I'm making a big decision and I need some help from veterans

[Nh3]

I'm seriously thinking about shooting B&W only (film).

Of course you might say do as you like and what you feel is right, but I'm not a very emotional person and I need reasons and good examples to make a major decision.

One of the reasons that I feel I should stop using color is that it divides my mental energy into two spheres which are very different. Color is very tempting and beautiful and as a photographer its very hard to resist a beautiful sunset or a rainbow, secondly visualizing for color is very different from b&w. With color its usually the subject as it is, with b&w its mostly about how it will look like in b&w. I want to focus mainly on looking at things as they would appear in b&w and make that a habit; therefore, I think I should stop shooting color altogether and discipline myself and put all my energy and focus into b&w... I already sold one of my DSLRs and i will put the other one in storage and for those times where a photo is needed like when selling an item online.

I'm not saying one is superior to the other, my heart has always been in b&w and I think I should just focus on that.

I would like to get some feedback on this decision.

 

[chris91387]

pick up an Olympus XA or little Canonet QL17 and only keep color film in it. they're pretty small and wouldn't take too much room in your bag and it's always there if you decide you see something that you just have to shoot on color.

i've started doing that myself.

 

[gns]

"...my heart has always been in b&w and I think I should just focus on that".

There you have it. What else do you want/need? Plus, it's not that BIG of a decision. It isn't as if you can't change your mind later, is it?

Cheers,
Gary

 

[funkaoshi]

Why don't you just shoot B&W. And if you find yourself deciding you want to shoot colour again, you can. Unless they stop making film.

It's like you're looking for a dilemma that doesn't exist.

 

[eli griggs]

I think Chris has a good plan there, only I'll add the Yashica GS type to the short list of color shooters. I have seen far more pleasing results posted here from the larger Yashica than the other two combined and I do own and use a QL17, XA2 and Yashica on a regular rotation. It seems to me that the GS(N or T) just gives a cleaner, more pleasing image, especially in low light.

Cheers

 

[icebear]

Why don't you just shoot B&W. And if you find yourself deciding you want to shoot colour again, you can. Unless they stop making film.

It's like you're looking for a dilemma that doesn't exist.

I completely agree, so what's the problem putting a color film into your camera if your have the urge for some color in life when shooting only BW? Not really a big deal - you just have to buy a film 😉.

 

[nikon_sam]

I don't have any problems with your decision to just shoot B&W...
I made a decision to come back to B&W after shooting a ton of color film...
I felt I needed to get back to basics...I haven't quit shooting color, in fact I shoot just as much color as B&W...
What I've done for now is dedicate several cameras to B&W film so when I have them and use them I know it's B&W...
Never say never and don't write it in stone...if you want to just shoot in B&W go for it and have fun just be flexible at times when color would be the better choice...

 

[Dogman]

I'm all for it.

I've never had a roll of color in either of my Leicas. Before I bought the Leicas, I had never had a roll of black and white in either of the Canon EOS bodies I was using at the time. It simplifies your work if you concentrate on one or the other. Of course you can do both at once with digital.

 

[nightfly]

Just buy a bunch of black and white film and go shoot. It's that simple.

I'd recommend buying a bunch of the same kind of black and white film, if you want it to be an especially productive exercise and soup it the same way. Take as many variables out as you can and just focus on shooting. Of course, adjust your process as needed.

I shot black and white exclusively for years. Now I shoot it primarily with the exception being that when I travel I throw a roll of Reala in a Yashica T4 and don't end up shooting even the entire roll. I also bring the T4 to the beach with me over the summer filled with color film.

I think dedicating a camera to black and white is the best way to do it, if you can. No confusion and when you pick up that camera, you switch yourself into black and white "mode".

 

[pesphoto]

Ive always been a b/w shooter. Its just what I like. Its that simple.

 

[kxl]

Nothing wrong with that... I typically shoot B&W film myself, and in fact only restrict myself to one lens when I go out for the day. No dilemma there.

The potential problem comes in when you begin selling off your gear, UNLESS you are totally sure you're not going to miss shooting what you just sold off. Using that logic, I've sold off my R4A and 21mm, knowing that I won't miss it, but have not sold my DSLR, even though I rarely use it -- I know if I sell my DSLR, I'll be buying another one in the future.

 

[bmattock]

I would like to get some feedback on this decision.

Heinlein said "Specialization is for insects." That kind of works for me. I like everything. Some things appeal to me more than others, and some work I like more than others, even though none of my photography resembles that.

As far as B&W goes, I love it. On the other hand, some photos would not make sense to me in B&W.

Taken this last weekend (B&W conversion):



Taken same day (no conversion):



There are things I choose to concentrate on from time to time, but as my desires change, so do my methods. If you feel you have to lock yourself into one form to achieve satisfaction, then so mote it be. Nothing wrong with it, IMHO, but it isn't my path.

 

[MikeL]

Have you seen this thread-http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showpost.php?p=927733&postcount=4? 😉

My ignorant 2 bits- switching back and forth keeps things interesting.

 

[Roger Hicks]

One of the reasons that I feel I should stop using color is that it divides my mental energy into two spheres which are very different. Color is very tempting and beautiful and as a photographer its very hard to resist a beautiful sunset or a rainbow, secondly visualizing for color is very different from b&w. With color its usually the subject as it is, with b&w its mostly about how it will look like in b&w. I want to focus mainly on looking at things as they would appear in b&w and make that a habit; therefore, I think I should stop shooting color altogether and discipline myself and put all my energy and focus into b&w... .

A superb analysis. IF you have the willpower to do it, I suspect it is a very good idea indeed, though I don't know, because I have to shoot colour to keep editors happy.

Cheers,

Roger

 

[benlees]

I shoot both and find I 'see' (I hate that whole 'see' thing- but it works!) better in colour, but like you, I find doing both at the same time a bit distracting. Not sure why. That said, I am planning to shoot b&w more to see if I can work through it- so the colour and the b&w don't compete, as it were.

I say go for b&w. Life isn't that short; colour will always be there.

 

[jan normandale]

Some people can speak two languages, some three or more. It's an asset to be able to be versatile. Shoot BW only and it's like only knowing English when you meet a bilingual person in Paris. You end up wishing you could speak French too. Limit yourself or not. Your choice.

BTW: I don't think shooting BW only is a "big" decision. A big decision is "do I continue with photography or not?"

 

[RayPA]

If you're working in a wet darkroom and "doing things" traditionally (or relying on others to do this), then sure it makes sense, but nowadays the only "thing" keeping you from thinking b&w when shooting color is you. Just convert the scans to black and white.
I've been out shooting and have run out of b&w film, and could only get color film. I just keep shooting, visualizing b&w. I do the same with my DSLR. I shoot with the intention of converting. Shooting color also gives you the advantage of...shooting color if you want.

 

[Gumby]

I want to focus mainly on looking at things as they would appear in b&w and make that a habit; therefore, I think I should stop shooting color altogether and discipline myself and put all my energy and focus into b&w.

Practice makes perfect. If you desire to improve your abilities in B&W I think you've chosen a good approach.

 

[Roger Hicks]

Some people can speak two languages, some three or more. It's an asset to be able to be versatile. Shoot BW only and it's like only knowing English when you meet a bilingual person in Paris. You end up wishing you could speak French too. Limit yourself or not. Your choice.

Dear Jan,

Not a precise parallel.

Very, very few people can write as elegantly in another language as in their mother tongue; most people who are bilingual are not artists in either language.

For that matter, there are few poets who are equally skilled in prose, and few novelists who are great poets, even in their mother tongue. Something similar is true of sculptors and painters, or footballers and cricket players.

I'd turn your advice around: spread yourself too thin at your peril. You may be the one in ten million who can write with equal elegance in French and English. Unless you are, you may do better to apply yourself with maximum diligence to a single art-form.

Cheers,

Roger

 

[sanmich]

I think I understand what you are talking about.
I shoot only B&W, and print only full frame.
I definitely have lost shots to small and stupid mistakes (sloppy framing, tilted horizons, etc)
On the othe other hand, I like the simplicity of the process, and I like the "standardization" in the results. I had an exhibit of my pictures, and the uniformity in the format added to the readibility of the story (do I make sense here?)
Good luck!