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10/13/2004 12:08:01 PM · #1 |
I have been struggling to regain my photographic vision and blaming my challenges on weakened creativity caused by too many years of corporate I/T work. I recently found some tools that provide a more darkroom like workflow for B&W conversions and I am suddenly starting to get more of the images that I was looking for. For some reason I switched to color when I went digital, but I am starting to think that was a mistake.
I'm curious if others have found that their photographic vision is tuned either towards color or B&W?
Does being focused on one vs the other a problem for the modern photographer?
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10/13/2004 01:27:21 PM · #2 |
There is one thing that I just recently came to realize with respect to Color vs. B/W.
It is entirely dependant on the subject matter, and the emotion you wish to evoke from the viewer.
I will not shoot Nature in B/W unless it is a night shot, or unless there is another subject within the nature. A building, a person, an interesting structure. Nature, to me...is about color.
Architecture almost always gets the B/W treatment from me - because I think it simplifies what otherwise becomes a very confused picture. You want the person to see the lines, and the form of the structure...to focus on the vision that the architect intended.
People, whether it be candid street shots, or studio shots, can be done in either B/W or color - depending on the mood you're trying to set.
I have a lot of other jumbled thoughts in my mind, and I had actually typed them out...but they seem to contradict themselves...so I'll leave you with this final thought.
As with everything else, whether you choose black and white, or color to get your point accross...it's whether you feel you've succeeded, that matters most. No matter what the viewer thinks - if you achieved your goal in your eyes, that's all that matters. Unless you're trying to make money...and then your skrewed. LOL.
Message edited by author 2004-10-13 13:28:10.
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10/13/2004 01:38:09 PM · #3 |
Even the personal 'rules' you posted are most likely dependant on your surroundings, atsxus...
Architecture would most likely be shot in colour if you were in Central America, where their buildings aren't the efficient shade of gray you find in the big cities up here...
Also, sometimes in nature (like architecture) you want to place more emphasis on lines, structure, texture and shape so you could photograph those in b&w as well.
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10/13/2004 01:44:01 PM · #4 |
Originally posted by thatcloudthere:
Even the personal 'rules' you posted are most likely dependant on your surroundings, atsxus...
Architecture would most likely be shot in colour if you were in Central America, where their buildings aren't the efficient shade of gray you find in the big cities up here...
Also, sometimes in nature (like architecture) you want to place more emphasis on lines, structure, texture and shape so you could photograph those in b&w as well. |
True, but personally, I don't find trees to be very interesting in B&W.
And please understand, I wasn't trying to lecture on do's and don'ts. I was just stating what I do, and have done. Though clearly, I'm not strict about it as my entry for "Parts" was architecture and was in color. But then again, that was more for the blue sky then the building. It was brilliant that day.
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10/13/2004 01:53:42 PM · #5 |
| I shoot in color but if I am curious to whether a shot would look better in black and white, I convert during post-processing. Some pictures look better in B&W while others in color. I believe it is a matter of personal choice and the topic to which it is applied. Just my opinion for what it's worth. |
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10/13/2004 02:00:44 PM · #6 |
| I´ve started to convert most of my images into B&W. At least when not expressing some specfic colors. Most of my best images compaird to you DPCers are B&W. |
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10/13/2004 02:05:15 PM · #7 |
In my "mind's eye" I see in B&W much more than in color. For me, invisioning how an image will look in color is much harder than B&W, and for that reason I find B&W to be far more expressive for me.
Although, there are many scenes that B&W just does not seem to work for.
David
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10/13/2004 04:25:47 PM · #8 |
Although my eyes see color, my photographic eyes see b/w. That's how I got started with "real" photography (35mm vs instamatic cameras). I tend to think how an image will look in b/w before I see it in color especially with landscapes. Overall, I prefer b/w over color so maybe that's why I tend to think in that way visually.
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10/13/2004 06:12:11 PM · #9 |
I have always liked black and white. I think color sometimes distracts from the photograph depending on the subject.
I do think that trees can look good in balck and white.
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10/13/2004 06:19:04 PM · #10 |
Color. I can always convert to B&W.
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10/13/2004 07:15:38 PM · #11 |
wow and I thought I was just nuts hehehe! When I'm taking pictures, specially portraits and pics of people I just SEE them in black and white :/ People veiw them in color and go ewww but I always know which once I will like in B/W and hate in color..!
I love black and white photography and I think it's an artform all by itself. BUT I think that some people really REALLY have an eye for the perfect color combination and their pictures are amazing...I don't have that color eye...black and white is my thing also :) |
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