Taking a black and white photograph and adding partial color effects to certain key points of the shot is one of the most popular techniques amongst professional photographers. You can understand its popularity when you look at the examples we have for you below.

This technique can take an otherwise dull image and make it vibrant by highlighting critical areas of beauty. And, as you will also notice, they can at times be very powerful.

At the bottom of this post we have added some tutorials to help you recreate this effect. Hope you enjoy our selection.

Buddha

black and white photograph and adding partial color effects Buddha

In Wonderland

b and w shot coloring In Wonderland

A Greed

black and white photograph and adding partial color effects A Greed

Sleepwalker

b and w shot coloring Sleepwalker

Herbstblatt – fallen leaves

black and white photograph and adding partial color effects Herbstblatt - fallen leaves

Colour my life with the chaos of trouble

b and w shot coloring Colour my life with the chaos of trouble

Sunset after the rain selective colour

black and white photograph and adding partial color effects sunset after the rain selective colour

Princess

b and w shot coloring Princess

Times Past By

black and white photograph and adding partial color effects Times Past By

Love

b and w shot coloring Love

Waiting on a cool breeze!

black and white photograph and adding partial color effects Waiting on a cool breeze!

Ladybug

b and w shot coloring Ladybug

Bird Eyes

black and white photograph and adding partial color effects Bird Eyes

Banana

b and w shot coloring Banana

Dewy Pine Leaf Uncurling

black and white photograph and adding partial color effects Dewy Pine Leaf Uncurling

Telephone in Selective Colour

b and w shot coloring Telephone in Selective Colour

Chondro Selective Color

black and white photograph and adding partial color effects Chondro Selective Color

The Boat & The Castle

b and w shot coloring The Boat & The Castle

Rim & Caliper on 427R Roush Mustang

black and white photograph and adding partial color effects Rim & Caliper on 427R Roush Mustang

El Vendedor de Colores

b and w shot coloring El Vendedor de Colores

Torre de los vientos

black and white photograph and adding partial color effects Torre de los vientos

Walk This Way

b and w shot coloring Walk This Way

A place to rest

black and white photograph and adding partial color effects A place to rest

Racing Rainbow

b and w shot coloring Racing Rainbow

Gateway Cup St. Louis

black and white photograph and adding partial color effects Gateway Cup St. Louis

Colors in B&W

b and w shot coloring Colors in B&W!

Kiss Kiss Love

black and white photograph and adding partial color effects Kiss Kiss Love

Yellow City

b and w shot coloring Yellow City

Fighting to stay alive

black and white photograph and adding partial color effects Fighting to stay alive

Montenvers

b and w shot coloring Montenvers

Magie Poppins

black and white photograph and adding partial color effects Magie Poppins

Orange bicycle

b and w shot coloring Orange bicycle

We all livin’ in a blue tractor

black and white photograph and adding partial color effects We all livin' in a blue tractor

HHP Homecoming Football

b and w shot coloring HHP Homecoming Football

Viento State Park

black and white photograph and adding partial color effects Viento State Park

Red Seat

b and w shot coloring Red Seat

Butterfly

black and white photograph and adding partial color effects 529

Goalkeeper

b and w shot coloring Goalkeeper

Black and Blue

black and white photograph and adding partial color effects Black and Blue

Ground Squirrel

b and w shot coloring Ground Squirrel

Romabikepolo

black and white photograph and adding partial color effects Romabikepolo

Boston1

b and w shot coloring Boston1

Leaves

black and white photograph and adding partial color effects Leaves

Catlick

b and w shot coloring Catlick

Dandelion Taraxacum

black and white photograph and adding partial color effects Dandelion Taraxacum

MyFest

b and w shot coloring MyFest

Cold drink. Hot day

black and white photograph and adding partial color effects Cold drink. Hot day

A Little Red Car

b and w shot coloring A Little Red Car

Cockerel

black and white photograph and adding partial color effects Cockerel

Red Bridge

b and w shot coloring Red Bridge

Tutorials & Resources