Color photography with the Leica Monochrom - Why?

[Gabriel M.A.]

No, really: why?

Would you make milk by reverse-engineering cupcakes? Create coal by harnessing the power of nuclear plants? Buy cases of 15 year-old whiskey to procure sound-proofing materials? Perhaps send a note via messenger-pigeon service by writing the note from your iPhone? To let the recipient know he needs to send an urgent e-mail that the e-mail service is down.

Sure, come full-circle, like a dog chasing a horse's tail chasing a carrot hanging from the dog's tail.

Yes, cool and amusing idea. But aside of that: why?

 

[Gabriel M.A.]

BTW, I'm going to self-flagelate and say that although this process is hardly new (this is how the "first" colour photograph was made...although lawyers would split that hair in many Martha Stewart ways), this is an excellent venue for particular crafts.

The first reaction, however, would either be "that's cool" or "omg, why??"

Once we are so far removed from the struggle, we tend to create a reverse struggle.

This is the real question - why?

 

[N.delaRua]

Have you ever poured salt on a slug?

Seems like a similar reason because you want to know what happens. He had an idea and it worked with some success.

 

[Rodchenko]

Why? Because.

I know an old guy who used to create colour images from monochrome negs in much the same manner. Just cause he enjoyed doing it. Took ages.

 

[ray*j*gun]

I'm amazed at the quality of the final product.....interesting and creative work.

 

[Ranchu]

Because that's the way to get the best color. Look at the plants on bricks picture.

 

[Jubb Jubb]

Steve Huff. Meh.

 

[semilog]

Dilettante.

If he was serious he'd be using a set of dichroic reflectors and routing the image to three synchronized Monochroms concentrically mounted in a stable armature -- one Monochrom for each additive primary.

 

[dreamsandart]

One of the first things I learned in photography using a 4x5 was using Marshall Oil Colors on B&W prints. I've actually thought of doing this with digital B&W prints because I like the look and creative 'hand-processing' involved.

 

[GaryLH]

One of the first things I learned in photography using a 4x5 was using Marshall Oil Colors on B&W prints. I've actually thought of doing this with digital B&W prints because I like the look and creative 'hand-processing' involved.

When I went to school at cal poly, all the poly royal queens had their picture taken by a guy we simply called "Pop Luis". He used a 4x5 as well if I remember right and hand colored the images. I used to love going into the student union area even after I had long graduated to look at his work.. He pasted away a long time ago.. great guy and very friendly. Sadly the last time I was there, his work had been taken down. Not sure what happened to them.

Ken Ruth was telling me about a camera he repaired one time. It had three built in color filters, u used a different filter for each shot. Three bw shots to be used create the final color print if I remember correctly. Can't remember the name of the camera. I guess between the hand color approach and cameras like this was a period before we saw our first true color negative technology.

I have read about other people using similar process to create a color print in recent times, it is an interesting exercise. There was a time I was tempted to try my hand at the hand color style, but never got around to it...

Gary

 

[hausen]

That is pretty cool I reckon. Probably because I would never have the patience to do it🙂

 

[rluka]

This is the real question - why?

I think the adolescent internet users have a good summary for the answer:

Because [insert title here] is too mainstream

😀

 

[noisycheese]

Interesting technique - but way too time consuming to use on a large quantity of images.

That is why we have Fuji Velvia. 😀

 

[dreamsandart]

Kodachrome was a 3-layer B&W film that worked by the dye couplers added during processing. Can't argue that the colour wasn't special.

 

[3rdtrick]

I think it is cool and would do the same if I had an M Monochrome. This is a very good way to really learn about color. Could be a really good way to duplicate Technicolor and other old cinema looks.
Pete

 

[Harry Caul]

Why do you use film? Why do some people make wet plates? Why do people fix up old cars?

 

[Exdsc]

That is a great way to overcome buyer's remorse.


After all anyone who knows their RGB channels, also knows that three B&W photographs are always better than one. lol

 

[Gabriel M.A.]

I think the adolescent internet users have a good summary for the answer: 😀

Because [insert title here] is too mainstream

Aaah. Did not think about that! Well, using electrical-powered cameras is too mainstream, and using completely-mechanical cameras is too anti-mainstream mainstream. Color is the anti-B&W, and B&W is the anti-color. What are we left with?


http://minimalissimo.com/2012/10/black-paintings/

 

[sebastel]

Color is the anti-B&W, and B&W is the anti-color. What are we left with?

the dashes.
if you let eradicate matter with anti-matter, only the dashes remain. i guess.

 

[Archlich]

Aaah. Did not think about that! Well, using electrical-powered cameras is too mainstream, and using completely-mechanical cameras is too anti-mainstream mainstream. Color is the anti-B&W, and B&W is the anti-color. What are we left with?


http://minimalissimo.com/2012/10/black-paintings/

Not the same here.

You can see Huff's effort as just a way to re-explore historical (but not necessarily superior) methods. Similar to the resurgence of interest in the wet plate in recent years - people are known to keep going back after the invention of Autochrome a century ago.

Quite fun, and you don't need to invest much further into the equipment (unlike what is required for the collodion process) once you've got a poor MM to work with. Why not then.