How do I create more contrast in my black and white photography?

wow, i'm sad to see nobody could answer your question!!! i'm glad if i can help you out ;) first question i gotta ask you: did you process or print the film yourself or was it done at a lab? if you did it yourself, there are certain things you can do in the darkroom to help you. if the shots turned out gray from a real lab, here's what you can do: it's not about your f-stop or shutter speed, but about film type and filters. what type of film did you use? there are some types that are designed to provide more contrast. you may need to pay a little bit more for these films though. otherwise, you can get yourself a simple 'contrast filter' from a notable brand such as Cokin. these are usually red, green or yellow to the naked eye, and have slightly different effects on black and white film. i prefer the red filter, which will make things more punchy overall. there are some filters which will enhance foliage such as plants, grass, trees, others that will enhance skies or water scenery, etc. you can also use a UV ring filter to adjust darkness of skies and reflective surfaces. this can give incredible contrast if you get used to the way the ring works (turning it in one direction will give light darken the sky slightly, turning more will make it even darker, and making a full revolution will bring you back to normal contrast. if you need more tips for darkroom usage, let me know...i can help you with that too! :) hope this gives you some insight! happy shooting!