BW vs Colour 
As I am digitalizing all my BW portfolio, I realized and confirmed within myself that I am a BW photographer, no doubt about this. Teresa, my dearest wife, says the same and feels the same about my way of being a photographer. I can understand and rate more easily BW's than colour photography as when capturing images, I "can" really see the BW result of the capture I am taking, as I can almost instantly see the gradations from black to white, contrasts and overall lighting effect. This is not a selfstatement nor a vanity, but it is the reality that has to do with my begginings in photography where BW was the way to go, not only because it was much more cheap to do at home but because at that time it was the way I looked at the world: Black and White.
I have also in my PF, many colour positives - developed also by myself at home - but the interesting part is that the type of photography I do in colour is completely different than the one I do in BW. Completely different as water from wine. Nowadays however, is so simple - if one knows how to do it correctly - to enhance colours captures with dramatic effects that one can achieve really astonishinng compositions on the digital darkroom, - in some cases, far away from the reality - which are simply not compatible with BW photography, which is based mainly in light and shadow, contrast and a truly gradation from black to white. What my fellows photographers and graphics mates here at SB think about this ?
All contributions are most welcome. Many thanks.
Post replies:
Reply by: MountainHawk

Reply by: brett
I spent the first 2 or 3 years in photography using B/W negative film then moved onto colour slide.
Now I have gone digital I like using colour for flowers and leaves but still revert back to B/W every now and then.
Reply by: ernieleo
Reply by: brett
Brett.




Reply by: brett
I just like the choice of what colour goes to what shade of BorW. I see the computer as the darkroom stage, the tools in photoshop just mimic what we did on our enlargers.
I don´t think your "strick " way of thinking is "stupid" your end results speak for themselves!
Brett.


Reply by: preet_hipno
And
if we convert color to B/w then some of object not seem clear as they are in real b/w capturing.
But both are fine in diffrent kind of useges :p
Reply by: TAXIFUNK
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today I was thinking WOW this is almost impossible but it works. That question of yours reminds me - just like the art of movies (Charlie Chaplin, I preferred many of his silent artworks which were quite early to some of his modern things with sound, and I really was at his house in Hollywood and read his biography) - TRUE photographers not only often demonstrate abstract thinking is more essential than whether color or not, ironically and tragically we are now experiencing the only side effect of color getting so accessible and popular to everyone - people dont even get into b/w. That way, they dont start in the right order. Thinking - drawing - painting (in your mind) - then deciding what part of your message you want to make dominant in getting your vision across best. The b/w FORCES you to see, if well done, that its not about JUST which color could be here... it says:
Here are the INNER key components and shades. In fact it often REMOVES problems that come in on the potential next step - colors. This results in a traditional OBLIGATION to keep true art alive soley maintainable by serious artists. Ironically, this is the part that needs less hard- and software requirements. So industry does not accentuate that
Then again, I see your colored church
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from out of a window (your windows are great in b/w AND color) and enjoy it without even realizing - its master GT at work. Its just a great color piece. (although you manage to even keep a certain faith to your style in color, night colors a tricky example for my statement, hmh, amazing)
Nowadays - it can get REALLY interesting where all parties border with their skills and possiblities. As indicated by you up there, its another challenge what you can MOUNT on or ADD to a b/w CREATION or b/w photo with ADDITIONAL ARTIFICIAL COLOR. But not too much color, otherwise the b/w is just one of the colors. Great proof of this at its best for me this week was one of nastja´s poodles:
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Artur, keep SOME b/w alive. Not many can do this anymore in the future - especially on meeting points with amateurs around, including me. This is something for pioneers. Glad we still got some left over
What do the other artists specialize in? Or do you have several trends? Was thinking I should answer later or not at all, but darn, this is a topic I would hate to see neglected :taxi
Toby, TAXI, SATYROBE