Photography : black and white or colour?
For many years a friend teased me. She would praise one of my black and white photos, then suggest that colour might have worked better. Smiling, I’d explain that I preferred black and white, before changing the subject.
But when I moved to Zambia, the choice didn’t feel so clear-cut. Suddenly, faced with cloudless skies and a world full of colour, shooting in black and white seemed perverse. To add to my dilemma, I’d bought my first digital camera just before leaving the UK. It was so convenient and flexible, with no need to choose between colour and monochrome in advance.
I went through a ‘honeymoon period’, enjoying the world of colour photography and wondering why I’d been so loyal to its poorer cousin. With hindsight, I realize that part of my disillusionment was caused by lack of skill. Having abandoned black and white film, I struggled to convert digital files into satisfying monochrome images.
It’s now more than two years since I fell in love with colour and the honeymoon is over. On balance, I still prefer my first love. Most of my idols shot in black and white – think of James Ravilious, Roger Mayne and Vivian Maier. But now when I’m asked which I prefer, I’m less dogmatic than I used to be.
I’m going to leave you with a gallery of pictures and ask you to decide which ones work best in colour, which ones in black and white. To view them uncropped, click on the first image, then scroll through using your right arrow key.
I look forward to hearing your views.[envira-gallery id="965"]
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The choice of colour or black and white is intriguing. I think two are better in black and white, three are better in colour and the others could be either way. But I’m not telling you which…
Good morning, Ann – I see that I shall have to get used to being teased.
I’m afraid I prefer the colour ones Richard. As you say there is so much colour in Zambia. I normally prefer b&w though xx
Each to their own, Jenny. I’ll see if I can convince you that even Zambia can look good in black and white.
Great post Richard, got me thinking about why some pictures work better in B&W and not others: my thoughts:
maid centre – no strong view
drums and charcoal – definitely colour
army band – b&w I think
backs of girls – definitely colour
pushing wheelbarrow – definitely b&w
ladies drummimg – definitely colour
PF bus – no strong view
charcoal cyclist – b & w I think
If you are going b&w then there needs to be good contrast is what I take from this
I’m glad you enjoyed the post, David. After the recent blip in service, I owed readers some interesting content. With black and white, I agree about the need for contrast, which can be created by dramatic lighting, effective composition – in fact in many different ways. In the ‘Drum Majorette’ shot, what I didn’t anticipate was how the orange and green outfits would merge into a dull shade of mid-grey. Some you win, some you lose.
Thanks for your feedback, Maria. You’ve picked one of my favourite black and white images (for now, at least).
I love the man with the wheelbarrow in black and white, but for me most of the pictures work better in colour.