The Black and White Renaissance (JCH Article)

[xavoy]

I’ve been waiting for an article I wrote a few weeks back to be published. Well, it’s finally gone live on JapanCameraHunter, and I'm so excited!

It’s about how film emulation, especially when in camera, is making it easier for photographers to achieve a decent starting point for a black and white photo, how this will increase the popularity of black and white photography, and how black and white photographers will take over the world! Well, I might be exaggerating that last bit.

Would love to hear your thoughts on it tho. You can read the article here:

http://www.japancamerahunter.com/2016/04/the-black-and-white-renaissance/

 

[charjohncarter]

Sorry, I couldn't get to open, but I have an old iPad which is garbage. When I get to real computer I'll try again.

 

[stompyq]

My friend, you need to shoot some real Acros. None of your results look anything like it. Call it something else but don't delude yourself by suggesting it's what a Acros shot looks like. Some good images in your article but I don't think you are doing justice to them by the processing. Just my honest opinion.

 

[xavoy]

charjohncarter, thank you for your interest, and sorry the site didn't work on your iPad. I don't find the new JCH design terribly usable, but I still really love Bellamy's content. Looking forward to hearing your thoughts if you do eventually get it to load.

My friend, you need to shoot some real Acros. None of your results look anything like it. Call it something else but don't delude yourself by suggesting it's what a Acros shot looks like. Some good images in your article but I don't think you are doing justice to them by the processing. Just my honest opinion.

stompyq, you have severely misunderstood my post, to the point that I wonder if you read beyond the first paragraph.

I'm not claiming my shots look like Acros, I have no interest in making my shots look like Acros, and I don't shoot Fuji 🙂

Also, I'm not offended if you don't like the images in the article, mine or JT's (they are mostly his in the article, as I love his work so sought permission to use his pictures), different strokes for different folks. It's about people understanding that there's more to black and white than simply desaturating a colour photograph, film emulation modes giving new photographers a better starting point for black and white, and the increase in the number of black and white photos that will result.

The hope is that when people start seeing more black and white photos, there will be an increase in appreciation of black and white photography, and people will seek out those who have made black and white their own.

Criticism is always welcome, but at least know what you're criticising 🙂

 

[KM-25]

Right, so when people seek out more black and white, they will eventually seek out the real deal. Because that is the amazing new emerging niche of black and white film....in 2016 we have this old formulaic for arriving at an image that really, never-ever has to be near a digital camera or a computer.

And the resulting prints if executed masterfully nearly make anything that emulates it seem almost pointless.

Bring on the emulations I say, it will drive the price of the fine black and white darkroom print even higher than they are now.

 

[Nowhereman]

...criticism is always welcome, but at least know what you're criticising 🙂

Lee/xavoy - absolutely, it would help if people actually read the linked material before writing a put-down, sort of like actually thinking before opening your mouth. But, hey, I just wrote a put-down! — It's in the "human condition," right?

Seriously, though, some very interesting and exciting work shown in your article, both film and digital. I've only had a cursory look myself because, this morning, I have to get ready for a flight form one continent to another. BTW, you're Instagram feed is an inspiration. I've been resisting, but seeing yours am ready to succumb to going onto instagram. Tomorrow, after I get to my destination, I'll have a more careful look at links in your JCH article.

I read KM-25's post above as an ideological statement, which is fine. However, my eyes tell me that, while film is great, it's not always better than digital. One has to consider the image on its own and not the process. Last month I shot three rolls of Tri-X in Chiang Mai and was blown away by how this film renders highlights in bright and harsh tropical light. That led me to start this thread, titled Go back to film? Sell the M9-P/MM? Wanna talk me down? I'd be interested in your view.

BTW, the JCH site is somewhat annoying because it won't work on a Mac that has the Cookie software enable: one has to disable cookie blocking to be able to access the site.

 

[kossi008]

I agree with the article exactly up to this statement:

"A film emulation mode will never be an end point for anyone that knows anything about the subtleties of black and white, but it can be a great starting point for someone who doesn’t."

That said, I count myself among the first category...

 

[JOCO34]

A pretty good article that will stimulate discourse. The problem with any form of B&W photography these days is that the average new photographer has no idea of things like the Zone System or even correct exposure bracketing. I bet most folks shooting digital just set the camera on Program or Aperture and go for it. Or the film photographer not really knowing how to use a hand held Spot or Incident light meter. I've been shooting film for over 40 years and digital for 20 (I'm not that old there is some overlap there!) and it really takes some knowledge and work to get it right. The medium used is not the only answer. Right now there are great digital softwear tools to create great B&W if you know what great B&W looks like. It really is a shame that film has become so limited in production with the resulting costs. Film or Digital Sensors are not the issue any more than writing poetry with a pen or computer are. The artist's creativity combined with the technical knowhow is.

 

[Charlie Lemay]

I think it's great that people are getting interested in B&W again as an alternative process. Color just confirms the world we expect to see. B&W reveals an unseen world. Film still has great advantages compared to digital B&W, with more highlight detail and shadow detail if you are willing to deviate from the film manufacturer's instructions on what to do with their products. Years ago, I introduced a way to use the Zone System without knowing anything about sensitometry or doing any materials testing. It is just a few simple "recipes" that photographers (even the beginning high school students I teach) can follow and get extraordinary tonality. It's called ZoneSimple and there is a whole section on my website www.charlielemay.net devoted to it with free downloads so you can try the technique for yourself. I recently updated it to include a technique the allows photographing in sun or overcast conditions on the same roll of film without using a lightmeter, if we are able to see light instead of things and can live with specular highlights and light greys bunping up two stops in brightness in the negative, something that producess the illusion of an even longer scale. There is still much to explore with film. While the whole photography world has been rushing headlong in the search for more and more speed for decades, the idea of a slower film alternative has been largely ignored. i don't think the results I have been getting using film in this way are something current digital technology can emulate. That said, bringing one of these negatives into Photoshop makes a whole new world of shadow detail and tonality possible. They are enhanced even more through scanning.

 

[calebarchie]

Lee, I like your model photography but this article not so much. The text doesn't match the pictures!
Maybe good photographers can't write articles? 😉

bests

 

[jsrockit]

It’s about how film emulation, especially when in camera, is making it easier for photographers to achieve a decent starting point for a black and white photo, how this will increase the popularity of black and white photography...

How did you come to this conclusion? B&W has always been around ...longer than color. There's no real renaissance... are you new to B&W?

 

[JOCO34]

Not really a Renissance more like a Reformation

 

[Dante_Stella]

Not really a Renissance more like a Reformation

More like Columbusing.

Dante

 

[ferider]

I'm still thinking about your key point, if B+W film emulation is leading to a B&W renaissance. Not sure - I guess time will tell.

Sad though that your article is linking this hypothetical renaissance exclusively to the newest Fuji toy. There have been lots of easy ways to emulate B&W film for years now, in camera, and in post, and many on par or better than the Fuji Acros simulation.

Roland.

 

[Charlie Lemay]

Here are a couple of images using the Deep Shadow Ultra technique with Fuji Acros.