes an overcast day seems to ruin a gorgeous outdoor picture until it is colored in black and white. The lack of color makes the background disappear, while the lines of the subject are subtly emphasized. The same effect applies to human subjects; blemishes and other imperfections stand out in color but seem to disappear without it. If you have a photograph that was ruined by poor light, try it without color to see if the bare bones hold up.

Create negative space.

Negative space is rarely completely negative when you are photographing color. There is always a gradient or distraction, however subtle it may be. Black and white, on the other hand, makes dark backgrounds and sometimes even very light ones simply disappear. Backlighting suddenly can create interesting and unusual negative space. Negative space in the absence of color can add a whole new dimension to any photograph.

Get abstract.

Color adds a three dimensional feeling to a very two dimensional art. Using black and white allows photographers to reduce depth and give an abstract, otherworldly mood to their end product. If you are interested in creating more modern photography, experiment with black and white to see how removing a dimension can add whole new worlds.

Emphasize select elements with pops of color.

Black and white photography doesn’t have to be completely free of colorful flourish. A lack of color in the background can help you emphasize key parts of a photo with the help of photo paints. To bring out a particular feature, shoot it in black and white and then selectively color just one element. This can be especially beautiful in portraits and in photographs of children.

Break the rules.

All photographers can tell you that the best natural light occurs either early or late in the day, when the sun is low and filtered to a soft glow. However, this rule does not always apply when it comes to black and white photographs. Because light and dark are so thoroughly emphasized in this media, using high, harsh sunlight or very little light at all can bring out facets of your subject that would never be noticeable in natural settings. This isn’t the only rule that can be tossed when color is no longer an issue; play around with the medium and see how effective of a rule-breaker you can be.

Practice.

As with all forms of art, learning to photograph in black and white requires patience. You must train your eye to recognize the elements of a great color-free picture and learn to evaluate situations in a way that ignores their natural hues. The only way to develop these skills is to take many, many black and white pictures, patiently sorting through the duds for the few stars. We all learn best from our mistakes, so get out there and make a few.

You’ll notice that few of these rules focus on camera techniques, angles, and settings. This is because a black and white photograph is inherently more unique, more forgiving, and more demanding at the same time than any other type of photography. There are few rules here, and the ones that do exist can be effectively broken with great results. Black and white photography offers an invaluable chance to develop and evaluate your own personal photography style, so don’t be afraid to see the world in black and white every once in a while.