More and more digital shooters are discovering how they can create dramatic, impactful black & white images with a variety of Singh-Ray filters, including the Mor-Slo, Vari-ND, Color Intensifier, Gold-N-Blue Polarizer, ColorCombo Polarizer and Graduated NDs.
Here’s what some pro photographers have said regarding the use of Singh-Ray Filters for black & white photography…
Cole Thompson
Black & White Photography w/ Vari-ND & Mor-Slo
“To create my long exposure images, I use a Singh-Ray Vari-ND filter and stack a second 5–stop or 10-stop Mor-Slo fixed ND filter on top of that. I always use a Vari-ND for long exposures for two important reasons. First, I can open up the Vari-ND for easier composing. At 18 stops, it’s almost impossible to see anything. With the Vari-ND, I can allow more light to enter the viewfinder so I can compose the image and then I stop down for the exposure. The second Vari- ND advantage is that I can use the variable feature of the filter to adjust my exposure instead of using the aperture. This allows me to set my aperture I want to control depth of field.” ~ Cole Thompson
Tony Sweet
Black & White Photography w/ a 15-stop Mor-Slo & Very Long Exposures
“There’s just one word to describe this filter… wow! In harsh daylight with slowly moving clouds, 5 or 10 stops may not be enough to achieve the effect I’m looking for. The 4-minute exposure above was made in late morning on Clingman’s Dome in the Great Smokies. Those who shoot a lot of long-exposures know that 4-minute and 2-minute exposures can look completely different. 15 stops let me shoot at f14 for greater sharpness and still be able to get longer exposure times.” ~ Tony Sweet
Chuck Kimmerle
Black & White Photography w/ a 10-stop Mor-Slo & Neutral (ND) Polarizing Filters
“When capturing a fleeting moment in time, the filters I place between my subject and my camera have to be perfect. Anything less is unacceptable. Singh-Ray filters provide me with the level of exceptional optical quality I demand.” ~ Chuck Kimmerle
Alec Johnson
Black & White Photography w/ the Gold-N-Blue Polarizer
“When color is an important feature of the subject, I shoot in color. But when heavy clouds soften the light and create a nearly monochrome landscape like Bandon Beach, I immediately begin to shoot for black and white. The Singh-Ray Gold-N-Blue Polarizer works much like the color filters that photographers once used with B&W film. One of the magical results produced by this filter is the additional depth and dimension it gives my subject matter. As I view the image above, I can really feel a three-dimensional quality to the twin stacks that I’m able to achieve only when using the Gold-N–Blue.” ~ Alec Johnson
Loscar Numael
Black & White Photography with the LB ColorCombo
“Not only is the LB ColorCombo an indispensable tool for my color photography, it’s also my go-to filter for B&W. It allows me to achieve consistent tonality – and by cutting reflection and glare, smoother tonal transitions. The color intensifying feature of the ColorCombo gives me better separation of tones in post processing – and the polarizer in the filter adds drama. And, although it’s not as dark as the Mor-Slo ND filters, the amount of light the ColorCombo reduces is perfect for introducing long exposure effects.” ~ Loscar Numael
Keep Reading to Learn More About Black & White Photography with Singh-Ray Filters
![Black and white photo of three arched doorways.](https://singh-ray.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/1.1-1-600x376.jpg)
Imagination
![Black and white photo of a river with trees.](https://singh-ray.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/HRSPA-15th1-597x400.jpg)
Water in Motion
![Black and white photo of a cliff and sea stack.](https://singh-ray.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Cole-Thompson-ND_02-600x400.jpg)
Choosing the Right ND Filter
![Owner/Photographer Kate Silvia Photography, LLC](https://singh-ray.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/download2-600x400.jpeg)
Jump into infrared… without the commitment
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Polarizers, how they work, when and how to use them…
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Tips for using your Mor-Slo™ 10-stop solid neutral density filter
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Photoshop and six tools… with a video demonstration
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Black & white photography… it’s more than just color photography minus the color
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Oregon – Five “Before” and “After” Long Exposure Images
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A Resident Artist
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Five + Ten + Fifteen + Twenty + Vari-ND = Perfect ND Kit
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Using Singh-Ray Polarizers to enhance digital images for B&W image conversions
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I-Ray Filter shoots serious infrared images without destroying the Nikon D-800
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Recording the dramatic beauty found along the North Shore of Lake Superior
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Tony Sweet demonstrates the use of three Singh-Ray filters he describes as essential to his art
![Photo of the water covered ground](https://singh-ray.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/150-268x400.png)
Trip to Iceland proved to be a rich and inspiring experience
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Photographing Oregon’s Bandon Beach in Black and White with Gold-N-Blue Polarizer
![Black and White Photo of a Lake and Mountain](https://singh-ray.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/187-600x400.png)
Sharing some of my latest long-exposure images from recent trips
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Tracing the Silver Bay landscape image from pre-visualization to post production
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Capturing impressive infrared landscapes with the Nikon D-70 and an I-Ray filter
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How to use long exposures to create mystical black and white images