Which?
My brief thoughts about colour vs b&a
I have to admit, I tend to roll my eyes a bit when I see photographers posting the same image twice, one in colour, one in black and white, then asking the internet to decide which is better. Predictably, it sparks endless debates: the colour camp versus the monochrome purists. Everyone has an opinion, and no one agrees.
But here’s the thing, I genuinely believe that decision belongs solely to the image maker. What are you trying to say? What’s the mood, the message, the intent behind the image? The choice between colour and black and white isn’t just an afterthought, it’s part of the storytelling.
Back in the days of film (you know, when dinosaurs roamed the darkroom), if you wanted colour or black and white, you had to choose your film roll before you even took the shot. That meant committing to a vision. You had to know what you were aiming for emotionally, aesthetically, and narratively.
Today, with digital and RAW files, it’s tempting to keep everything open-ended. You can flip between colour and monochrome like switching socks. But that doesn’t mean you should. As the creator, you still need to make that call.
It’s your voice, your expression—own it!
Anyway, that’s my take. I’d love to hear your thoughts. Do you agree, or am I just being an analogue crank (which shoots digital too) in a digital world?
I believe you see colour and black+white compositions differently. As such, the photographer will know in advance whether they are going to make a colour or a b+w photograph. Certainly digital gives you options, but the original intent remains unchanged.
Whether black and white or color is preferred for an image lies in the eyes of the creator. And in the eyes of the viewer. Our thoughts when looking at an image, our intentions when we’re creating an image. It’s entirely subjective. Mostly, I determine whether an image will be color or black and white when I shoot. And back in the day, I’ve used color film and either developed in black and white chemicals, or printed said negative in black and white.