THE MOST COLORFUL THING IN PHOTOGRAPHY - MONOCHROME !
You may argue with me and say : "why do you call Monochrome the most colorful thing in photography? It is after all, recording images in black and white ! So, what's so special about Monochrome?"... And well, I have to justify. The fact remains that ever since the discovery of photography, pictures were recorded on plates (or paper during later stages) and the ultimate output was in monochrome or black & white. Silver halides could produce only B&W images and people could at best imagine that the real life colors could be recorded some day on paper surface. Then, decades after, Eastman Kodak could record color images by using indigenous technology that they patented soon... And finally, color photography saw the light of the day !
During my earlier days of photography, I had the privilege of choosing from both color as well as monochrome to use with my camera. I and my photographer friends could have picked from a wide range of B&W films like Ilford, Kodak, Geveart, ORWO etc, or the Indian brand, "Indu" with film speeds ranging between 64 and 400 ASA/ISO. Even "cut films" (possibly smuggled out of the cinema industry) were available in market, canned in cassettes.
We used to shoot our subjects with our camera (mostly with 120 mm or 35 mm films) and then developed the exposed films in the "dark rooms" by using Hypo, Fixer, Developer etc. as chemicals & solvents and also used plain water to wash away the excess chemicals from the film before transferring the images to photographic papers. Lots of "dodging & burning" had to be done while printing (with the help of "Enlargers") in order to have the correctly exposed image on paper. On the other hand, color films and transparencies were normally developed in professional color labs and were pretty expensive during those days. The situation changed over a period of time and color films became the trend of the day. Later on, even the color films were replaced and now, it's digital all the way, with cameras, mobiles, Instagram etc. and of course, Photoshop.
Even today, the story seems colorful to me, even if it was called B&W photography. And that is why I find Monochrome is the most colorful thing in photography. A few of my pictures are being added to this post. You are welcome to send your comments by clicking the "No comments/comments" button below.
Happy viewing...
You may argue with me and say : "why do you call Monochrome the most colorful thing in photography? It is after all, recording images in black and white ! So, what's so special about Monochrome?"... And well, I have to justify. The fact remains that ever since the discovery of photography, pictures were recorded on plates (or paper during later stages) and the ultimate output was in monochrome or black & white. Silver halides could produce only B&W images and people could at best imagine that the real life colors could be recorded some day on paper surface. Then, decades after, Eastman Kodak could record color images by using indigenous technology that they patented soon... And finally, color photography saw the light of the day !
During my earlier days of photography, I had the privilege of choosing from both color as well as monochrome to use with my camera. I and my photographer friends could have picked from a wide range of B&W films like Ilford, Kodak, Geveart, ORWO etc, or the Indian brand, "Indu" with film speeds ranging between 64 and 400 ASA/ISO. Even "cut films" (possibly smuggled out of the cinema industry) were available in market, canned in cassettes.
We used to shoot our subjects with our camera (mostly with 120 mm or 35 mm films) and then developed the exposed films in the "dark rooms" by using Hypo, Fixer, Developer etc. as chemicals & solvents and also used plain water to wash away the excess chemicals from the film before transferring the images to photographic papers. Lots of "dodging & burning" had to be done while printing (with the help of "Enlargers") in order to have the correctly exposed image on paper. On the other hand, color films and transparencies were normally developed in professional color labs and were pretty expensive during those days. The situation changed over a period of time and color films became the trend of the day. Later on, even the color films were replaced and now, it's digital all the way, with cameras, mobiles, Instagram etc. and of course, Photoshop.
Even today, the story seems colorful to me, even if it was called B&W photography. And that is why I find Monochrome is the most colorful thing in photography. A few of my pictures are being added to this post. You are welcome to send your comments by clicking the "No comments/comments" button below.
Happy viewing...
At last and at least i can comment. Well i second you with all my heart in this matter.
ReplyDeleteReally Beautiful ones.
Thanks, Aditya.
ReplyDeleteprotyek dharoner chhobi-r alada swakeeyota achhe.matoikyo nai hote pare kintu sundor sundor-i thake, :D
ReplyDeleteThanks, Kausik. Aaamar saada kaalo chhobeer opor durbolota chirokaaleen. Bhalo laaglo, tomaar pochhondo hoyechhe jene. :-)
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