Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 1998/10/11
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]I rather think that we've become so inundated with colour images that what was once a fresh medium full of unexplored creative possibilities is become frought with redundancy and cliche. Media overload, if you will; we've become somewhat jaded and desensitised to the making and the viewing....trying harder and harder, in fact a lot of the time, too hard, to create something fresh in colour. Witness the trend toward more and more saturated and exagerated colour film palettes. The sort of disciplined deprivation of monochrome is a cleansing and an awakening for photographer and viewer alike; rather like reading the book as opposed to seeing the movie. It forces one to see in terms of forms and tones and textures. The swtich back to colour is then with refreshed eyes. Regards, Nigel >From: TEAShea@aol.com <TEAShea@aol.com> >To: leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us ><leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us> >Date: Saturday, October 10, 1998 7:00 PM >Subject: Re: [Leica] Color v Black and White > > >>Today I took the girls to a pumpkin patch farm to get in the >Halloween >mode. >>I used color and black and white film. I have found myself using >more and >>more black and white film. While shooting a roll of color, I was >looking >>forward to finishing the roll so that I could shoot some more black >and >while >>photos. For me, black and white has some advantages. >> >>For one thing I find it easier to compose with black and white. When >using >>color, I have to be aware of the color mix in the photo, in addition >to >the >>balance of light. Some colors do not look good together. Moreover, >I >>particularly find it important to pay attention to the colors in the >>background. They can distract or interfere with the main subject. >> >>I also find that black and white is easier to use in difficult >lighting >>situations involving high contrast. At times, letting an area go >black or >>wash out can be acceptable with black and white. This is almost >never the >>case with color. >> >>Additionally, I like the focus that black and white gives to a photo. > The >>color is not the message - the subject and lighting are. It narrows >the >>focus. (By focus, I mean the main attention - not depth of field). >> >>Tom Shea > > > > ___________________________________________________________________ You don't need to buy Internet access to use free Internet e-mail. Get completely free e-mail from Juno at http://www.juno.com or call Juno at (800) 654-JUNO [654-5866]