Color or B&W film?

gnashings · Jun 4, 2006

Ed Sukach said:
Which is "better"? I do not consider that a coherent question. A parallel: Is an oil painting better than a charcoal? I can't say I know anyone who has worked in BOTH media who would even attempt an answer to that.
Which is "easier", or "requires more skill"? IMHO, it is equally difficult to obtain the same level of "value" from either media.

I was hoping this didn't have to be said, but I am glad you did

Peter.

Uncle Bill · Jun 4, 2006

For me, both as Black and White and colour provide different challenges.

Bill

gnashings · Jun 4, 2006

Uncle Bill said:
For me, both as Black and White and colour provide different challenges.

Bill

In by backwards, round about way, this is the first part of what I was trying to say - I simply don't think there is enough of the photographic me to go around at this point - so I simply picked the one that I liked a bit better.

Peter

naturephoto1 · Jun 4, 2006

I shoot probably 99.9% color transparencies. The rest color negatives. Like Robert Teague, I have shot very little B&W for the past 20 years.

Rich

firecracker · Jun 5, 2006

I've been shooting a lot of bargained 100 ASA color rolls lately to save their souls.

roteague · Jun 5, 2006

I mostly shoot Velvia, with the occasional Provia thrown in (mostly 400F in 35mm). My entire output of B&W last year consisted of 20 sheets of Fuji Acros, but that was the first B&W I had shot in 5 or 6 years.

Sportera · Jun 5, 2006

I mostly use B&W film, rarely color film. Color for family events only. I did however buy some Velvia in 120 last week to use in my roll film back.

Shawn Mielke · Jun 5, 2006

Black and white all the way, for a good long while. The perspective of the world and it's things and people when color is removed....yes! Color is good for food and sex. I seek truth, not seduction, in art. When, once in a very great while, I shoot some color and come across a shot I really like, half of that initial reaction is, "Wow, this has got to be amazing in black and white!"
And yet some of the best movies known to me have been shot in color. Dunno, it's just where I'm at. Monochrome seems to be especially a photography thing, pen and ink or charcoal works aside. I guess on one level it's a literature thing too...black words on white paper. Some folks dream in black and white, enviably...

Ed Sukach · Jun 5, 2006

Shawn Mielke said:
Color is good for food and sex. I seek truth, not seduction, in art.

Intreresting!!!

"Seduction" ... I think that IS what I am trying to do in art - or cause to happen - both as the 'seductor' and as the `seductee'.

"Sex and food" ... and the difference between these and "art" is ... what?

Nobody ever 'splained it to me like that before...

removed account4 · Jun 5, 2006

i use mostly b/w ... mainly because i can process it myself.
while i am not very good at it, i enjoy shooting color, and have
used it more and more over the past few years.
--- i am not to admit having / using a digital camera here on apug, but
it has helped me see in color, and without it, i would probably still be in a monochromatic world ( except for family snapshots ) ...

Adrian Twiss · Jun 5, 2006

B&W/Colour

Prime said:
I wonder why so many analog photographers use B&W. Could it be due to the ease of the process (easy?) and/or availability of materials? Any ideas?

Even though the elementary mechanics of monochrome are easier than colour I find the large number of paper/chemical/toner combinations plus the many variations you can employ with these combinations make producing high quality monochrome prints a lot more difficult than colour prints where your choices are relatively few by comparison.

My own personal preference is for black and white film because I have a very poor emotional response to colour. Most of my colour prints have been of brightly coloured flowers because it takes really bright colours to catch my attention.

GraemeMitchell · Jun 5, 2006

%90 B&W. %10 color (subtle color though).

Both mediums are hard to do good work in, but B&W was, to begin with, a more difficult medium for me, and it's why I've concentrated on it and fell in love with it. At least in portrait/fashion, I feel like it's easier produce passable color work. To do the same with B&W w/ control takes more...thinking.

For 'scapes B&W has always allowed my pictures more room for the viewer to enter them and imagine within them.

Oddly, I often visualize projects in color beforehand, but when it comes to shooting and actaully realizing the project that visualization almost always shifts to B&W.

I've also been passed up for many a job b/c my book is %80 B&W too, alas.

DannL · Jun 6, 2006

Prime said:
Which film do you use most?

ILFORD DELTA 100 PROFESSIONAL
ILFORD DELTA 400 PROFESSIONAL
KODAK T-Max 400 PROFESSIONAL
ILFORD PAN F PLUS (in the bag, waiting for the perfect subject)

I can't find any perty colors in my palette. I shoot these because they're cheap, readily available, easy to develop, and they give acceptable results in short time. T-Max will be "off my list" soon.

For what it's worth.

anyte · Jun 6, 2006

90% color 10% BW. I am drawn by the color and thus that is what I shoot. I shoot BW because I think it helps me to see better if I experience both color and BW.

joneil · Jun 6, 2006

Black & White 100%. I'm colour blind. For some of us, I guess God made the choice.

joe

jd callow · Jun 6, 2006

I shoot mostly colour now, I started out shooting b&w. I have plans for B&W, but I'm not done with colour yet. I'll burn-out on colour at some point and then pursue my monochrome ideas. It is not either or, but what I have time for and what motivates me.

Ole · Jun 6, 2006

Another old thread resurrected?

95% BW, 5% colour. Oddly enough two out of three of my pictures hanging in my living room are in colour...

naturephoto1 · Jun 6, 2006

Ole said:
Another old thread resurrected?

95% BW, 5% colour. Oddly enough two out of three of my pictures hanging in my living room are in colour...

Ole,

That just shows to go you that you have a high success rate in color.

Rich

Willie Jan · Jun 7, 2006

Prime said:
I wonder why so many analog photographers use B&W. Could it be due to the ease of the process (easy?) and/or availability of materials? Any ideas?

with b/w your picture must be a good conbination of composition and lightfall.
With color we are easily confused by the colors and do not see the actual picture anymore. "When the color combination is ok, the picture is ok..."

firecracker · Jun 7, 2006

Willie Jan said:
with b/w your picture must be a good conbination of composition and lightfall.
With color we are easily confused by the colors and do not see the actual picture anymore. "When the color combination is ok, the picture is ok..."

But color helps indentify things, and that's necessary sometimes.

naturephoto1 · Jun 7, 2006

firecracker said:
But color helps indentify things, and that's necessary sometimes.

Point well taken.

Rich

jd callow · Jun 7, 2006

Willie Jan said:
with b/w your picture must be a good conbination of composition and lightfall.
With color we are easily confused by the colors and do not see the actual picture anymore. "When the color combination is ok, the picture is ok..."

IMHO Colour does a better job of stimulating the emotions. If used properly a colour image can overwhelm

Color or B&W film?

gnashings

Uncle Bill

gnashings

naturephoto1

firecracker

roteague

Sportera

Shawn Mielke

Ed Sukach

removed account4

Adrian Twiss

GraemeMitchell

DannL

anyte

joneil

jd callow

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Ole

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naturephoto1

Willie Jan

firecracker

naturephoto1

jd callow

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Color or B&W film?

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