Breaking away from black and white was probably one of my first and biggest challenges. I can take a picture of the garbage on my desk and as long as the exposure and contrast were right, it looked like a cool photograph. In fact, I actually did that and it looked pretty cool. Black and white photography is very forgiving in that sense. All you have to watch out for is your blacks and your whites.
So the question comes in, when do you want to shoot in color or when in black and white? And at the same time, if black and white is so forgiving, why not just stay with the classic instead of attempting your luck with color?
To me, the reason to break away from the monochrome was simply a matter of a personal challenge. I knew that my color photography was awful and I needed to learn it if I ever wanted to be a well-rounded photographer. What I find amusing is that once you shoot color, you rarely can leave it as is. A regular shot in color always seems a bit bland and a bit amateurish. However once you brighten the colors, deepen the contrast, blur here, dodge there, increase the saturation, and do an overlay of another color, your picture can look quite amazing. Yes, it is a bit more involved then that but you get the idea.
Color photography is a lot of work; however I do believe that it is worth it. Color draws the eye of the viewer. In black and white, you achieve this effect by using your contrast and negative space. With color photography you pretty much highlight everything that is important. If I had to pick the uses for black and white photography and color, I would have to say that black and white is more artistic whereas color is more commercial; not exclusively of course.
Now there are some photographers who would mix black and white with color. So for instance have red lipstick in an otherwise black and white photograph. I am one of those snobs who just happen to think that style as tacky and unattractive. To me it has the same effect as a book publisher releasing a book and highlighting all the important parts for you. Don’t do that.
In conclusion, always consider what you are trying to say with your photograph and adjust the medium to fit the idea. If find yourself stuck in one medium, it is probably time to attempt the other. The more versatile you are, the more knowledge you possess, the better artist you become.
As always please post your thoughts, opinions and experiences.
