Colour photo's Vs Black and White photo's

[SPC]

I love Colour photo's and cant see why anyone would want to strip the colour from them and turn them black and white.... please let me know your views on which you feel is the best and why.

 

Thank you

[EP82]

I agree. I have tried many times to get into the 'art' of black and white photos as this would appear to be the only accepted photo mode with many photographic societies, but each time I do I end up disappointed when the colours are gone. My pictures are normally taken for the colours so I have given up with black and white.

[pete]

b&w can be more forgiving - an otherwise decent photo (crisp, good representation etc) with b0rked colours can be saved by dumping the colour. b&w conversion is also good for shooting gigs where the light's sufficiently low it may as well be b&w.

 

Better to work with b&w from the beginning though if you can. *hugs his Ilford PANF Plus*

[jamesb]

You can make some stunning photos with black and white, or sepia, or other tones if you want.

 

The problem comes when people try to use it to add 'depth' to every single picture, or think that turning a bad picture black and white makes it a good picture.

 

Used in moderation, its great. Overdone its just dull.

[EP82]

You can make some stunning photos with black and white, or sepia, or other tones if you want.

 

The problem comes when people try to use it to add 'depth' to every single picture, or think that turning a bad picture black and white makes it a good picture.

 

Used in moderation, its great. Overdone its just dull.

 

I agree.

[alan-d]

I agree with JamesB, B&W should only be used in moderation and if the subject allows it. For example you wouldn't take a rainbow shot in B&W as that would be pointless (in the main!) but an old guy playing chess in the park could well suit a B&W shot.

 

Turning a bad photo into something else by converting it to B&W is bad practice. If anything the B&W shot should be of a better quality that any colour photo, in my humble opinion anyway

[Little-Miss]

Hmmm, i think some photos can look stunning in B&W...suppose it depends on what mood you're after!

[webman]

I generally prefer colour, but B&W photos can also be very effective depending on the photo itself - subject, composition etc.

 

When taking photos myself, as a rule I don't use or convert to B&W; but sometimes I do because I can, if I think it will enhance the overall feel.

 

I tried colour vs sepia, but couldn't decide which one was better ( so uploaded both anyway )

 

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2423/3692052124_ba5b95e848_m.jpg

 

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2549/3692051128_d177f8ceab_m.jpg

 

However, one of my Flickr contacts, Hobgrumble, shoots a lot of B&W film with some really good results.

[K.C.Leblanc]

 

I tried colour vs sepia, but couldn't decide which one was better ( so uploaded both anyway )

 

 

Or maybe a bit of both.

[Andrew_C]

B&W or colour?

 

Depends ENTIRELY on what you are trying to achieve and to a lesser extent the subject; a good photographer can work wonders with either.

[mattx]

You don't have to use just black and white - a good duotone is also a good choice:

 

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3265/2832652649_f8df540205.jpg

 

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3271/2832651831_6a775d3aff.jpg

 

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3168/2836028270_d69c634286.jpg

 

These are photo's I have taken / edited and have got them on large canvases in my home.

[Little-Miss]

Ooh, love the last one with the blue spade.

[beeswax]

I love Colour photo's and cant see why anyone would want to strip the colour from them and turn them black and white.... please let me know your views on which you feel is the best and why.

 

Thank you

 

It's not a question of stripping out the colour, a completely different mindset is required. With digital photography it's simple enough to remove the colour, but judging from some of the posts on here several people once used B&W film, and if you start with the premise that you have no option other than to think in B&W terms you approach your subject matter differently. Eventually you develop a sixth sense about what works in B&W.

One of my favourite B&W photographers is Jane Bown, who still works for the Observer. I believe this photograph of Samuel Beckett wouldn't work in colour.

Edited August 20, 2009 by beeswax

[webman]

@mattx: Love the last spade one - superb.

[mattx]

Ooh, love the last one with the blue spade.

 

@mattx: Love the last spade one - superb.

 

Thanks, that's my oldest quite a few years ago on a beach in Cornwall.

Edited August 20, 2009 by mattx

[mattx]

I tend to change quite a deal of photos I have done into black and white just to see what they look like.

Again showing a difference - taking the colour changes the mood of the image I think:

 

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3176/2823731213_d47fba5bce.jpg

 

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3048/2824567784_018e446027.jpg

[mattx]

I remembered another blue spade photo I did, this one of my other son - but I don't think it works as well as the other. What I think makes this photo [ well for me ] is the simple small ripple in the water.

 

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/75/205133468_e71981488d.jpg

[SpuffMonkey]

B&W every time - but as stated - you have to think about composition differently - textures and shadows are much more important in monochrome - as is the hardness/graininess of the film (or digital source).