When would you use black and white instead of colour in your photographs?

Question

This has puzzled me for a long time.

I love b&w images (especially real ones done with b&w film) but there doesn't seem to be any intelligence out there as to when to use b&w and when not to.

Obviously each technique prompts a different response in the viewer -- but what response?

Can anyone shed light on this issue?

Answer 1

Nostalgia.

Answer 2

There was only one other answer that really hit on what you are looking for to possess the ability to know what should be shot in B&W and what should not. So, I'll just reiderate that point. You want compositions with striking differences in contrast and that have broad tonal ranges. If you shoot with a DSLR, take a few shots and look at the histograms of those shots. If you can see tonal information from extreme left to right, with an emphasis on the darker tones [left side of histogram] then you might have a photograph that will be best converted to greyscale or desaturated in post. Never, ever use the camera's B&W mode, this will discard too much of that tonal information and will limit your ability to edit them. And also, look for texture. Some say, as antoni has, that it helps to 'see in black and white', and I agree. You have to develop an eye for black and white photographs. Having an IR filter helps as well, this will allow more of the IR spectrum to show up in your images and they are great for landscape scenes with a lot of greenery and a blue sky.

Answer 3

I agree, b&w looks its best when shot on film and printed on b&w paper, but that is becoming a thing of the past. Of course, digital conversions can look pretty great as well. I see a lot of people making b&w conversions of routine snapshots and thinking it's suddenly "artistic". That is just part of the dumbing down of photography, and indeed, almost everything.

I look for contrasty subjects, or put portrait subjects in contrasty lighting. I like stark landscapes, or bold arcitectural elements in b&w. Old machinery or vehicles, barns, and derelict buildings are also cliche b&w subjects.

Another thing, I love vintage b&w pictures of everyday life from the 50's and 60's, and especially Christmas shots You know the type, usually square with those fancy edges.. I always wonder how the pictures got loose from their families.

I think in our digital future, our great great-grandchildren won't have the thrill of discovering an old shoebox full of our memories, shrouded in the monotone mystery of the past, with maybe a name or date scribbled on the back. Instead, they will discover a box of shiney, round discs and wonder what they were. (They will be storing their information on hydrogen bubbles or something.) Oh well, enough of that.

Black and white, trendy now amongst the masses, will be with us after the current trend has passed. There will always be photographers who want to break an image down to the elemental basics. For that, b&w is unsurpassed.

Answer 4

B&W is just another tool in the arsenal of photography. Everyone has their own reasons for doing what they do and using what they use.

For me I use B&W for the following reasons:
1) The textures and shapes of the image are more important that the colors.
2) Moods - a whole different set of moods can be communicated in B&W as opposed to color.

Photography has plenty of rules. Most people aspire to learn them and apply them all....only in the end to figure out that they are not absolute and need to be broken from time to time.

If the speed limit is 50mph and you are traveling down the freeway and a car is going to turn into your lane and hit your rear bumper, most people would speed up to avoid the collision. Since you've now accelerated over 50mph, to say 65mph....you've broekn the law...you are speeding...but it just might have saved your and the other drivers lives.
Not all rules can be followed to the letter at all times.

Answer 5

Just my opinion. I'm not a pro.

When I go for Black and White I want contrast. The starkness of life. I want two extremes coliding and fighting for space on my 4x6 print.

It adds a sense of age and agelessness at the same time. I think this is because any antique photograph is b+w or monochrome. All of the really old stuff is b+w.

I agree with you on the film over digital. Digital seems to be more shades of grey and less contrast.

You dont see alot of action shots in b+w, some but more landscapes and still life. As for when to use b+w depends on what you want to focus on.

Answer 6

If you are looking for any specific rule there isn't. However, my personal decision to choose color over black and white is based on simple design principles. The basic elements of design can be brokendown into the following categories: point, space, shape, tone, form, mass, line, texture, pattern, time, light, and color.
When you are on location or in the studio for that matter and you are deciding whether or not to choose black and white over color, what you have to ask yourself is if color is a major design element in the person, place or object that you are photographing. If color is not a major design element in your subject matter, then shoot black and white, but again this is a personal preference, not a rule.
As an extreme example look at these photos by Sandy Skoglund, a very famous photographer and installation artist.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/sindestino/350561544/
http://www.flatironmag.com/skidoo/Sandy-Skoglund.jpg
http://imagearts.ryerson.ca/imagesandideas/pages/database/images/Skoglund_Sandy_w01.jpg
http://www.flickr.com/photos/disneyprincess/487522864/

So ask yourself, after looking at these photos, would these photos be the same if they were shot in black and white? If color is a major theme or element in your subject matter it makes sense to shoot in color.

Answer 7

Personally i think digital B+W is the macdonalds of photography.

Great Black and white is from black and white film and then some great darkroom work.

Great Black and white is made in the fotogs head before setting depth etc. The fotog will "decide" before the shot that B+W will be the medium, they take into account the final product they want.

I have meet some great exponents of it (im far from their level!) and they actually can "see" in black and white - from years of experience they can look at any scene and know what it will be like with B+W and how much darkroom work they will require, thats all before even setting up the gear.

Its study, experience, trail and error, patience and passion.

If you can "see" in B+W thats the key apparently. Thats not the "eye" its training and practice. And really reallly really looking before shooting.


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Answer 8

I too love some B&W photos. As in any form of art, I think it depends on what the artist wants to express. To me, simple, bold, contemporary forms seem to lend themselves to B&W, especially when applied to architecture and certain natural images (such as sand dunes) that are inherently simple in form. For some reason, B&W seems to break these images down even further into even more stark elemental forms. But that's just my take - everyone may see the world differently.

Answer 9

I use B&W when I want to emphasize texture and line in the composition.

I like the occasional B&W portrait - sometimes color can distract the viewer from seeing the person.

I almost always carry one camera body loaded with B&W film. (I know, I know - I'm a dinosaur. And no, I didn't know Barney when he was just an egg.) :)

Answer 10

I, personally, only shoot black and white film. I think it's all a matter of preference. I believe you see more things in black and white photos. I think color takes away from the objects (sometimes). I just think it's what each individual likes.

Answer 11

I choose the colour version of this one, think of it shows off the lighting fixtures extra constructive. do not basically like the thick border and the font you have used for the call, seems basically like a cheesy postcard and takes far flung from the wonderful thing with regard to the image.