When to use black and white?

[Rocinante]

This photo seems a good choice for b&w to me.



I've always wondered about this one though-it seems to me like it might have been much better as a color photograph. Any thoughts?

[Clark4Prez]

1. They both work

I think they both "work" in a technical sense. Did you get the picture you were hoping to capture is a better question.

B & W works great for shots of people. Look at the work of Henri Cartier-Bresson, he shot only in B & W and never used a flash. He was one of the most respected photographers from the 30's until his passing this year. Since it's copyrighted works, I can't link his images, but check out http://www.henricartierbresson.org/hcb/home_en.htm or http://www.photology.com/bresson/

Here's my best impression of Cartier-Bresson:

[Rocinante]

5. Yeah

I think both of them work pretty well, actually I try to stay away from doing color as much as possible. Here's another one that could be either way I guess.

[funky_bug]

2. Since my first responses were "oh wow" I would say you made good choices

I actually prefer very grainy black and white film... Ilford 3200 is my personal favorite. I agree with your assessment of the first, and though I can see where you might be interested in seeing the second in color, I feel it might detract from the final product. Black and white forces us to notice the nuances in light and dark, and with your second photograph, highlights the cheering fans. Their sillouettes tell the story, and I think if you had caught it in color, the distractions might have taken away from the mood of the shot.

[Rocinante]

6. I like the grainy effect too

I usually just push Tri X to get it. Here's one I tried, but it needs to be lightened up a bit, maybe.

[Philostopher]

3. That's a tough call, on the second one.

I guess it would depend on whether color would have added anything to the shot. Likely not, actually, since you really took the picture for the contrast (I assume so, anyway).

I've got one here that probably would have been equally effective either way -- it just happened that I had black and white film in the camera, so that's what I got, but I think it probably would have been decent in color for different reasons (the red of the faded Coke sign might have made a neat effect), but I'm not sorry it ended up being B&W, either:



Edit -- I find that street scenes frequently are more effective in B&W, especially if the building or the architecture is the focus.

[Rocinante]

7. I like it

That turned out well. Here's one that I guess is better off being in color.

[Philostopher]

9. You're right about that one, I think.

The porch roof is a nice contrast with the grass.

[NashVegas]

4. When You Can

Get something more interesting in texture than color?

Circumstance doesn't always provide you with a harmonic color palette. And if you can't get one going yourself, B & W is great for those times; you can hang your photo on texture & geometry.

I agree, the lower photo might have done better as color. I would try Photoshoping it and playing with the contrast/bright levels.

[Rocinante]

8. I might try that

I have just a basic photoshop but that's a good idea.

[alfredo]

10. The second one is best black and white. Put it in Photoshop and play

with contrast and curves. You will be happy with what you can do with it. It is fine like it is, but it never hurts playing with it to see the possibilities.

There seems to be a spiritual feel about the picture.

The first one is a fine picture too. I wouldn't do a thing with it. It is perfect the way it is.

[Touchdown]

11. No other appropriate time than the Phelps Clan.

[LeftPeopleFinishFirst]

12. I use BW for everything

Especially architecture.

[okasha]

13. I have to put in my vote, too, that the first photo is perfect as is.

Color would ruin it. The only thing you might want to try with it is to sepia tone it, either in the darkroom--there are some good kits out now that won't overwhelm you with the rotten egg smell--or in Photoshop. Go to Hue/Saturation and set Hue at about 31-33. That might make an interesting alternative picture, not a replacement.

The only thing I never use black and white for is butterflies.

Okasha