Why Shoot in Black and White

I have been asked why I shoot Black and White exclusively. I am going to attempt to explain. My choice certainly doesn’t mean I don’t enjoy color photography. There is exquisite work out there and I love seeing it. However, when I convert a photograph that I really like into black and white I see so much more, I have a sense of more control over my creative work. Color can get in the way of seeing what is under the color, how the contrast of black white, and all the grays can accentuate the light and drama of a scene.

I recently went to a seminar where the presenter showed a group of paintings by several of the Painting Masters that had the color removed. It was truly amazing the level of light and tonality that was represented inside these color paintings. Some painters work in black and white before they start to paint. The black and white shows more of the accented lines and gray shadows in the white cloth, the glass and metal show more detail and the light is wonderful.

Black and White also allows me to show mood, lines, and curves to their full advantage which can sometimes be lost or not as strongly expressed as it could be when in color. In the examples below, for me with the black and white image, you can see detail. With the black and white you get much more of a feeling of the light, especially hitting the center of the plant. The sense of quiet presence is stronger in the black and white. Black and white helps move my creative process. The color shot has the same curves and lines but with the magic of black and white, I can accentuate the things I want you to see. No matter how I lit the color photo I would not get that same elegance and grace from this shot.

What started as an experiment in converting color to black and white has become a way of seeing for me. I continued working in this monotone space to help me get better at this new concept. I found using the wide tonality available made it easier for me to flesh out what I wanted to say and express my own creativity and style. Now I know that this is the best way for me to express my art.