Why B&W When You Have Colour?
Apr 19, 2018 07:54:53 #
The human eye does not perceive fine detail in color, only B&W. I suspect this applies to photographs as a result. That's why to my eye the image Bill1967 put up looks much sharper with much more fine detail in B&W.
Apr 19, 2018 07:55:21 #
When B&W was the norm, color stood out as unique and different. Now with color EVERYWHERE, B&W is unique and different, and if you ever studied the greatest photographers of all time, you'd notice that many only used B&W. I'd bet the majority of us here started with B&W film as well as developing and enlarging our own prints. B&W photography is a form of art that many new photographers will never master.
Apr 19, 2018 07:56:12 #
bobmcculloch wrote:
I've seen some beautiful B&W in these years, grew up with it, I do like color though, sometimes I take my shots and convert to older processes , easy in Paint Shop Pro, change to Sepia or Cyan or B&W, some I like some I don't, taste, funny though, some times doing the conversion and wait a day to decide if I like it and my opinion changes, I suggest you try some yourself, Bob.
Thanks Bob, I have viewed B&W photos as the ones that the photographer didn't get the colours right, so lets make a B&W out of it. It's so much easier.
Way back when, people shot B&W film because it was cheaper to do and develop.
Harold
Apr 19, 2018 07:56:25 #
saparoo wrote:
Love the B&W. You notice the detail in a B&W photo, whereas in a color photo, the color distracts you from the detail. Like them both but the B&W rocks!!!!
Agreed. It is not the same with all photos: Some translate better to B&W, while others are better in color. It depends on the subject and quality of the color in the original.
Apr 19, 2018 08:01:10 #
I agree with you. Occasionally I see a picture that looks better as b&w but for my eyes that's rare. Most must agree with you if not why do most people post in color?[00 p pquote=Feiertag]Colour is natural and alive. B&W phpotos are flat and dull to my eyes. To each their own but what is the attraction to B&W? Just curious.
Harold[/quote]
Qq
Harold[/quote]
Apr 19, 2018 08:07:25 #
Feiertag wrote:
Thanks Bob, I have viewed B&W photos as the ones that the photographer didn't get the colours right, so lets make a B&W out of it. It's so much easier.
Way back when, people shot B&W film because it was cheaper to do and develop.
Harold
Way back when, people shot B&W film because it was cheaper to do and develop.
Harold
I tend to like sepia, and I think it's more the subject that influences the choice of treatment.
Apr 19, 2018 08:07:26 #
Huey Driver wrote:
I agree with you. Occasionally I see a picture that looks better as b&w but for my eyes that's rare. Most must agree with you if not why do most people post in color?[00 p pquote=Feiertag]Colour is natural and alive. B&W phpotos are flat and dull to my eyes. To each their own but what is the attraction to B&W? Just curious.
Harold
Harold
Qq[/quote]
While most color images seem lively, natural I have to question since most of us, myself included, tend to saturate the image more than the "natural" state.
Apr 19, 2018 08:07:29 #
Bill1967 wrote:
High contrast shots are often more dramatic in B&W than color as shown in the attached examples.
If this example did not explain it, then there is not hope.
Apr 19, 2018 08:08:48 #
Huey Driver wrote:
I agree with you. Occasionally I see a picture that looks better as b&w but for my eyes that's rare. Most must agree with you if not why do most people post in color?[00 p pquote=Feiertag]Colour is natural and alive. B&W phpotos are flat and dull to my eyes. To each their own but what is the attraction to B&W? Just curious.
Harold
Harold
Qq[/quote]
Here is a quick example between the two. No comparison, what-so-ever.
Apr 19, 2018 08:10:08 #
Apr 19, 2018 08:11:41 #
dsmeltz wrote:
If this example did not explain it, then there is not hope.
If my example did not explain it, there is hope!
Apr 19, 2018 08:15:58 #
Feiertag wrote:
Colour is natural and alive. B&W photos are flat and dull to my eyes. To each their own but what is the attraction to B&W? Just curious.
Harold
Harold
It is a different Art form, a different experience. B&W is more abstract as it is un-natural. It can emphasize different elements of an image, such as contrast, texture, tone. Why have oil painting when you can have photography? Why have painting when you can have sculpture? Why have live music when you can have recorded music? Why listen a band in a night club or bar when you can go to a huge and pricey concert hall or stadium. Why go to a sports game when you can what it on TV. Why use your brain when you can be ignorant?
I'll agree though, poorly done B&W can be boring, say if one merely de-colorizes or de-saturates a color digital image. There is usually much more to creating a good B&W conversion. Even B&W film images can be done poorly. To "cover-up" bad WB or color tones and exposure is not a good reason to make a Black & White conversion. Though I see very few bad B&W's on the UHH as it seems only the more experienced, skilled, or talented newbies attempt them for the most part. And of course Color images of all sources can be horrible as well. I see a lot more bad or mediocre color photography on the UHH than B&W! This is not my best B&W image but it shows my point, texture in the flower that you would never see in the color original or even live in person. It looks crinkly; it is a Poppy!
The Color Original Is Really Pastel, Faint Yellow With Orange Anters. Sorry For The Hot Spot.
(Download)
Apr 19, 2018 08:16:33 #
Huey Driver wrote:
I agree with you. Occasionally I see a picture that looks better as b&w but for my eyes that's rare. Most must agree with you if not why do most people post in color?<snip>
Qq[/quote]
Most people do not have an eye for B&W. They see in color and shoot with that in mind. To shoot for B&W you have to be able to "see" in B&W. You need to look for contrast that may be hidden by color.
Apr 19, 2018 08:16:56 #
Feiertag wrote:
If my example did not explain it, there is hope!
Sorry, to my eye that image pair did not make your point. I see a lot of things to like in the B&W image way more than the color image. I'm not saying that I don't like the color image also, but.
Apr 19, 2018 08:18:28 #
Side note: I am surprised that there does not seem to be a dedicated B&W forum on UHH.
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