Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 1998/05/29

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Subject: Re: [Leica] Black and White
From: Paul Chefurka <pchefurk@Newbridge.COM>
Date: Fri, 29 May 1998 11:04:05 -0400

Ted Grant wrote:
> 
> Harrison wrote:
> 
> <<<<<I have always thought that when shooting people if you use color you
> are going to show what clothes they are wearing and the color of the room
> or location. If you use B&W you show the person.  Their personality comes
> out in the photo so much better.>>>>>>>
> 
> Hi Harrison,
> 
> How about this:
> 
> "When you photograph people in colour you photograph their clothes. But
> when you photograph people in B&W, you photograph their souls!"
> 
> ted

When people who have never shot b&w ask me what the difference
is, I tell them that to achieve greatness, a photograph must
begin by offering some level of abstraction.  As b&w is
already abstracted by the removal of colour, I maintain that
while it is easier to create a "good" photograph in colour,
it's easier to create a great photograph in b&w.

Paul