Black and white photography, also known as monochrome photography is the art of using different tones of gray, ranging from white to dark, to create compelling images. It removes any distraction of color and helps the viewer focus on other aspects of the photo, such as the subject, the textures, shapes and patterns, and the composition. Black and white is a good choice when the color in a photo serves only as a distraction from the message you want the image to convey. There are seven essential elements of top-notch black and white photographs, that is shadows, contrast, tones, shapes, texture, composition and emotion.