Black & White Portrait Photo Filter

Portrait photography in black and white has a long history — from Ansel Adams to Richard Avedon. Monochrome portraits focus attention on expression, eyes, and the interplay of light and shadow on the face, freed from the distraction of skin colour and clothing tones.

When converting portraits to black and white, the luminosity algorithm generally produces the most pleasing skin tones — rendering skin at a natural mid-grey and making eyes appear darker and more expressive due to their relatively lower red/green content.

The average algorithm produces flatter, more even skin tones — useful for high-key portraits. The desaturate method renders skin based on HSL lightness, producing a cooler, more dramatic look. Experiment with all three on your portrait to find the most compelling result.