COLOR OR B&W - IN PHOTOGRAPHY, WHAT'S YOUR FANCY?
Most of us assume that anything photographed in color is bound to be interesting. All we need is to open our camera lens, point the camera and shoot. But let's think first, do we really understand the subtle relationships of color itself? Are we aware that 'red' looks dark grey (almost black) and 'yellow' looks light grey in Black & White? And other colors show up somewhere in between? Would we love to shoot a sunflower in B&W, or a drought hit paddy field in vivid color?
Color photography captures our world as we want it to look. But B&W photography has its own charm too. It offers us the beauty of "high key" (whitish) or "low key" (blackish) photography and also the textures and the myriad shades of grey that make the final output both awesome and fantastic. Think of an old man or woman of eighty or more and notice the wrinkles on his/her face and body that typifies the person. Should we go for 'color' with this person, who is blessed with vast wisdom, or try to portray him or her in Black & White? The final choice is of course personal. Only thing to keep in mind is let us not keep too many subjects in the frame which would cluster the photograph and make it look clumsy. And that is important.
This posting presents some of my photographs - a few of them show both color and B&W versions of the same picture, some only in color and the rest, only in B&W. The bird picture used here is not mine and has been procured from Facebook and being used strictly for personal use and no commercial venture. I am very much thankful to the author and the picture credit goes to him only. Happy viewing...
Most of us assume that anything photographed in color is bound to be interesting. All we need is to open our camera lens, point the camera and shoot. But let's think first, do we really understand the subtle relationships of color itself? Are we aware that 'red' looks dark grey (almost black) and 'yellow' looks light grey in Black & White? And other colors show up somewhere in between? Would we love to shoot a sunflower in B&W, or a drought hit paddy field in vivid color?
Color photography captures our world as we want it to look. But B&W photography has its own charm too. It offers us the beauty of "high key" (whitish) or "low key" (blackish) photography and also the textures and the myriad shades of grey that make the final output both awesome and fantastic. Think of an old man or woman of eighty or more and notice the wrinkles on his/her face and body that typifies the person. Should we go for 'color' with this person, who is blessed with vast wisdom, or try to portray him or her in Black & White? The final choice is of course personal. Only thing to keep in mind is let us not keep too many subjects in the frame which would cluster the photograph and make it look clumsy. And that is important.
This posting presents some of my photographs - a few of them show both color and B&W versions of the same picture, some only in color and the rest, only in B&W. The bird picture used here is not mine and has been procured from Facebook and being used strictly for personal use and no commercial venture. I am very much thankful to the author and the picture credit goes to him only. Happy viewing...
I think you should write a book for beginners. In very simple English and publish it on the web.....
ReplyDeleteThank you. Let me see if I am that competent.
Deletesada-kalo chhobi-r akta aavijatyo achhe kintu rongeen chhobi onek beshee jeebonto
ReplyDeleteTobe taai hok, Kausik ! :-)
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