Evan Baines wrote:
This sort of comment never makes any sense to me. I suppose it comes from the digital "always shoot color and selectively convert" mentality. To me, B&W is really it's own medium, and some photographers just choose to work in that medium. Especially for this photographer, who is known almost exclusively to post B&W, it's like telling an oil painter his work would be better in watercolor.
I would go so far to say that suggesting that these would work better in color demonstrates a thorough misapprehensionsion of the OP's artistic goals.
This is so right on the money Evan.
Perfectly said.
Black and white is not just color desaturated. Truly talented B&W photographers, like airfrogusmc, are able to view the subject in monochrome. They see in tonality instead of color differences and know what will work in B&W.
I'm a long time practitioner of B&W and it has been my chosen medium for personal expression. It's sort of like playing the piano and playing the organ. There are similarities, but you can't assume a competent piano player will be a competent organ player. I find good B&W photography more challenging and ultimately more rewarding than color photography.
Andre, I suggest you explore B&W photography as a self assignment in 2016. There's no better way to appreciate the challenges it brings than to try it for yourself. You will have to make an effort to "see" in B&W. It will take more than just converting color images in monochrome. To really learn, you'll have to set out with the intention of making B&W images. You'll learn what works and what doesn't. You could even go as far as to get a monochrome filter like the film directors of old used as a seeing aid.
BTW, this is a steller portfolio of B&W street photography. I've done some street work and know how hard it is to produce work of this caliber. There's not much street photography I like, but the work of airfrogusmc is among my favorite of the genre.
Wonderful gallery for 2015. I've always been amazed at your ability to find patterns, shapes and ways in which the subjects appear to almost interact with or imitate their backgrounds.
I found the B&W vs. color discussion interesting and I think DMac said it just right. I have attempted shooting B&W film and frankly, it's really tough to come up with images that have an impact like these.
Thanks David.
I think Evans comments are right on also. Many from the digital mindset think of B&W to be easier or, as Evan pointed out, think of it in a secondary way. Not as a separate, and very different, way of seeing and working.
Thanks again,
Allen
neighbourboy wrote:
Wonderful gallery for 2015. I've always been amazed at your ability to find patterns, shapes and ways in which the subjects appear to almost interact with or imitate their backgrounds.
I found the B&W vs. color discussion interesting and I think DMac said it just right. I have attempted shooting B&W film and frankly, it's really tough to come up with images that have an impact like these.
--David
I agree with David here. And I believe you have a style that has become quite distinctive.
Great 2015 and I'm looking forward to what you do in 2016.
Thanks for sharing.
Greg
I really dig the images and the story represented here. You did such a great job with the composition of the imagery and being able to capture genuine emotion and feelings with your photographs. I prefer them in BW because they seem more telling with the style you are going for.
About the BW bit.. Who cares if someone thinks the images in color might make the work more interesting? I wouldn't even be offended because you're an artist and you know the vision of what you are going for. Sometimes people tell me my work is too processed or that I blow out highlights too much, but to be honest..I know what I'm doing and it's part of my style. If you like your style, stick with your style. No need to be upset by it. I'm actually surprised by a lot of the comments here, because I don't feel like an opinion should be attacked like that. Maybe if it was from an FM'er that wasn't as well known on the forum it wouldn't have been a big deal.
And now back on topic..keep doing what you're doing man. I really love your photojournalistic style and I'm excited to see what you bring to the table in 2016
Thanks Michael and I wasn't upset about it. I was just explaining that color in regards to this work doesn't exist so it is a total waist of time even discussing that option.
Also wanted to add, I don't recall seeing anyone being attacked.
Challenging an opinion, if done with from a position of intelligence, respect and grace, should never be seen as an attack. You should always challenge things you know to be wrong or else there is no real truth.
I haven't seen any posts here in this thread that is an attack.
No. I really want the images to be seen as prints. I had an exhibit last March at a gallery but a lot of these weren't in that exhibit. I am working on another exhibit now which will include some of these. Not nailed down yet but maybe late this year or early next year.
