GXR A12-M, f1.4, 1/125, ISO 1250, 53mm (Voigtlander Nokton f1.4 35mm)
Was not very inspired today and only took this one picture on my way home. Now I have to ask myself, did I convert it to b&w and cropped it square to make it appear more arty and to overlook some of it's problems or because it works better than the colour 2:3 version?
What do you think, can you make people overlook flaws with a picture just by turning it to b&w and cropping it?
Good question! I am quite guilty of cropping 1:1 and going B&W to make an image more arty. Sometimes it works, sometimes not. Black and white is a good leveller of backgrounds and removes all those fussy distractions.
ReplyDeleteI do like a square format though, especially in a series of shots.
I do find myself 'thinking' in B&W when walking around with a camera. I know the colours which contrast and compliment.
I also like a nice 'majority colour tone' in an image... the sort of thing you get with architecture (blues and greens in glass etc).
I think a variety of styles is a good thing, and if it feels right, then just do it. Don't try to be too purist or you will go crazy for the cause (lol)
Keep up the good work.
Thanks for your comment Bill!
ReplyDeleteLike you, I think more in b&w and prefer to see in b&w through the screen or EVF. Now my view is like a high pass filter when using the GXR.
It is something of an affectation to think of B&W photographs as being arty.
ReplyDeleteI worked on a newspaper when all photographs were B&W and they were far from arty. They were good B&W reportage shots.
In a way, you have answered the question you posed, Cristi. B&W can make the flaws of a colour shot acceptable.
Sadly, I don't think in B&W but I do think of converting my shots to B&W, an that approach stems from my newspaper days.
Of course, some might say I don't think at all when it comes to taking photographs. They could be right.
Thanks for your comment Calvin!
ReplyDeleteI agree with your comments that b&w can indeed make one overlook some flaws which would be present in a colour image.