What is the reason to go to B&W?

[rbalcom]

I would be the first to admit that I am somewhat creatively challenged, but even in the days when I shot film, I could never understand why some preferred to shot black and white. Now with the shift to digital and the ability to do do conversions with post processing, I see folks saying some images look better in B&W than in color. My question is, why?

What makes a given image better as shades of gray than color, assuming that you get the color right (proper WB and exposure)? Your thoughts would be greatly appreciated.

[Valadilene]

Sometimes I think its the emtional impact of a photograph. Instead of focusing on the colors which inspire a certain psychological reaction, its more about the lighting/content/ect than what color it is.. whcih is why some photos DONT work in black and white.. such as some sunsets. Granted, people have done great black and white landscapes (one could always cite ansel adams) but most people are drawn to colors in a sunset, especially if your subject is mostly sky and clouds.

I think it depends what kind of message the photo is meant to convey. Some can do it equally well in color or black and white.. others have little to no impact in black and white.. others might become too cluttered, distracting, or otherwise crappy because of the colors within the scene of an otherwise striking photograph. a misplaced piece of red in a photo can severly detract from the main subject of a color photograph.

I have a photo that I took of my friend playing the piano in a suit and fadora lit by only the lamp on the piano.. Its very emotive and in black and white. What the viewer doesnt know was that his hat and fedora didnt match, and the lamp was a nasty shade of bright green that DEFINATLY would not have translated well had the photo been in color, and the light was VERY VERY tungsten. Also, black and white made the photo feel dated, like the scene was out of the 40's. (it also jsut happened that i only had B&W film on me at the time..)

As is a good portion of creative things- it can be subjective. Ive argued with people before who insist the photo looked better in color.. or vice versa.. at times it is personal preferance.

[Duffy Pratt]

With film, some B&W films absolutely showed more detail than their color counterparts. That's not true in digital, especially when you start with a 3 channel RAW file.

Otherwise, there are some pictures where the color is just a distraction.

Duffy

[SCone]

Impact, stark contrast, emotion, and it just plain works

[MicWayWal]

Simply stated,
When the artist determines that color has become a distraction from the essence of the statement a photograph is intended to make, it should be produced in B&W. It is the artists subjective prerogative.

[toverman]

Removing the color puts the focus more on shape, shadow and contrast. Sometimes the color image tells the better story, sometimes color just mucks it up. It's a matter of personal taste, but artistically and technically (esp. when getting the color is not only not important but near impossible) there are tons of reasons.

I always shoot in color and then make a conversion decision later when it lends itself to a better image.

[Jaime Vinas]

what everyone said before me. I personally favor B&W due to the distraction factor in color. However that said, not everything looks good in B&W

[110240]

When I shot black and white film it was for ease and speed, not preference. Because back in the day newspapers were printed in b&w. B&w film processing is simpler, cheaper and quicker than colour.

[rbalcom]

Originally Posted by SCone

Impact, stark contrast, emotion, and it just plain works

Stephen, I think that this is where that "creatively challenged" part kicks in leaving me going "Huh?"

[rbalcom]

Originally Posted by MicWayWal

Simply stated,
When the artist determines that color has become a distraction from the essence of the statement a photograph is intended to make, it should be produced in B&W. It is the artists subjective prerogative.

Michael, this gets me beyond the "creatively challenged" limitation and makes sense, except that if the image gets the color right, I'm not sure how it could be distracting, except for Heathers comment about people who put colors together that clash.

[rbalcom]

Originally Posted by toverman

Removing the color puts the focus more on shape, shadow and contrast. Sometimes the color image tells the better story, sometimes color just mucks it up. It's a matter of personal taste, but artistically and technically (esp. when getting the color is not only not important but near impossible) there are tons of reasons.

Todd, I think I actually see what you're saying. I will have to start looking at my images to see the shape, shadow and contrast rather than just seeing the picture. That will take some effort cause that "creatively challenged" limitation sees pictures. Thanks.

[rbalcom]

Thanks to all of you responded. Your responses have collectively helpful to me in understanding why.

[Big Dog]

Originally Posted by rbalcom

I could never understand why some preferred to shot black and white. ... My question is, why?

Since the advent of color, black and white has become simply another medium. In my opinion as a black and white film shooter, the most important word in your observation is "preferred". Why do I (and so many others) "prefer" black and white? Especially in film, B&W film does not "see", that is, it does not react to the color spectrum the way we "see" in color, or supposedly the way color film and sensors record it initially. In fact, color films and sensors don't actually record a scene 100% accurately, there is always a compromise.

Black and white films have characteristics that made them all a bit different. On top of that, the use of filters allows us to change the response patterns if we wish. Those dramatic, dark skys with the popping white clouds are not just a matter of changing the blue to the equivelent gray, but of removing some or all the blue (via filters) to make the sky go black. Skin tones can also be manipulated. Or, two similar color values that would look the same in gray, can be subtlely or dramatically separated. Basically, the B&W photographer has a whole toolbox available to manipulate and change tonal relationships in an image.

As others have said, this makes the monocrome image about light, shadow, and form - a more abstract representation rather than a realistic representation. Many images that I see from digital captures have simply had the color removed and not much attention (if any) paid the the resulting tonal relationships. This is not the same as using B&W film, IMO. However, I am not saying that a skilled Photoshop user can not produce similar results, just many do not.

So, it is a choice, and a choice based on perceived advantages and yes, preferences. Hope that helps.

[venchka]

What David said.

From Ken Lee's web pages:

"We strongly advise those desirous of doing artistic work to begin by studying tone... In short, the student should think of all the possible harmonies and discords that can be found indoors and out of doors and he should, before taking a plate, make a mental translation of the subject into black and white... He should at first think nothing whatever of composition, or the more poetical qualities of a picture; but simply study tone, and by this he will learn thoroughly exposures and development. Let him eschew all requests to take portraits, dogs, horses, parks, and what-nots; but let him always study tone. When he has mastered tone, and with it exposure and development, he knows the most difficult part of his technique and practice, let him then proceed to picture-making."

Peter Henry Emerson, Naturalistic Photography for Students of the Art, 1889

From Ted Grant:

“When you photograph people in colour you photograph their clothes. But when you photograph people in black and white, you photograph their souls.” (Ted Grant)

And this, from me:

Black & white film allows me to create something tangible from opening the box of film to displaying the finished print. The whole process, for better or worse, is in my hands.

After lying dormant for decades, I'm having a ball.

[Bruce M. Morris]

Originally Posted by rbalcom

What makes a given image better as shades of gray than color, assuming that you get the color right (proper WB and exposure)? Your thoughts would be greatly appreciated.

In some ways, example can be the best way to see this. I am sure if you have perused photography books you have seen the images of a ball, pyramid and cube arrange in a scene and then lit to show the effects of light on a subject. You could do the same only shoot one in B&W and others with different colored lights on them to see what happens to the image.

Another example of subject that begs for B&W over color.. crosslighting on worn wood or brick surfaces to show age. yes color can show the same thing but there is a very definite feeling of the texture in a b&w Image.