blank&white over used?discussion.

[Laberin]

i was having a discussion with a few friends the other day.they were complaining about the fact that black and white is over used and over rated.what do you prefer?and what is your view on this discusion?

[Dzerzhinski46]

i was having a discussion with a few friends the other day.they were complaining about the fact that black and white is over used and over rated.what do you prefer?and what is your view on this discusion?

Dear Laberin,

I once heard a very good reason for using black and white film. It wasn't for photos, but for cinematography. It emphasizes shape, mood, and in essence concentrates the subject of the picture. Some would think that color is a fantastic medium, and they would not be wrong. But in a particular picture, color may distract from the essence of the picture, or in other words, the subject. Take for instsnce the following example. Your subject is plainly dressed. However, in the background, you have a bright red moped speeding by that winds up in your picture. This will be a distraction I promise . Another point is this: of all the famous photographers through history (Frank Capra, W. Eugene Weston , Ansel Adams, etc.), how many used black and white effectively? Ansel Adams' pictures of Yosemite are stunning enough to drool over. I could cite example after example, but you might say, what about overuse? Some people may think that balck and white is automatically a gateway to better pictures, but this is no more true than that a Hasselblad is the only camera that can take good pictures. In both these cases, these are personal opinions that hold no logical water. Hence this automatic reaction of using black and white film. The oversue, however, of a certain medium does not disqualify it from being used. There are plenty of bad musicians out there, but nobody is saying that all music is bad and overused . Black and white emphasizes form, mood, and the subject without distraction.

[Laberin]

well thank you for your input.That makes perfect sense.thank you for giving me something to add to this discussion with my ignorant freinds

any other comments welcome

[another view]

Overused? Hardly - but anything can be a cliche. Color can be a subject itself, look at the great work done by Pete Turner and others. B&W makes you, as a photographer, look a little deeper into your subject and what's really important in your photograph. IMO it's harder to make an excellent B&W than a great color shot, but when you've got it the results are amazing.

[walterick]

Overused? Since the advent of digital, I say "yes." Since any image can be instantly turned into black and white, we have been seeing an influx of black and white photography, it seems. Overrated? I don't think so. Black and white photography has been around longer than color photography, remember. I don't think it's overrated. A bad B+W print is just as bad as a bad color print.

My thoughts.
Rick

[Dzerzhinski46]

A bad B+W print is just as bad as a bad color print.

My thoughts.
Rick

Dear Rick,

Remember what Paul Simon said in "Kodachrome" :"Everything looks worse in black and white...".

Dzerzhinski

[mjs1973]

Of all film used, only 1% is b&w, so as far sa being overused, I would have to say no. For myself, I can only look at a few b&w photos before I get bored with them, uless they are very good photos. If I were to look at 2 or 3 rolls of b&w pictures of a kids b-day party, I would be bored with them after about the 4th shot, but maybe that's just me. I do think there is an over use of b&w to add an instant feel of "art" to a photo tho, and I find that rather boring also. I love the medium of b&w, but IMHO there is a special place and time to use it.

Michel

[adina]

Of all film used, only 1% is b&w


Key word there being film. A lot of black and white is now color digital images converted. For me 90% of what I shoot ends up in black and white. But that's a personal preference. I really prefer people images in black and white. Would I convert an entire trip to DisneyWorld into black and white? No, probably not. But if I am taking pics of my kids to put on the fridge or on dad's desk, then they probably would be black and white. Unless it was dance stuff, then it would be color, because the costumes are a big part of it. Unless it was dance class, not a recital, because then the clothing is not so extreme. Unless it's Halloween, then they are in costumes again. Unless....

See, you can go on and on. I think it mostly a matter of personal preference. And if there wasn't an internet, where you can see thousands of other photogs using black and white, would you still feel it is overused?

adina

[shadz]

Black and white just seems to be popular right now, the growing street photography "movement," Ansel Adams, et. al. have brought it out as a mainstream photographic medium. When I show my photo's, (to anyone who doesn't outrun me ) I always hear "Oh! That would look great as a black and white!" from people who aren't sure which end of the camera to point at others. Me, I'm a color man with my dRebel, but I do experiment, and I still have my trusty Rebel TI for when I want to shoot "pure.". If it was left up to my ex-wife, every picture we have of our kids would be in black and white. Go figger.

[Franglais]

i was having a discussion with a few friends the other day.they were complaining about the fact that black and white is over used and over rated.what do you prefer?and what is your view on this discusion?

The choice between black & white or colour is a question of personal choice and preference. Some things just look better in black & white - to some people. Your friends don't like it? Well that's fine.

Personally - I find it depends on the subject. About 4/5 of the landscapes and holiday photos that I take I prefer in black & white. Same thing for set portraits. For family, friends and parties - it has to be colour.

Generally things I feel warm and enthusiastic about I want to do in colour. When I want to tell a story simply and the colour in the subject is just getting in the way I use black-and-white.

Charles