| Author | Thread |
|
|
11/01/2004 07:46:52 PM · #1 |
Just wondered if it's just me, but I find I am feeling that B & W is being done with a lot of images that don't really call for it or are truly enhanced by it. Sometimes that's all the shot has going for it. Is anyone else feeling this way or is it really me? I LOVE and ADORE it when it is right, but I also love color.
|
|
|
|
11/01/2004 08:56:45 PM · #2 |
Some would say that color should not be done unless it actually contributes something to the additional image, but I think I understand what you mean. Black and white as well as extremely saturated colors both get used to add interest to otherwise uninteresting photographs, and that is the problem.
|
|
|
|
11/01/2004 09:01:47 PM · #3 |
| i think i am more of a dark person, that may be why i prefer b&w. i am not sure but i think like nusbaum said i only use color if it attributes something to the image |
|
|
|
11/01/2004 09:03:59 PM · #4 |
Originally posted by Kylie:
Just wondered if it's just me, but I find I am feeling that B & W is being done with a lot of images that don't really call for it or are truly enhanced by it. Sometimes that's all the shot has going for it. Is anyone else feeling this way or is it really me? I LOVE and ADORE it when it is right, but I also love color. |
Tell us what makes a black and white good in your eyes?
|
|
|
|
11/01/2004 09:07:01 PM · #5 |
Sorry Kylie.. but I love me some B&W. lol
I'm not getting burnt out on it yet. Probably never would. I've always found a great mix of color and B&W shots in every challenge.
A good deal of my stuff from now on will most likely be B&W/Duotone.. unless there's some reason for it not to be.
You've seen my website, B&W is my.. uh.. primary source :)
|
|
|
|
11/01/2004 09:08:11 PM · #6 |
Sometimes I think I should give up on colour. Lately I only seem to do well when I enter a black and white (or sepia) photo.
|
|
|
|
11/01/2004 09:12:40 PM · #7 |
My preference is B&W or duo/quadtone. Nope, not getting tired of it. :)
|
|
|
|
11/01/2004 09:17:02 PM · #8 |
My feeling is quite the oposite, alot of people are just shooting color and some of those pictures would be enhanced alot by a B/W treatment. Color photography is a verry hard thing alot harder than B/W. B/W is just about light, shadow and composiotion while color photography has an extra element caled "color composition". Many people should learn about matching colors, about complementaries, triads tredads, color contrasts and such before they even try color photography. Unfortunately that's not happening to often lately, colors are just random in many photo's, and that makes the color in that photo redundant. A realy beautiful color composition is really hard to achieve, in photography and mostly only in studio shots where you can set up the colors you like in the composition. In candid photos that I do often is verry rare thing to get beautiful colors. As rare as winning the lottery.
Message edited by author 2004-11-01 21:18:52.
|
|
|
|
11/01/2004 09:21:59 PM · #9 |
Good thoughts. I think my true feeling was that B & W is being not used too much, but mis-used too much. I love it too much too see abused, which is how is is striking me lately.
|
|
|
|
11/01/2004 09:22:23 PM · #10 |
| Colour is a whole lot harder. It is rare that people get it right. |
|
|
|
11/01/2004 09:23:57 PM · #11 |
Originally posted by frumoaznicul:
My feeling is quite the oposite, alot of people are just shooting color and some of those pictures would be enhanced alot by a B/W treatment. Color photography is a verry hard thing alot harder than B/W. B/W is just about light, shadow and composiotion while color photography has an extra element caled "color composition". Many people should learn about matching colors, about complementaries, triads tredads, color contrasts and such before they even try color photography. Unfortunately that's not happening to often lately, colors are just random in many photo's, and that makes the color in that photo redundant. A realy beautiful color composition is really hard to achieve, in photography and mostly only in studio shots where you can set up the colors you like in the composition. In candid photos that I do often is verry rare thing to get beautiful colors. As rare as winning the lottery. |
Very nicely stated....
Nothing irritates me more than to get a comment on a b/w image that tells me they would rather see it in color. The fact is, they do NOT know that. They may rather see it in color, but chances are, they will not actually like the color better. As someone stated earlier in this thread, I do follow the guideline of tossing out my color unless it is providing extra impact in the image. I think color hurts a photo when it's not a source of primary impact.
|
|
|
|
11/01/2004 09:24:44 PM · #12 |
| b&w also fixes alot of my problems |
|
|
|
11/01/2004 09:28:42 PM · #13 |
WOW so many people for the B&W train here.. I have to agree too, I have never been a great phoyographer but even back in the film days I used to shoot way more rolls of B&W than i ever did colour, The reason i use a lot more colour now i shoot digital is that i am simply not satisfied with the post processing i am getting trying to convert to B&W, I lack a lot of contrast and the image ends up being washed out. I have one B&W image in my profile I am happy with but that was shot on the Contax TVS digital with a B&W in camera setting (mind you its a great cam).I realise digital can not replace the imagery of real film yet (give it 5 years or so) but I have seen some wonderfull B&W conversions and just wonder how it is done so well (PM me PLEAAAAAAASE).
Anyway, bottom line - LOVE B&W never get tierd of it however some de-sats for no reason are tiersome(done a few myself). |
|
|
|
11/01/2004 09:32:01 PM · #14 |
also people might be helped in learning more about photography (composition and light) if they would shoot b/w more often. As stated earlier, color composition is a tricky thing.
As a matter of fact a challenge that was only b/w would be a nice change of pace, or even a subset of rules that would make entries in a challenge have to be b/w.
I would welcome more b/w & duotone images on DPC, it was nice to see so many entries in the top ten on school days that were b/w!! |
|
|
|
11/01/2004 09:39:06 PM · #15 |
that's actualy a wonderful ideea, has there ever been a B/W only challenge?
|
|
|
|
11/01/2004 09:45:56 PM · #16 |
Originally posted by jmsetzler:
Nothing irritates me more than to get a comment on a b/w image that tells me they would rather see it in color. The fact is, they do NOT know that. They may rather see it in color, but chances are, they will not actually like the color better. |
While it's true that the viewer can't know that the color would have been better, it's certainly valid for them to imagine how color (and bear in mind, this is usually their imagination's color) would have augmented a photo. I think most often this comment means "The photo isn't quite working for me" and the easiest thing to pin it on is the lack of color.
To the original post, I LOVE black and white, so I don't think I'm suffering from an overuse of that style. I think as someone else stated, I get bored with the photos that I feel aren't interesting and were given the black and white treatment in an endeavor to create interest in the photo. However, there are plenty of uninteresting color images (my own among them) out there as well.
For me more than B/W, it's the delective desat that feels overdone. I have to remind myself that this is a forum for experiment and learning, and many people might be trying a technique on for size rather than slapping the old tried and true B/W on as an experienced photographer trying to manipulate the audience.
Somehow I lack coherence. [/babbling]
|
|
|
|
11/01/2004 09:53:43 PM · #17 |
Originally posted by alionic:
but I have seen some wonderfull B&W conversions and just wonder how it is done so well (PM me PLEAAAAAAASE).
|
Ditto for me. The really awesome B & W work here I never, ever get tired of and would love to know what is making the difference. Now I regret this thread because the more I think about it, I realize I am one of the ones who love the great B & W and the color. It's more about quality.
|
|
|
|
11/01/2004 09:57:08 PM · #18 |
Originally posted by frumoaznicul:
that's actualy a wonderful ideea, has there ever been a B/W only challenge? |
Yes. I got a lot of grief for entering a duotone... |
|
|
|
11/01/2004 10:01:06 PM · #19 |
I sometimes have the impression that some people use black and white when they can't quite get the colour tones they are looking for or are having exposure issues that negatively affect colour saturation.
|
|
|
|
11/01/2004 10:14:27 PM · #20 |
Originally posted by Kylie:
Originally posted by alionic:
but I have seen some wonderfull B&W conversions and just wonder how it is done so well (PM me PLEAAAAAAASE).
|
Ditto for me. The really awesome B & W work here I never, ever get tired of and would love to know what is making the difference. Now I regret this thread because the more I think about it, I realize I am one of the ones who love the great B & W and the color. It's more about quality. |
There are plenty of tutorials out there... Look about using the chanel mixer for it, also duotones tritones quads and such. You may also find some readymade ps actions that help. I'm preety busy right now to look for some but google does wonders.
|
|
|
|
11/01/2004 10:21:57 PM · #21 |
| No burn out hereâ€Â¦. I absolutely love b/w images :) |
|
|
|
11/01/2004 10:27:36 PM · #22 |
Originally posted by frumoaznicul:
My feeling is quite the oposite, alot of people are just shooting color and some of those pictures would be enhanced alot by a B/W treatment. Color photography is a verry hard thing alot harder than B/W. B/W is just about light, shadow and composiotion while color photography has an extra element caled "color composition". Many people should learn about matching colors, about complementaries, triads tredads, color contrasts and such before they even try color photography. Unfortunately that's not happening to often lately, colors are just random in many photo's, and that makes the color in that photo redundant. A realy beautiful color composition is really hard to achieve, in photography and mostly only in studio shots where you can set up the colors you like in the composition. In candid photos that I do often is verry rare thing to get beautiful colors. As rare as winning the lottery. |
I totally disagree. A realy beautiful color composition is really hard to achieve? Nonsense, just have a look around this site and you will see thousands of wonderful color photos. Many more than B&W. In fact, I'd say just the opposite is true. It's more difficult to create a really good B&W photo. To me, most B&W photos are static, boring, and dull. Color adds life to a photo. Life isn't in B&W. Life is in full living color.
|
|
|
|
11/01/2004 10:31:25 PM · #23 |
And your argument is "Thats why we have coilor TV's" right?
|
|
|
|
11/01/2004 10:34:25 PM · #24 |
Originally posted by frumoaznicul:
And your argument is "Thats why we have coilor TV's" right? |
And your argument is, "Thats why I still have a B&W TV", right?
|
|
|
|
11/01/2004 10:41:01 PM · #25 |
Originally posted by frumoaznicul:
And your argument is "Thats why we have coilor TV's" right? |
I think that's actually a good example. Most TV today is more like a color snapshot... point and shoot. I remember once seeing a video done by Herb Ritts in B&W, now that was absolutely amazing. It's not color vs B&W, it about the quality and trying to push by what is easy and ordinary.
|
|
Home -
Challenges -
Community -
League -
Photos -
Cameras -
Lenses -
Learn -
Help -
Terms of Use -
Privacy -
Top ^
DPChallenge, and website content and design, Copyright © 2001-2025 Challenging Technologies, LLC.
All digital photo copyrights belong to the photographers and may not be used without permission.
Current Server Time: 08/11/2025 08:17:26 AM EDT.
