What’s the deal with Black and White?

Is black and white photography any different from color photography? Are there any images that veer to one side over the other? Are black and white images made by simply checking a box in your editing program? These are all good questions and, as I have always found myself especially fond of black and white imagery, this is something I’d like to get into detail about.

To begin, black and white photography began out of necessity. Early photographic processes only captured the amount of light in an exposure rather than the accompanying hues. This left the viewer to focus solely on the subject matter over anything else. As time went on, photographers began to exploit the technical tools at their disposal to adjust the tones of the image to guide the viewer to what they deemed most important. This was also used widely by those who were trying to bring photography into the world of fine art.

When color photography arrived it came in different forms, including colored photography and color photography (the former involving the coloring of black and white prints and the latter involving actual color chemistry). While it was impressive to see a more naturally realized version of a person or scene the process, and sometimes the mood, lost a bit of feeling along the way. As equipment evolved, processed colors became very unique leading many photographers to become die hard fans of certain film stocks. This continued with digital photography where the debate continues over which brand has the most pleasing colors straight from the camera.

Now, I know what you’re thinking, this little history lesson was great but it doesn’t answer any of the questions up top. I’m getting to that, bear with me. So, now that the stage has been set accordingly everything from this point on will be my own personal answers to the above questions. As all photographers are different I am unable to say whether or not my answers would pertain to anyone else. First off, I believe black and white photography to be very different from color photography. As I stated above, black and white photography allows you to rid the photograph of distractions in a different way than you would with color. It simplifies things in that it is strict about what it allows the viewer to experience. It also has the ability to bring a “Timeless” look to an image. After all, without colors to associate with a certain period, place or scene we’re left to take in the image at its most essential roots - what does this image allow me to feel. This last piece, about the “Timeless” look has always been a big reason why I’m so drawn to black and white images. Even when I paint I always use a limited palette almost to the point of a grisaille, which is a fancy term for a painting comprised entirely of neutrals as opposed to colors. It’s not that colors aren’t beautiful they just sometimes take precedence over what’s most important. I like color but I feel black and white.

Question two, are there any images that veer more to one side over the other - absolutely. When I look through images from an engagement session or a wedding, really anything, I am looking first for what hits me when I see the image. If it’s something that is helped along by the color in the image then it remains a color image. If, instead, it’s something that draws an emotion from me then maybe it needs to be converted to black and white. I keep in mind the scene I’m working with to ensure I don’t have a single image that just seems out of place but for the most part this process serves me well.

Last question, are black and white images made by simply checking a box while I’m editing - definitely not. When I go through a session I edit for color, exposure, contrast, etc. Only once these adjustments have been made can I honestly gauge which way the image should go. If I feel it’s a contender for black and white, the editing process starts all over as I adjust different parameters to bring the focus where I want it. This can be time consuming but it’s what I believe in and I’m proud that my black and white images aren’t created with a simple click of the mouse.

In the end, black and white images can be just as powerful, if not more so, than color images. I believe they both serve different purposes and can mean something different depending on who stands before them. I have always wanted to edit a wedding entirely in black and white, pushing my understanding of the genre that much further. If this sounds like a cool idea to you please let me know. I bet we can create something pretty unique together.