What is so captivating about black and white photography?
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In the mid 1800s painters making a living out of portraiture experimented with photography. To them it was a new technique where they could re-use their skills in image composition. The camera was held on a tripod and the operator would precisely frame and focus the picture under a black cloth to cut ambient light.
Maybe the lack of color forces the mind to evaluate the graphic composition of the image.
The only place in life where we see in black and white is at night or in poorly lit conditions like in a cave. Therefore mentally black and white may be associated with fear or unease.
Black and white gives an image a unique level of abstraction. Your eye never runs independently of your mind. A smooth shading in the levels of grey is quite suggestive in expressing volume or even temperature. In the days of chemical darkrooms the photographer would mask some parts of the negative to give more time for some rich graduation to appear in the highlighted areas.
A black and white portrait has always more stature than the same image in color. Yet again the portrait of a child is better in color unless you focus on the plight of the poor the orphan or the sick. A black and white portrait of a woman causes you to concentrate on her stare as the makeup has a lesser impact. Looking into someone's eyes is a gateway into looking into their soul. Black and white portraits have this uncanny effect.
The removal of color in a still-life or a landscape has a dramatic impact. The canopy of trees quickly turns into a silhouette. A grey sky announces rain or worse thunderstorm even if the image was taken on a bright sunny day. Still objects contend with one another through shapes and beams of light.
Photography can suspend life out of time but this is even more so in black and white. It is only recently that newspapers print in color. Photo journalism has produced a steady tradition of celebrities and leaders providing instant recognition of their features precisely because those images are etched in our memory in black and white.
- Photo Exhibition
classic images to enjoy and behold
Fennelseed Level 7 Commenter 8 months ago
Interesting comparisons, Bruno. I love Black and White Photography and was lucky enough to have my own (B&W) darkroom a few years ago. It was pure bliss mucking around with different techniques and filters, but often small gain for many hours work. These days I often turn a digital portrait to black and white and all with the click of a button. Nowhere near as much fun, but effect is still more appealing to me. You are right, Black and White images create a lasting impression and takes the image beyond what can normally seen in life.
Interesting Hub, thank you.