Which image do you prefer?
The majority, when asked, have expressed a preference for the capture in colour. This was not my original choice for the image.
I’ve been shooting a lot in black and white recently. I’ve been wondering about this; why I’m increasingly tempted to go for monochrome when there are interesting and vivid colour contrasts before me.
I think this is partially season, and also mood. The past year was a rollercoaster ride of love, sun, and energy. I wanted to capture the warmth and variety of what was around me – black and white would kill the emotion I am trying to communicate in the picture. A picture can be viewed through a technical analysis, but, ultimately, the majority of the meaning and significance is personal. Nobody shall understand the picture better than the individual who takes it.
So now, in Seoul, a cold and fairly ugly city, many of my pictures feel monochrome to me. I want to capture the cold, the atmosphere, and also the space.
The above picture, in Gyeongbokgung, produces an interesting dilemma. The colours of the guards, trees, and buildings all provide a good enough basis for shooting in colour. Arguably the picture works because of the contrast between the earthy colours of the setting, and the blue of the guards.
Yet, I shot black and white.
Space is rare in Seoul, as most Asian cities. Gyeongbokgung provides a rare opportunity for elbow room and some open spaces for composition. The space currently feels further exaggerated for me, as a city dweller.
When there are large amounts of open space in my composition I have a tendency to prefer black and white. Consider this image.
I shot this in May last year. Whether or not the image is a successful capture, it shows that I tend to err towards black and white when shooting in large, open spaces. The contrast captures my mood and experience in the environment more effectively.
Why else could I be shooting Seoul in black and white?
Mood. I’m not depressed; far from it. It’s winter at the moment, and the weather is cold. Everyone has a low energy, and the greys of the city can be overwhelming. From a personal perspective, I’ve also been making my way in a new city, having to work hard both in a new job and when making friends. I’m no longer capturing images as experiences of love-filled moments shared with others; I’m lonely. Going out and finding moments to capture is currently a solitary experience where I must find what I need – it no longer occurs spontaneously with the people around me.
Here’s another capture from a “lonely” experience
A journey on the London Underground.
My memory of this experience feels black and white in my mind, not just the photograph.
The decision to present moments in black and white or full colour is such a fundamental way to change images.
To the photographer it can feel completely logical and natural; it feels right, and photography is foremost driven by feeling.
Next time you make the seemingly obvious and arbitrary decision, consider just how the image feels.
What’s your personal experience, in this moment?
AJMiles Blog 