When To Use Black And White

Joe bedacht in news:ZsednW1nRJb6SEHZRVny2Q@pipex.net:

> Some photos look better in black and white than they do in colour,
> however I am yet to understand why.
>
> Does anyone know of a way of judging which photos would look better in
> black and white, without converting the photo and seeing the results?
>
> Strange request, I know.
>
>

Squint. It sounds crazy, I know. But reducing the amount of light that
reaches your eyes really helps you to 'look' in black and white. It
probably has something to do with the way the retina is layered (the 'rods
and cones').

JL
 >> Stay informed about: When To Use Black And White 

In article <ZsednW1nRJb6SEHZRVny2Q RemoveThis @pipex.net>, "Joe" <me RemoveThis @privacy.net>
wrote:

> Some photos look better in black and white than they do in colour, however I
> am yet to understand why.
>
> Does anyone know of a way of judging which photos would look better in black
> and white, without converting the photo and seeing the results?
>
> Strange request, I know.

There's no formula. Whatever looks best to you is what you should do.
 >> Stay informed about: When To Use Black And White 

On Fri, 11 Aug 2006 20:09:06 +0100, Joe wrote:

> Some photos look better in black and white than they do in colour, however I
> am yet to understand why.
>
> Does anyone know of a way of judging which photos would look better in black
> and white, without converting the photo and seeing the results?

I'd think that you'd need to have the ability to visualize. It's
a talent used (and needed) by film directors, music composers, etc.
A director that had to create a color version and a B&W version and
then choose the better one wouldn't get far. Blindly following a
formula wouldn't work much better. They have to have an initial
concept, and visualize in their mind's eye the best way to implement
it. Same thing with composers. Great ones visualize (hear) the
sound of their work before writing the first note. Bad ones might
take a score and try to improve it by applying a mechanical or
mathematical formula. That's frequently been done with "electronic"
music, and it rarely succeeds. Reading a book on photographic
composition would probably help a bit, as would practice. This
would help you to "understand why" some photos look better in black
and white than in color. But for it to help a *lot*, enough to
allow you to produce great B&W photos, we get back to needing the
more important ability to visualize what the images will look like
before they're made. Some can, many can't.
 >> Stay informed about: When To Use Black And White 

On Fri, 11 Aug 2006 20:09:06 +0100, Joe wrote:

> Some photos look better in black and white than they do in colour, however I
> am yet to understand why.
>
> Does anyone know of a way of judging which photos would look better in black
> and white, without converting the photo and seeing the results?
>
> Strange request, I know.

My rule of thumb is this:

If color is a significant part of the message you're trying to convey, then
use color.

If not -- especially if the image is highly monochromatic and/or the
message is built on strong patterns, textures, shapes or lines -- the
subject is a good candidate for B/W.

Pete
 >> Stay informed about: When To Use Black And White 

squinting simplifies value. GOOD artists do this all the time to get a
better grasp of value. simplified values make a better read and reduces
BOTH color and value nuances that the retina articulates sometimes TOO
well.
 >> Stay informed about: When To Use Black And White 

Justus Lipsius wrote:

> Joe bedacht in news:ZsednW1nRJb6SEHZRVny2Q@pipex.net:
>
>> Some photos look better in black and white than they do in colour,
>> however I am yet to understand why.
>>
>> Does anyone know of a way of judging which photos would look better in
>> black and white, without converting the photo and seeing the results?
>>
>> Strange request, I know.
>>
>>
>
> Squint. It sounds crazy, I know. But reducing the amount of light that
> reaches your eyes really helps you to 'look' in black and white.


Also looking through a dark red filter helps..
--

Stacey
 >> Stay informed about: When To Use Black And White 

Joe wrote:
> Some photos look better in black and white than they do in colour, however I
> am yet to understand why.
>
> Does anyone know of a way of judging which photos would look better in black
> and white, without converting the photo and seeing the results?
>
> Strange request, I know.
>
>
There are no absolute answers to this question. It is a
matter of taste and preferences, i.e., art.
 >> Stay informed about: When To Use Black And White