When you photograph people in colour, you photograph their clothes. But when you photograph people in black and white, you photograph their souls!
Ted Grant
I used this quote last year to introduce a Monochrome Madness post about black and white portraiture. It’s a favourite of mine as I think it encapsulates an important difference between the two media. As I said it that previous post,
Without the distraction of colours, the focus shifts more to the subject’s face and expression. The eyes in particular seem to stand out more, and consequently as a viewer you often feel more connected to the person. And the absence of colour results in an emphasis on shape and form, often making the people seem more significant than their surroundings.
In that previous post I included only images in monochrome (with one exception). But now Patti challenges us to consider the merits of black and white versus colour. I thought it would be interesting to revisit the subject of people but this time compare both colour and black and white versions of some shots.
Personally I believe that in the end the choice of colour or monochrome comes down to the story you want to tell. Is it more important to emphasise the person’s surroundings, or their clothing, or an aspect of their lives? Or are you more interested in the character of an individual as seen in their expression perhaps? Both are valid but usually one ‘story’ seems more important or interesting to me than the other.
Contrast these two examples from Moranbong Park in Pyongyang, North Korea:
For the young couple the use of colour shows off the woman’s dress, something I feel she would be keen for us to appreciate. And her pretty hair adornments are much more obvious. But in the shot of the older woman, I was more interested in her expression and what it tells us about what has probably been a hard life. She was here in the park to dance and celebrate, which she did with gusto, but when she tired and took a break her face told a different story; one best expressed, I feel, in black and white.
Patti asked us to restrict our selection to three pairs, which I found very challenging! But I settled on this as my final example. The girl’s clothing is colourful and there’s a warmth to the wooden door she sits by. But the monochrome edit, to which I also added a slight vignette, holds your eye on her rather than wandering around the whole image. If I had to choose I would opt for that monochrome version.
Please tell me in the comments which versions of these shots you prefer, and whether or not you agree with the quote by Ted Grant above. All the monochrome versions were edited with Nik Silver Efex Pro and the colour ones with Photoshop Elements and/or Nik Color Efex Pro.
41 Comments
Dawn M. Miller
I love how you did the slide shows. Great idea!
Rose
I love the quote, Sarah. The first couple: I think they look better in color, in b&w you can see there’s a hint of joy, but the color really brings it out. The other 2 photos feel more deeper, more contemplative in b&w. They touch the spirit in a different way.
Easymalc
Interesting subject Sarah, but for me I’m afraid I just see time as a mitigating factor more than anything else (not exclusively so though). When they brought images and film into the modern age of colour from what was originally done in B&W it lost its impact for me, but that’s just my thoughts, and straying away from the challenge somewhat.
Sarah Wilkie
I don’t think you’re straying away from the challenge Malcolm as the point of it was to weigh up the pros and cons of each medium. I guess I’m used to seeing B&W still a lot in the work of many photographers, including professionals, so for me it isn’t an historic thing. I would argue that the advent of colour film gave us an option that wasn’t previously available but we can choose whether or not to use it – just as artists can choose whether to sketch in charcoal or paint in watercolour for example.
Easymalc
I can’t argue with that. Henri Cartier Bresson was a great photogapher in my eyes, and so of course was Ansel Adams but in a different way, but I take your point that colour brought a whole new dimension to photography – and I’m glad it did.
I. J. Khanewala
Absolutely. Portraits in black and white focus your attention on the person. That’s true even in the second photo, where the B&W treatment is actually rather good even for her dress.
Sarah Wilkie
Thank you – I know what you mean about the second one, I do think it works in B&W but at the same time it’s a shame to lose the colours on her dress and in her hair.
shoestringdiary
I normally use monochrome shots when the scene (usually landscapes) isn’t that colorful and to emphasize contrast. But I only realized now how monochrome can be used to highlight facial expressions. Thanks for sharing this. (Leo)
Sarah Wilkie
Thank you Leo – I’m glad to have given you something else to consider and I hope you’ll try some B&W portraiture too!
thehungrytravellers.blog
Those are very cool, in this case the monochrome enhances, especially the facial expressions.
Sarah Wilkie
Thank you Phil, glad you like them 🙂
Alison
I think the young girl for me Sarah, her expression shows up so much more in black and white. Very clever how you’ve incorporated all three pairs in the feature photo
Sarah Wilkie
Thank you Alison 😊 I made the feature collage in Canva.
Alison
I love using Canva, so versatile and lots of fun
Sarah Wilkie
Me too 🙂
Egídio
Sarah, the quote you used to open your post is perfect. In the three sets you shared, I picked the monochrome every time. I can see using colors in portraits when I want to highlight a culture’s way of dressing, etc. Great post!
Sarah Wilkie
Thank you Egidio, that’s a favourite quote of mine 😃 It’s interesting that you like all three in monochrome as most people prefer the couple in colour. Just shows how subjective this all is!
Egídio
I’m finding the same about my photos. It is very subjective.
Anne Sandler
Great choices for this challenge Sarah. For the wedding couple, I prefer color. It shows the brightness of the occasion. However, I like the two portraits in B&W. The lack of color allows the pictures to tell their stories through expression and contrast.
Sarah Wilkie
Thanks so much Anne, you echo my own thoughts 😊
JohnRH
Clothes and Souls, interesting perspective. Well done.
Sarah Wilkie
Thank you John 😊
bushboy
People are good choices Sarah. The first couple looks so much better in colour
Sarah Wilkie
Thank you Brian – that seemed a good shot to illustrate the point about clothes 😀
kzmcb
Oh yes, it’s a good quote and you’ve illustrated it perfectly. I think the first two do it better and if I had to pick I’d go the second – but aged faces have more stories etched on them.
Sarah Wilkie
Thank you – I completely agree about older faces!
restlessjo
I’m very wishy washy on this subject, Sarah. Although I agree with the quote and your assessment, I often can’t say I have a preference. They are almost like two entirely separate subjects and the black and white seems to change their character. The young woman at the end seems quite hostile in black and white.
Sarah Wilkie
That’s an interesting point and with many images I feel the same. As I said, it depends what ‘story’ you want to tell 😃
Anabel @ The Glasgow Gallivanter
I like the wedding couple in colour. It emphasises the joy of the occasion. The other two I prefer b/w because it focuses more on the women’s expressions.
Sarah Wilkie
We’re in complete agreement then 😀
Suzanne@PictureRetirement
Sarah, you have presented these photos beautifully and your analysis of them is on point. I absolutely love the quote. All of your shots prove its point.
Sarah Wilkie
Thank you Suzanne, I’m pleased you liked both the photos and the quote 🙂
Sue
Well, I agree that the
‘absence of colour results in an emphasis on shape and form, often making the people seem more significant than their surroundings.’ And on the whole,I prefer B&W for portraits. Certainly your second and third images are best in monochrome, the old lady a powerful image
Sarah Wilkie
Thanks so much Sue 😊 That old lady really threw herself into the dancing but when she stopped her expression changed.
Monkey's Tale
I actually think I prefer the coloured version, especially of the older woman. I find I’m distracted by the spot on her face in the b&w, where I don’t notice it in the colour version. The lady on the stairs, I can’t chose a favourite, and I prefer the couple in colour for some reason. Maggie
Sarah Wilkie
Thank you for your interesting feedback Maggie 🙂 You prove how subjective these things are! I agree with you about the young couple but the other two I prefer in B&W. I’m not sure what you mean about a spot on the older woman’s face as her complexion is generally quite mottled!
Monkey's Tale
It is quite mottled, but I guess I find it more obvious in the black and white, especially on her left cheek.
Patricia Moed
Hi Sarah. Yes…I agree with you here: “Personally I believe that in the end the choice of colour or monochrome comes down to the story you want to tell…. Both are valid but usually one ‘story’ seems more important or interesting to me than the other.” The story and your intention are the primary factors. As for my favorites…I really like all 3 in b&w! I think the personality/soul of the people really shine that way….as your quote beautifully states!
Sarah Wilkie
Thanks so much Patti 😊 I really enjoyed this challenge although it was a tough exercise (for me) to narrow my possibly shots down to just these three!
margaret21
You write an interesting commentary, and yes, circumstances alter cases. But as a general rule, I prefer b/w for portraits. The subjects come alive and force your focus onto them, I think.
Sarah Wilkie
I agree, with a few exceptions – thank you for your thoughts Margaret 🙂