Darren Watson
@animated.antics22 Jun
Ditching Colour?
I Always shoot with the camera in b&w, find it easier to meter and compose. Im now getting to the stage where im disappointed when I get to editing the raws in colour even when the colours should in theory work or the image asks for it. Im probably just shit at editing colour, but I always end up going back to sticking to b&w, and I think im going to end up sticking with it for a while. Anyone else get this way? (Josh need not comment because he has the best colours out there) 🤣
I do the same thing, shooting with the camera in b&w, and decide which to edit after, which is an advantage to shooting digital, lol. When editing color, I've come to realize that every color doesn't need to pop out because it can just be confusing for the audience to look at. Sticking to one color in the frame that you find ties the whole image together and work around that.
Maybe your eye naturally gravitates to black and white. Colour gives you another visual language to work with, but if the photographs consistently feel stronger in monochrome, perhaps that's simply where your photographic voice lies at the moment. you can always come back to colour there's no right or wrong
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For me color vs bw is a choice per photo. Both are valid, some photos work great in color (where color is a subject in itself or just helps to drive the composition), others work better in bw (where its more important to focus the eye on shapes for example).
This choice is not conducive to a cohesive portfolio, but I never cared about that really.
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If you're happy with b&w photos go for it. Color is very difficult to work with and gear matters. From what I've seen, the best digital color comes with a price from European manufacturers, but there are good options that aren't super expensive. My top four, in order: Hasselblad, Leica, Fuji, Ricoh.
I’m not entirely convinced that gear is the deciding factor when it comes to color.
Different cameras definitely have their own subtle color science, but the magic really starts with the scene itself.
To echo a point @antonpodolsky made before, some environments just naturally lend themselves to great color. The camera you happen to be holding shouldn't dictate or limit that potential.
It does. ;-)
These were all with a leica q2, my other dailies are an x100v and xpro2. For me its definitely difficulty in the editing.
Replying to Darren Watson
I find the HSL sliders useful, especially darkening the colors that I want to bring out, like reds and oranges.
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I am usually pretty decisive when selecting a black and white or colour edit for my photos. Lately, I have started second guessing myself again. I don't think it is necessary to give up one or the other entirely though. Sure, it's cool for Ally Shally and Spicy MeatJosh to be known for their colour palette or monochrome edits but every time I think of committing to one only shooting colour or b&w, I immediately get inspired to shoot that way again.
For the record, I think the pictures you posted here look better in colour. The monochromatic nature of the uniforms really makes the colours pop.
Thanks Luke. Im the same i always end up erring towards black and white but when the colours work you just know. With these I know the colours really work but I just think there's something missing in the edit that keeps me coming back to the b&w.