Black and white film in the Caribbean. Mistake?

Ces1um · Jul 1, 2017

I've been lucky enough to spend my vacations in the Caribbean for the last few years. Every time I go I always shoot colour film to capture that turquoise water or the colour of the tropical flowers. I'm heading down again this winter and this time I'm tempted to shoot the entire vacation only in black and white. More or less to shake up the kind of photos I take when I'm down there. Anybody here ever do this? Any regrets?

eddie · Jul 1, 2017

I shoot a lot of black and white down there (in fact, I haven't shot any color for years). For me, though, it's with the intention of hand-coloring the prints, as the water/architecture colors lend themselves to it. I've used everything from Dianas/Holgas to 4x5. Those Caribbean blue skies with their white, puffy clouds make good subject matter, enhanced by the proper filtration. Also, some ND filters can do wonderful things with moving water. I usually go with Acros for reciprocity reasons, and FP4.

Ko.Fe. · Jul 1, 2017

If flowers is all you could get, bw is ... still not mistake.

Alan Klein · Jul 1, 2017

Shoot both.

howardpan · Jul 1, 2017

I think it will be a wonderful challenge. It's like photographing sunset in black and white. It will allow you to photograph differently.

Sirius Glass · Jul 1, 2017

It would not be a mistake to take black & white photographs on your vacation. You could also take a second camera body for color or it you had a Hasselblad you could switch film backs back and forth from black & white to color without losing a frame. It is time for you to get a Hasselblad.

Gerald C Koch · Jul 2, 2017

Goodness gracious. Whatever did people do before color film.

It's always good to remember that color film is not archival and all those lovely prints and slides will eventually fade.

Vaughn · Jul 2, 2017

Never a mistake -- and after a trip with only B&W, future trips in either color or B&W will be the better for it.

Edited to add: I appluad the idea of going with just B&W -- avoids distractions (and it sounds like you already have plenty of color images already...poor fellow!)

Filters -- play with them before you go if you have not already. Have fun!

markbarendt · Jul 2, 2017

Ces1um said:
Any regrets?

No.

railwayman3 · Jul 2, 2017

It's good to sometimes go for just B&W for a while, particularly when you have plenty of time to concentrate on trying to make great pictures. I'd go for it !

OTOH, I wouldn't try to mix shooting color and B&W, you can spend the whole holiday swapping-and-switching, carrying too much stuff, and end up not making the best of either (and not relaxing ! ).

(And, dare I say it, when I'm shooting B&W I generally have my tiny d****** point-and-shoot, or even my phone, in the gadget bag, so can always snap the occasional record image if it absolutely demands color....).

Craig75 · Jul 2, 2017

The only mistake is shooting the same way every time you go somewhere. Black and white will make yr holiday different this time. You may start searching for raking light or some reportagey night shooting in bars or clubs or see what rich tones you can pull out of carribbean skins or whatever you like shooting. Youve set yourself the challenge now so no turning back. Get some photobooks / portfolios of people whove shot in b/w in the carribbean for inspiration

Gerald C Koch · Jul 2, 2017

railwayman3 said:
It's good to have a sometimes go for just B&W for a while, particularly when you have plenty of time to concentrate on trying to make great pictures. I'd go for it !

OTOH, I wouldn't try to mix shooting color and B&W, you can spend the whole holiday swapping-and-switching, carrying too much stuff, and end up not making the best of either (and not relaxing ! ).

(And, dare I say it, when I'm shooting B&W I generally have my tiny d****** point-and-shoot, or even my phone, in the gadget bag, so can always snap the occasional record image if it absolutely demands color....).

That has also been my experience. When you try to do both you wind up lugging a lot of extras around.

1kgcoffee · Jul 2, 2017

Why limit yourself?

MattKing · Jul 2, 2017

I've seen some tremendous black and white photography of Cuba. That qualifies as the Caribbean, doesn't it?

Kodachromeguy · Jul 2, 2017

Is this suitably Caribbean? It is across the street from the main station, Havana. Leica M2, 35mm Summicron, Tri-X 400 film.

jvo · Jul 3, 2017

definitely not a mistake... i just have to remember which i'm shooting - that b&w is all about the light, not the color.

Vaughn · Jul 3, 2017

1kgcoffee said:
Why limit yourself?

Good point. Is it really limiting one's opportunities to go just B&W? I see it as an expansion! An exploration!
The only way it would be limiting is if one has a limited imagination.

faberryman · Jul 3, 2017

If you have already been to the Caribbean several times and come back with color photos, why not shoot black and white this time around.

LAG · Jul 4, 2017

Two thoughts:

Ces1um said:
Anybody here ever do this?

Yes, I have both versions of the Caribbean. Colour or B&W is not a question of the place you visit.

Ces1um said:
Any regrets?

Yes, Photographing with colour film means that you could end up with both options, and you won't miss the colour version in case you need it. It wouldn't be the first time for me and I wouldn't be the first one, I am sure!

Best of luck & Happy holidays!
(I am on it right now!)

Arbitrarium · Jul 4, 2017

I always love seeing black and whites of beaches/sea/water. They always look a bit otherwordly, even more so for underwater shots in b+w. I'll be doing some underwater black and whites in Portugal next month

RalphLambrecht · Jul 4, 2017

Ces1um said:
I've been lucky enough to spend my vacations in the Caribbean for the last few years. Every time I go I always shoot colour film to capture that turquoise water or the colour of the tropical flowers. I'm heading down again this winter and this time I'm tempted to shoot the entire vacation only in black and white. More or less to shake up the kind of photos I take when I'm down there. Anybody here ever do this? Any regrets?

I'm sure B&W would work perfectly and give you great skies.

Gerald C Koch · Jul 4, 2017

Ces1um · Jul 4, 2017

Well everyone raises great points. I think I'll go with some black and white film. I'm also very intrigued by the idea of black and white underwater photography. I think I'll give that one a go too!

ic-racer · Jul 4, 2017

No regrets with b&w. I have not shot color since the demise of Cibachrome.

bvy · Jul 4, 2017

How timely. I'm in St. Martin and am having this dilemma right now! Luckily I had Provia in my Yashica Mat today. A group of young boys approached me. They had some blue dye all over their chests (called themselves Smurfs) and demanded a picture. Black and white film wouldn't have cut it. Of course this was dumb luck; you can't plan these things. I finished the roll and all I have left is Acros in 120. And expired Velvia which would probably be awful for portraits.

Black and white film in the Caribbean. Mistake?

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