Some tips for getting better black and white photos:
• Always shoot in color and convert to black and white on your computer. The black and white setting on your camera works by capturing color and then converting it– your software will do a much better job.
• Focus on contrast. Viewers naturally pick out areas of contrast– keeping this in mind will make your photos more compelling from the start.
• Focus on texture. By taking away color you remove one layer of complexity, unmasking subtle textures.
For more tips, check out The Top 5 Black & White Photography Tips by Brian Auer at Epicedits.com.