Guys, in some forums about photography in Brazil, some photographers has said that the real black and white photography is that which is done in a dark room...and the photos converted by a software to b/w is not a real black and white photography..
What do you think about that??
A darkroom or a computer are simply tools. If the final image/print is Black & White, then it's a Black & White photograph.
-PB
Posted by Lon Overacker on March 1, 2008 at 12:34 AM
Amarildo,
I've personally struggled with the exact point that you've expressed; which is why I rarely process my color slide film in b&w. The last time I shot b&w film was in a college photo course in the early 80's. Even then, I didn't care for darkroom work as I felt I would much rather spend 8 hours in the field creating images than 8 hrs in the darkroom making prints.
Having said that.... I appreciate traditional activities, but accept and have no qualms with current technologies. As Guy said it, the end result is a black and white photograph.
I love b&w photographs done well. In my opinion however, I appreciate it more when I know that the photographer intended the scene for b&w - as opposed to "converting" after the fact because the color version didn't cut it. It just tells me more about the photographer.... someone who can "see" and recognize a good b&w scene before they press the shutter - digital or film - no matter.
I don't know that I fully agree with them but I do see their point though must confess my bias; B&W film work is still my first love.
Silver imparts a quality that digital and ink jets just don't have and never will. It doesn't mean digital is any less real. You might point out to these individuals if they really wanted to be 'real' they would be making their own emulsions, chemistry and plates; even on location, as photographers did a century ago. Their response would be interesting.
I agree with the above, especially that you can usually tell if someone pressed the shutter thinking "B&W" versus just converting later.
I will say that other than in classes I took creating true B&W photos has often been challenging unless you're in the darkroom yourself. From the dark days when the only photo shop in town printed all my B&W negatives on color film (very green blacks, blech) to today's fact that a good conversion to B&W in Photoshop is not always straightforward, the clean simplicity that is the look of black and white is not always simple to attain.
As long as they mean that images must be exposed onto glass plates, and only then processed in the darkroom, I agree - that's "real" b&w. If they're talking about that new-fangled b&w film... that's modern wizardry that has no place in photography!
I shoot B&W film and convert chromes to B&W. I consider both to be B&W photography. Sometimes I shoot a chrome intending it to be B&W, sometime color and later decide it looks better as B&W.
One shot I consider my all-time favorite and perhaps best image started its life as an intended color print. As a color image it didn't do much for me, but as soon as I converted it, the image jumped off the screen and made a stunning print. As long as I like the print, it doesn't matter a whole lot to me how I got there.
> It just tells me more about the photographer.... someone who can "see" and recognize a good
> b&w scene before they press the shutter - digital or film - no matter.
Why do you feel it is important to recognize a good b&w scene before pressing the shutter?
Discussion
12 repliesWhat do you think about that??
Black and white photography is photography that produces black and white images.
Guy
A darkroom or a computer are simply tools. If the final image/print is Black & White, then it's a Black & White photograph.
-PB
I've personally struggled with the exact point that you've expressed; which is why I rarely process my color slide film in b&w. The last time I shot b&w film was in a college photo course in the early 80's. Even then, I didn't care for darkroom work as I felt I would much rather spend 8 hours in the field creating images than 8 hrs in the darkroom making prints.
Having said that.... I appreciate traditional activities, but accept and have no qualms with current technologies. As Guy said it, the end result is a black and white photograph.
I love b&w photographs done well. In my opinion however, I appreciate it more when I know that the photographer intended the scene for b&w - as opposed to "converting" after the fact because the color version didn't cut it. It just tells me more about the photographer.... someone who can "see" and recognize a good b&w scene before they press the shutter - digital or film - no matter.
Just my .02.
Lon
I don't know that I fully agree with them but I do see their point though must confess my bias; B&W film work is still my first love.
Silver imparts a quality that digital and ink jets just don't have and never will. It doesn't mean digital is any less real. You might point out to these individuals if they really wanted to be 'real' they would be making their own emulsions, chemistry and plates; even on location, as photographers did a century ago. Their response would be interesting.
Dave
Who still misses FP4
I will say that other than in classes I took creating true B&W photos has often been challenging unless you're in the darkroom yourself. From the dark days when the only photo shop in town printed all my B&W negatives on color film (very green blacks, blech) to today's fact that a good conversion to B&W in Photoshop is not always straightforward, the clean simplicity that is the look of black and white is not always simple to attain.
My two cents.
-- Bass
John
One shot I consider my all-time favorite and perhaps best image started its life as an intended color print. As a color image it didn't do much for me, but as soon as I converted it, the image jumped off the screen and made a stunning print. As long as I like the print, it doesn't matter a whole lot to me how I got there.
> b&w scene before they press the shutter - digital or film - no matter.
Why do you feel it is important to recognize a good b&w scene before pressing the shutter?
Thanks.