The retro look is in today, but that’s not why I prefer black & white photographs to their color counterparts. To me, nothing captures the essence of a scene like these shades of grey do, especially with the latest innovations in technology. There’s a vast difference in the black & white pictures we take today and the ones that were around when the art of photography was first discovered, variances that can be seen in the sophistication and nuances behind each shot. If you have eye for aesthetic detail, I’m sure you’ll agree with my reasons for choosing the simplicity and starkness of black & white over the splash of hues that color makes.
- Skill Speaks: It’s easy to create mini masterpieces with color shots because you don’t have to pay attention to too much detail. But it’s a whole new story with black & white photos where you must dedicate yourself to composition, lighting, perspective and context besides focusing on the subject of the shot.
- Depth Delights: Black & white photographs provide a depth that color pictures do not. They enhance the emotional quotient of a picture and make them look more like artistic creations rather than plain old photos. They have less clutter and distractions and are more focused on the subject than the external surroundings.
- Simple Sophistication: It may seem like an oxymoron, but it’s true that black & white pictures convey both simplicity and sophistication in the same shot. The photos are stark and devoid of any extraneous effects, but even so, manage to feature a sophisticated look and this makes them all the more appealing.
- Develop Dreams: If you’re starting to evince an interest in photography, either for professional or amateur purposes, you’ll find that developing black & white photographs takes considerably less effort and time than giving life to color pictures. Even raw recruits to this field are able to expose, develop and print their own images without too much difficulty.
- Light Lessons: A dull and overcast day may cause much angst to a photographer who’s interested only in color shots, but to someone who wants to shoot in black & white, it’s a dream come true. Poor light may mean the end of the day if you’re shooting in color, but for black and white shots that require low contrast situations, it’s the perfect background.
Black and white photographs offer the greatest control in the post production stage when shot in the RAW format or if your camera doesn’t support it, in the JPEG format. They’re also at their best when shot at a low ISO.