Colour in Black and White Photos

I'm just after some advice really. Im doing a portfolio for a college course and i was thinking of trying some new things just so i could learn some more, talk about it in my interview. I was wondering how you had a black and white image with something in the image in colour. Say a black and white photo with a kite in it, and the body of the kite is blue or whatever other colour. Could someone tell me how you do this as id like to have a go!

It's done in post processing, with a program like PhotoShop or PhotoShop Elements, using layers and masks.

Really not very hard to do.

It's fairly easy depending on what type of software you use. Copy the background layer and make it B&W (by whatever method you prefer). Select the item that you want to be color and either erase the copy layer or fill it with black if using a layer mask.

Be somewhat careful about selective coloring. Many photographers have a hate/hate relationship with it. However many customers may still like it.

Like the others said you can do it with layers in PS. If the item you want to leave color is different than everything else in the scene you can also de-saturate all colors excluding that one color. Do a Google search for "selective color" and you will get hundreds of tutorials.

Thanks guys! What do you mean most photographers have a hate/hate relationship with it? Do you think its a bad idea to put something like that in a college portfolio? I am a beginner and going to do a national diploma/BA in Photography and i need a mixed bag for my portfolio. Have very little time, about 2 days of shooting left before my interview so im very very very stuck!

Good luck, i'm currently applying for a NCTJ pre-entry course in photojournalism.. my history degree steered me in a strange direction! I'd stay away from selective colour if I was you.

My boyfriends little sisters boyfriend (ah! mouth full!) is doing history for his degree and also does photojournalism on the side! seems its not such an unusual combination, eh!

I don't think ill put any selective colour shots in my portfolio, i would still like to have a go at it though!

By all means, play with it and see how it's done.

Just be aware that it's been done to death, and is hardly a good portfolio inclusion any longer. Kinda like those Cokin special-effects filter shots.

I thought that might be the case! What are Cokin special-effects filter shots? (Sorry if i sound stupid! Newbie here)..

debbie_liane wrote in post #6039823
Thanks guys! What do you mean most photographers have a hate/hate relationship with it? Do you think its a bad idea to put something like that in a college portfolio? I am a beginner and going to do a national diploma/BA in Photography and i need a mixed bag for my portfolio. Have very little time, about 2 days of shooting left before my interview so im very very very stuck!

Personally 98% of the time I do not like selective color (personal preference). I feel it's gimicky, there are other ways to bring attention to your subject.

As far as including it in your port... If it fits your style then definitely include it. If you are including it because you think someone else might like it, I would think twice.

You might try it in reverse. Selectively black and white an element. With an emotional subject, this could be a useful idea. Say...a passed out bum on a busy city sidewalk.
I have never used it though.

Rainbow filters, multi-image filters, star filters, graduated filters in stange colors, fog and mist filters, all that kind of stuff. You can find it all here.

I really like that idea, Poloman, thanks! I might give it a go. I doubt i will put it in my portfolio, it seems its not a very good plan! I just have no idea what to put in it, ive never put one together before and its full of the dog and the cat because up until recently they are all i took photos of!! Any advice would be very helpful at the moment, i am very confused about all of this!

Just set aside a block of time and get out and shoot. Take your gear with you and see what you find. If you go to the forest, pick an overcast day.
Ask people if you can take their picture...at random. An overcast day is good for that too. If it is a sunny day take along a piece of white foam board to create fill.
There are lots of nice gardens over there. You could spend a day shooting flowers. If you are near the sea, the docks always have interesting subjects both human and otherwise.
If you use your long zoom much, make sure your shutter speed it high enough for your focal lenth. With your camera 1/450 for 300mm at least. Go to an historical site and shoot architecture. The graveyard. Swans. Stone fences leading into a nice landscape with mottled sunlight. A foggy morning with sunlight filtering through the trees. Candle lit shots of your friends having conversation. Pictures of people at the pub. Kids at the toy store. Go to the zoo. How about nuns or monks? Long exposures in chapels. The ruins of a cathedral or castle. A steeplechase of jumping event. The market in a local small town. Sports of any kind. Babies. Old people. Farmers working in the fields.
Just shot a lot.....and have fun.

debbie_liane wrote in post #6038973
I'm just after some advice really. Im doing a portfolio for a college course and i was thinking of trying some new things just so i could learn some more, talk about it in my interview. I was wondering how you had a black and white image with something in the image in colour. Say a black and white photo with a kite in it, and the body of the kite is blue or whatever other colour. Could someone tell me how you do this as id like to have a go!

Debbie,,, this has been done to death since the '80s but is a bit cliched now..