I have trouble “seeing” the values as soon as we add color. Can discerning values be learned? I hate to think I have to hold my phone all the time with the camera set to black and white.

Absolutely, you will learn this. It probably hasn’t been at the forefront of your thinking until now. Color can be so seductive. Use whatever tools help you to see the difference of light and dark – phone, glasses, value scale, squinting, standing at a distance, etc. Eventually, your thinking will change to value first, color second.

In the beginning you can easily see the difference between high contrast colors, for example, pink and dark red.  However, over time your eyes will become more sensitive subtle contrasts of value.