inelsonrato
@inelsonrato14 Jul
Colour or B&W ?? and why
I just shoot colour but love B&W, every time I try photograph B&W I just don't like my photos. Open for debate
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I'm not an expert on B&W photography, but from what I've read in order to have a good B&W image there's certain things to keep in mind when shooting. Lots of YT videos about this topic.
I dont want to shoot B&W because I prefer colour but I really like to see B&W pictures, I just dont like my photos in B&W
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From my limited B&W experience, I have to go out and specifically look for scenes that work in B&W. I struggle to shoot for colour and black and white at the same time. I feel like it is a completely different way of seeing.
I personally like B&W when the scenes have high contrast between the whites and the blacks.
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B&W can make the main subject or idea stand out more in a busy environment, for example. I wouldn’t necessarily say that one must intentionally shoot in color vs B&W with a digital camera. I like to have the freedom to decide in post.
I tend to go with colour most of the time. Especially if shooting digital. But when I shoot B&W film I tend to pay more attention to how light, shapes and texture appear in the open. Also portraits are sometimes a good thing to try shoot in B&W as it lets you focus on the person and remove any distractions. In general I’d say I don’t have many images that standout out in my portfolio (to me) that are in B&W but the few I have I really like and wouldn’t be the same in colour.
I think it's just an instinct thing, like you just know when something works in black and white. A lot of people seem to use B&W to try and save a 'nothing' shot from what I see online which diminishes the value of great B&W imagery. I think like Bruno has commented, it can help to cut out visual noise in photos and allow focus on just the people. Often leading to more soulful work.
I began shooting colour but was more and more often converting to B&W to the point where I now use a camera that only shoots B&W. I only shoot people and I find colour is a distraction - that real character, personality, the essence of the image works much better in B&W. Just an opinion and there are many fantastic colour photos where the image only works because of the colour. So, there's no right or wrong just each to their own!
I 100% agree. When I transitioned to shooting mostly people is when I decided to basically dedicate myself to black and white. I too got a black and white only camera. I found that it also changed the way I shot my landscapes as well. After doing it for so long i rarely look at color anymore, which has made this latest assignment a bit of a challenge lol
There are different styles of B&W if you are shooting digital and have an EVF I would recommend setting it to b&W and configuring it for your style of B&W if you know what you want to shoot e.g. high contrast for example. This allows you to see what your shooting as close to your style you like. The RAW will be in colour, the jpg should match the style if you shoot both, camera manufactures may vary in how this works. :)
If no EVF or using Film, look for contrast is the simple advice I would give.
I used to shoot 50% colour and B&W, I had a critic with a photographer and they told me your a colour photographer very confidently. I have leaned into colour more but partly from the consistency standpoint. Looking at your instgram colour is your contrast opposed to highlights and shadows. Do you have an example image where you have tried both? you could try picking something with lots of contrast but there the colour isn't that strong.
I go with what works for the photograph; shooting in colour and make the decision later when I've got more time to consider it properly. It's a luxury I never had when I was shooting film but now I don't have to risk compromising a shot because I happened to have the wrong film with me.
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Since I shoot on Film this question is taken care of ahead of time. I shoot about 75% B&W and compose for B&W even when shooting in color. Without color you have to look for contrast, shapes and texture.
I struggle with colour. I always shoot in black and white + raw as the contrast helps me shoot manually. But the editing process after 3 years im still struggling to find consistency with a look with colour.
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Other way round for me. The colour photos I take just look like snapshots. I'm much more comfortable with B&W. I don't follow any specific rules about B&W but always go on instinct. The only constant I do follow is to always go out with the intention to shoot B&W as it never works as an afterthought and needs the right composition to work effectively.
For me it depends on the image. I always shoot in colour. However I sometimes convert to B&W afterwards. Some images may convey a different feel or even meaning in B&W (and equally in colour). Colour can express warm emotions more strongly. B&W can convey coldness or an historic vibe. Best to think what you're trying to express before deciding which to use .