How to Choose Between Color and Black & White Photography

To saturate or desaturate? That is the question for a lot of digital photographers right now and it’s really no wonder why. It’s a choice that seems almost arbitrary when changing your mind is as easy as finding the right slider. Many portrait photographers put the choice in their clients’ hands, providing them with both versions of each image. But when it comes to building a brand for yourself, submitting to competitions, or making a statement with your art, the choice between color and non-color could be the difference between accomplishing your goals and falling short of them. On the surface, it seems like the most basic artistic decision you will make: Will I use color or not? But its impact can be deep when used correctly, and to make an informed choice you will need at least a superficial understanding of art and photographic history, color theory, and the way people think.

Understanding Achromatic and Color History

Black and white photography is almost never only made of black and white. You will see many shades of grey in a black and white image, which is why these images are more aptly labeled as “achromatic.” Achromatic just means “without color.” Early color photography wasn’t nearly as true to life as what we see today, and for a long time it was a giant pain to produce. Back in the day, old school photographers faced a creative decision before even shooting a single image: whether to load their camera with black and white or color film. Today, all digital cameras default to color, with the option to convert to black and white in post-processing.

When to Choose Black and White

Black and white photography strips away the distractions of color, leaving the viewer to focus on the essential elements of an image: composition, texture, contrast, and form. This can create a powerful image, as the absence of color can evoke a sense of timelessness, nostalgia, and introspection. Consider the following reasons to choose this medium:

• Highlighting Contrast and Texture: When you want to emphasize the contrast between light and dark areas or bring out intricate textures, black and white can be particularly effective. The absence of color allows shadows and highlights to play a more prominent role, adding depth and drama to your images.
• Creating a Timeless Feel: Black and white photography can give your images a retro, timeless quality. If you're photographing historical sites, vintage-themed events, or subjects that evoke a sense of nostalgia, black and white can enhance the mood.
• When shooting in “Bad” Lighting: Dark, overcast, dreary days or high contrast, bright sunny days can both be a great time to shoot with a black and white image in mind.

The Vibrancy of Color Photography

Color photography brings vibrancy and realism to your images, capturing the world as we see it. Colors can convey a wide range of emotions, set the tone, and add layers of meaning to a photograph. They can also guide the viewer’s eye and highlight specific elements within the frame. Key uses for color include:

• Capturing the Beauty of Nature: When photographing landscapes, flowers, the rich hues of a sunset, the lush greens of a forest, or the vibrant colors of a flower are all subjects that naturally would look better in color.
• Conveying Mood and Atmosphere: Different colors can evoke different emotions and moods. Warm colors like reds and oranges can create a sense of warmth and energy, while cool colors like blues and greens can evoke calm and tranquility.
• Highlighting Details and Variety: In scenes with a lot of visual interest, color can help differentiate and highlight different elements. Whether you’re shooting a bustling market, a colorful festival, or an eclectic street scene, color photography can capture the richness and diversity of the environment.

Comparison Table: Black and White vs. Color

Criteria	Black and White (Achromatic)	Color Photography
Visual Focus	Composition, texture, contrast, and form.	Vibrancy, realism, and layers of meaning.
Ideal Lighting	Overcast days or high contrast sunny days.	Golden hour, sunsets, and lush environments.
Emotional Tone	Timelessness, nostalgia, and introspection.	Warmth, energy, calm, and tranquility.

Artistic Intent and the Digital Darkroom

There’s a time for desaturation and a time for color, all depending on the story one tries to tell. In the digital darkroom, I try to be intentional about asking myself whether the colour adds to something to my story or detracts from it. If it’s simply a distraction or a crutch for a mediocre composition or subject, then I have no problem stripping it away. On the other hand, if it does contribute something, I’ll retain it. Whether you shoot a landscape in colour or black and white the composition has to be good. The composition and lighting of an image should stand up in either colour or black and white. If the lighting is flat and boring in colour it will be boring in black and white, the colours converting to several shades of grey rather than a rich display of attractive tones.