Monochrome

Monochrome from New Zealand

Monochrome (mono) is a very simple term and feature in photography, and its probably one you’ve already used. To understand it all you need to do is break the word into its two parts; Mono and chrome, or rather, one color.

This feature uses a vast range of tones so your image is shown in shades of just one color. Black and white mode is the most common form of monochrome that presents a vast range of moods, emotions and abstract expressions. Another common one is Sepia, which shows your image in shades of yellow/brown, and gives a traditional and aged look to your image. Also, if your camera has a ‘Document’ mode, which is intended for taking photos of text and documents, then it uses black and white monochrome to determine which colors should stand out (the black text) and then adjust the other colors accordingly.

Using monochrome in your photos has great potential to artistically express a scene in a way color cannot. If you want to learn just how to utilize mono then my Black and White Photography Guide will let you understand its potential and its unique uses.