SuperflyTNT Loc: Manassas VA

I actually much prefer the color version. The varied tones add more interest.

SuperflyTNT Loc: Manassas VA

Even if most people agree with this statement, it says nothing in speaking to the OP’s original conjecture. For every example of a B&W photo that wouldn’t have the same “soul” in color, you could find a color photo with “soul” that would lack it in B&W.

fantom Loc: Colorado

You should have prefaced your comments by saying, "In my opinion".

Photographer Jim Loc: Rio Vista, CA

Would Galon Rowell’s photos be as stirring in B&W?

I’ve never quite understood the need to determine if one medium was better than the other. In the hands of the right artist both can result in exceptional (and “soulful” if you will) images. I sometimes think the debates are simply efforts to try to elevate one’s own preference to the level of “truth”. Hopefully, no resolution will be found anytime soon, and I can continue to shoot either without guilt or ridicule! 😈

fantom Loc: Colorado

Good comments.

Rich1939 Loc: Pike County Penna.

May I try

Scottty Loc: Portland,Oregon

I'm with the "depends on the subject, ect." school of thought. Like probably most of you, when I started taking classes it was in B&W, then moving into color. I have old B&W that just doesn't translate as well in color. Sadly, since I've gone digital, I've left B&W behind and this topic reminds me to keep myself open to all the possibilities that photography offers.

E.L.. Shapiro Loc: Ottawa, Ontario Canada

You are correct, I should have consulted my unabridged dictionary and I must admit my etymology and grammar are oftentimes in need of correction. WORDS! When I am judging, critiquing, analyzing, describing, or just enjoying IMAGES, any kind of art, photography included, I sometimes find it difficult to assign words to the emotional impact, or lack thereof, or how the image affects me psychologically. I can talk technique 'till the cows come home but for me, the image either has emotional impact, or it does not, it tells a story, or it does not, and I can't remember my ever thinking "that would have been better in black and white or in color".

Think about this y'all. We all like to name our favorite iconic photographers and how all of their great works were in black and white. In many cases color photography, although it may have been already invented, was not practical, practicable, and usable in their circumstances. The color films were slow and had a very limited dynamic range- they needed lots of light and scenes of high contrast would be highly problematic. Kodachrome was invented in the late 1930s but making prints from those transparencies was a difficult procedure that oftentimes yielded poor results. There was a Kodachrome printing material that yielded very monochromatic results. Type "R" papers and Ciba came later and there were still reproduction deficits, contrast issues, and certain exaggerated colors. Inter-negatives were not fun either. There were dye-transfer methods but those were extremely painstaking and complex. Most news publications were in black and white and except for National Geographic and early editions of Life Magazine- color came later. Newspapers ran rotogravure supplements only on weekends and the contents were usually feature stories, not hard news. I just can't imagine the iconic photographers shooting the Farm Security Administration images with A.S.A 16 "slide" film in the darkness of the Dust Bowl and sending the film to Kodak in a mailer. Perhaps, if they had today's technology, they MAY have opted for color in certain instances.

My favorite iconic portrait photographer is Yosef Karsh. His early work and that of many of his contemporaries were made with ORTHOCHROMATIC black and white emulsions. These "red blind" films exaggerated skin textures and made for very dramatic renditions. The panchromatic films came later on but the ortho emulsions remained the choice of may portraitists for dramatic and theatrical studies. Careful processing involving pre-soaking and soft-working developer enabled ample shadow detail in rich low-key images. Color negative emotions did not do well in shadow detail more than a 1:3 lighting ratio. Many early color negative emulsions were grainy and had poor resolution properties. When the dynamic range of color negative film and papers improved, many iconic portraitists, including Karsh, began to work in color as well.

Something else to consider: Many major archives, including the National Archives of Canada, preferred black and white sepia-toned prints for their permanent collections- not for aesthetic reasons but the fact that these prints, properly processed on fiber-based papers were considered to be truly "archival". I had several portraits that were requested by the archives and they asked for black and white sepia-toned or "selenium toned" versions of my color images. Some archivists still consider color prints non-permanent and I don't know what their current opinion is of "ink" and current digital printing materials.

Myself? I like to work in both mediums. I will usually decide to work in one or the other, on any given job,
from the get-go unless the client requires both. If the job requires both, if possible, I will still approach each medium individually as to technique. For convenience and expeditious reasons, I could shoot everything in color and go for conversion after the fact but oftentimes I find that proper contrasts and true "panchromatic" renditions are lacking and correction may go beyond simple post-processing remedies.

POVDOV

I'm confused. That's okay it's a frequent condition, however your statement roughly translated: "B & W captures the soul of a picture if the colors are not interesting." Interesting colors is a subjective kind of thing. I think the soul of a picture that captures humans and wild animals is seen through their eyes, regardless of color or no color. The content of a photograph if it depicts human or animal suffering will of course have soul. Children playing and happy even when it's a family in a refuge camp has soul in B&W or color. Having soul to me means bring out sympathy or anger or happiness from the viewer. Okay that's it folks

aellman Loc: Boston MA

Why don't we argue over something important, like which is better, the hamburger or the hot dog? Well, it kinda depends on who you ask, doesn't it?

aellman Loc: Boston MA

Why don't we argue over something important, like which is better, the hamburger or the hot dog? Well, it kinda depends on who you ask, doesn't it?

Tomcat5133 Loc: Gladwyne PA

Guys what it all this bickering. Color and B&W are both great for creations. The
image and what story of emotion it creates is the home run. I have a silver and a black
car. I like both. Content and tech skill brings the home run.

Tomcat5133 Loc: Gladwyne PA

Guys what it all this bickering. Color and B&W are both great for creations. The
image and what story of emotion it creates is the home run. I have a silver and a black
car. I like both. Content and tech skill brings the home run.

Bill_de Loc: US

The second one is obviously better. That's not because it is in color, but because it has a bird in it.

Actually I like them both Linda.


---

via the lens Loc: Northern California, near Yosemite NP

I just read about a photographer, David Yarrow, who does the most beautiful BW work. He believes that the majority of people who collect art believe that BW is art and that they will buy BW work where they might not buy color work. His work sells for $70,000 up to $200,000 for one print. One photo shoot can run up to $50,000 to complete. He did a crazy BW print based on the "wolf of wall street," movie that included a wolf in an office with people who depicted a scene from the movie. He does a lot of wildlife and they are wonderful shots. Nick Brandt also has done phenomenal work with BW animals in Africa, he put out a trilogy of books. Both of these photographers, very successful in what they do, know how to create a stunning print in BW. If you are interested in learning more about them they can be found online. I like color and I like BW. I need to study more to create better BW prints and that is my goal for the months ahead. I think the first hurdle, for many people, is to simply create a good image.