B/W vs Colour: why you choose the one or the other?

[RFH]

To me, the main difference is that a colour photo is sometimes more like an image of the colours themselves, whereas B&W only works if the subject, the action in the image and the composition are on point. Hence, when you get it right, the B&W photo can be really strong and display an emotional content without the distraction from colours.
In my opinion, colour is not terribly important for the quality or impact of a photo.
It depends on the location as well. Here in Denmark everything is dark, grey & brown half the year anyway, so B&W works perfectly here much of the time. When I go to India it's another story: there are beautiful colours everywhere, so why not capture them?

 

[FrankS]

There are several reasons I prefer to shoot B+W over colour:

I like the aesthetics of a B+W image and print.
I like the (further) abstraction from reality that B+W offers.
I like that B+W makes it easier to be more involved in the entire process, from bulk rolling film, processing film, and printing the negatives with an enlarger.
I like the higher degree of control I have over the final image in the B+W process compared to colour.
B+W is less costly to use.

But sometimes, colour IS the subject, and colour film is necessary.

 

[nikon_sam]

These days it's normally color film when shooting at events...these photos will go on to someone else to use for what ever they please...
I shoot B&W mostly for me or my family...
About ten years ago I was using a bunch of color slide film (Velvia 50) when I was traveling a lot...it was a blast and I have a lot of images from that time...then I decided to "Go back to Basics" and return to B&W...been doing that ever since...I have some color film that needs shooting...I just need to find a subject...

 

[Ranchu]

I like the subtlety of colors, there are so many different ones. I appreciate B/W, but I do miss the colors. It makes you forget there were colors.

 

[shadowfox]

B&W is simpler.

That means you have less to work with, thus you have make difficult decisions to achieve harmony in your photographs.

Simpler does not mean it's easier to get a great result.

 

[andredossantos]

I cannot disagree more with the much repeated sentiment that goes something like this: "color is simply about the color, with no other content". Now, one can prefer using or looking at one or the other of course.

IMO, getting an excellent result using color that is not simply a play on colors is quite hard to do well.

 

[Darshan]

I shoot both but mostly B+W.
B+W helps to identify and appreciate the forms, shadows, contrast, composition etc. more so than color.
My wife who is a complete newbie as far as photography is concerned likes B+W photographs of our kids better than the color ones.
Color definitely has it's place though.
In short, I agree with the guy who already has M10/X100/5DMkIII. 😀😀😀

 

[Particular]

I shoot exclusively in color. My approach to photography is that I am trying to walk away with something that caught my attention pretty much as I found it. There is color in the world, so why not record it. That being said, I think I photography the same way I did when I only shot b+w. I don't go for bright colors and tend to adjust them to neutral and desaturate slightly in Lightroom.

I am printing some large pictures from my back catalog. I find that b+w images are much easier to hang on a wall, because they don't conflict with other colors in the room. You can hang them on a colored wall. A large image with one dominant color can really take over a room.

 

[jsrockit]

I find that b+w images are much easier to hang on a wall, because they don't conflict with other colors in the room. You can hang them on a colored wall. A large image with one dominant color can really take over a room.

That's a good point Christian.

 

[Particular]

Here is an image by Armin Linke that is practically monochrome but that really benefits from being having been taken in color.
http://www.konsthall.malmo.se/upload/pressbilder/territories/high_res/9.jpg

 

[FrankS]

Here is an image by Armin Linke that is practically monochrome but that really benefits from being having been taken in color.
http://www.konsthall.malmo.se/upload/pressbilder/territories/high_res/9.jpg

Great example of an image where colour IS the subject or the reason for the image. Take away the red of the flag, and you're left with a ho-hum image. Just my subjective opinion.

 

[Particular]

Great example of an image where colour IS the subject or the reason for the image. Take away the red of the flag, and you're left with a ho-hum image. Just my subjective opinion.

He in fact has a shot in another direction that goes along with this one that is without the red flag. It is still a powerful image. It is an environment that you might as well have shot in b+w as it is so monochrome. Given the fact that it is in color, you kind of stare at it in disbelief that there is not more color in the environment. It is this conflict that makes it interesting for me.

 

[Ranchu]

Great example of an image where colour IS the subject or the reason for the image. Take away the red of the flag, and you're left with a ho-hum image. Just my subjective opinion.

I disagree, the color that is important in this picture is the dirt and sky, not the flag. You could get rid of the red flag and the picture would be pretty much the same. It's the subtle colors that I like the most about color, as above.

 

[Darshan]

Here is an image by Armin Linke that is practically monochrome but that really benefits from being having been taken in color.
http://www.konsthall.malmo.se/upload/pressbilder/territories/high_res/9.jpg

Very effective photograph.

 

[jsrockit]

Great example of an image where colour IS the subject or the reason for the image. Take away the red of the flag, and you're left with a ho-hum image. Just my subjective opinion.

So, you really think the reason the photographer took this photo is the color of the flag? The flag is the subject?

 

[alistair.o]

So, you really think the reason the photographer took this photo is the color of the flag? The flag is the subject?

As far as I read Frank did not say that! What he did say was this "...Just my subjective opinion."

My opinion is that the whole scene is the subject and the flag is an eye catching bonus, a contradiction to the senses (if you will)

Al

 

[Gabriel M.A.]

Oscar Wilde wrote "Salomé" in French.

People have their reasons. Not something you can look up on a published table.

 

[jsrockit]

As far as I read Frank did not say that! What he did say was this "...Just my subjective opinion."

I believe it said:

"Great example of an image where colour IS the subject or the reason for the image. Take away the red of the flag, and you're left with a ho-hum image. Just my subjective opinion."

The opinion part seemed to be about the second sentence more than the first sentence.

 

[_larky]

I tend to lean towards B&W, but every now and then a colour photograph just floors me. I think, for me, a colour shot has to be truly incredible whereas a B&W can be simply good, but they'll both get the same score. So when I see a colour photograph that really hits me, it has to be a one in a million perfect shot.

I don't know why, but that's how my brain works.

 

[ChrisCummins]

I tend to lean towards B&W, but every now and then a colour photograph just floors me. I think, for me, a colour shot has to be truly incredible whereas a B&W can be simply good, but they'll both get the same score. So when I see a colour photograph that really hits me, it has to be a one in a million perfect shot.

I don't know why, but that's how my brain works.

A agree entirely. I find B&W can add a sense of style to an otherwise mediocre shot, whereas a colour photograph relies almost entirely on its content.