Show Some Love...
12/7/2018
When I first started taking photos, despite taking a black and white film class where we developed and printed our own shots in the darkroom, AND despite having set up a makeshift darkroom in the bathroom of the house I was renting with my sister a couple years later, I was under the impression that black and white photography was somehow easier than color photography, and therefore, I didn't feel very motivated to pursue it much further, and devoted my time to 'superior' color imagery. It wasn't until recently that my views towards black and white completely changed. I started messing around with black and white conversions in Photoshop, and through trial and error, began to recognize what photographic elements make a good photo into a great black and white image. Some things that work in color, say the beautiful contrast between an orange squash blossom and the smokey green leaves, don't lend themselves well to black and white. At least, not without color filters for your lens (which seems counter-intuitive when shooting black and white). Photoshop black and white adjustments, for digital (or digitized, I suppose) color image conversions, allows you to "apply" those filters after the fact and you can also manipulate each color profile individually, making those tones distinct from each other, rather than a gray, monotonous mess. It takes practice and a good feel for composition and tonality to make a great black and white image. In a way, you don't have the crutch of color to lean on, your b+w photo has to stand alone.
I know I still have much to learn about the art of black and white imagery. I do have a somewhat unfair advantage through digital means, not having to go through the time, expense, and learning curve of film in the darkroom. I'm looking forward to what things may come out of this new-found curiosity. Of course, I'd never give up on color photography. The draw of the beauty of diverse shades of color this world has to offer is much too great. However, some days just 'feel' more monotone.
I know I still have much to learn about the art of black and white imagery. I do have a somewhat unfair advantage through digital means, not having to go through the time, expense, and learning curve of film in the darkroom. I'm looking forward to what things may come out of this new-found curiosity. Of course, I'd never give up on color photography. The draw of the beauty of diverse shades of color this world has to offer is much too great. However, some days just 'feel' more monotone.
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