Black & White Photography

“When you photograph people in color, you photograph their clothes.
But when you photograph people in black and white, you photograph their souls”
– Ted Grant –

I’m not sure if I agree with Ted Grant.
These images were taken when I sat in my car waiting while a religious procession passes by along the road. Nowadays it is not so common for me to photograph people.
What’s more unusual is that I edit them to black and white, so these are an exception.But I enjoy trying something new and would love to learn more.
What do you think about my black and white photos, how could they have been improved?

Here the images are also shown in color, for those who want to compare.
Your comment is much appreciated. Thanks!

Susan’s Black and White on Wednesdays

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Comments

33 responses to “Black & White Photography”

  1. Tokens of Companionship Avatar
    Tokens of Companionship

    I think your black and white versions are really nice, more interesting than the color versions in this situation. Many of the old photos I buy are more of a sepia, which seems more natural than black and white (closer to a natural skin tone). Often I wish I could see an old image in color. I think the context matters a lot (subject, lighting, etc.).

    Reply
    1. Anita Avatar
      Anita

      Thank you kindly for your nice comment Brad! Yes, I agree, it would be very interesting if we could see an old image in color. Especially for you who see so many really old and very nice pictures in sepia that you share with us others.

      Reply
  2. bpz3 Avatar
    bpz3

    Nu är jag ju inte så värst förtjust i bilder som är omgjorda till svartvitt. Men i din serie valde du perfekt “motiv”, där svartvitt faktiskt gör sig bättre än färg. Jag menar nunnedräkter är ju antingen vita, gråa eller svarta, präster är vita, det gamla paret med kvinnan i rullstolen har båda vitt hår – så… Även bilden med tjejen med keps är faktiskt bättre i svartvitt, då tjejernas färgstarka banderoll annars tagit över bilden helt.
    Så perfekta motiv för svartvita foton. Bra jobbat!

    Reply
    1. Anita Avatar
      Anita

      Tusen tack Beate!

      Reply
  3. Blogs-R-Us Avatar
    Blogs-R-Us

    They have really come well, Anita knowing that you were in the car with less mobility perhaps with angles, lights, exposure, etc. I would crop a few if converting into B&W and create stunning B&W portraits. For example, the girls in the first photo could be cropped vertically to emphasize their costume/dress and leave the background out of the scene. Similarly, the Asian girl who displays a surprise and/or anxiety on her face could be cropped too, to bring out that effect. Try cropping and see if that makes sense.

    Reply
    1. Anita Avatar
      Anita

      Thanks a lot for your suggestions and thoughts Ranjit. Very much appreciated! I will certainly try the cropping and am already curious about the result. 😀

      Reply
      1. Blogs-R-Us Avatar
        Blogs-R-Us

        There you go..!

        Reply
        1. Anita Avatar
          Anita

          😀

          Reply
  4. rodicapoparo Avatar
    rodicapoparo

    Black and white can create drama, can suggest untold stories about the subjects. I like the photos with different layers of clarity with higher definition on the leading subject. Your photos are great!

    Reply
  5. Anki Avatar
    Anki

    Jag tycker nog han hade rätt, han Ted Grant – i alla fall här i dina snygga foton Anita! Kanonbilder!

    Reply
  6. Ms. Liz Avatar
    Ms. Liz

    I linger on the faces longer in b&w but because I live far away it’s very interesting for me to see the colour versions as I’m also interested in what colours the people are wearing including the religious people. Thanks Anita!

    Reply
    1. Anita Avatar
      Anita

      Thank you very much for your thoughts Liz!

      Reply
  7. Birder's Journey Avatar
    Birder’s Journey

    Very interesting, and I loved listening to the replies to your post. The last one helped me realize that I, too, paid more attention (and was attracted) to the faces of each person in the black and white.

    Reply
    1. Anita Avatar
      Anita

      Thank you very much for your thoughts and for visiting my site.

      Reply
  8. Kristallina Avatar
    Kristallina

    Jag tycker också att han har rätt. Har aldrig tänkt på det. Tack för den insikten! Gillar dina bilder mycket!

    Reply
    1. Anita Avatar
      Anita

      Tack så mycket Kristallina och trevlig helg! 🙂

      Reply
  9. sussiejoh65 Avatar
    sussiejoh65

    Jag tycker också att han har rätt, Ted Grant, intressant, och bilderna gör sig väldigt bra i svartvitt, snyggt fotat, och tack för ett vackert bidrag till den här utmaningen 🙂

    Reply
    1. Anita Avatar
      Anita

      Tack för din kommentar!

      Reply
  10. annicaaktiv Avatar
    annicaaktiv

    Jag tycker att bilderna är vackra och får sin rättvisa i det svart vita! Det är så kul att du utmanar dig själv att fota i svart vitt. Jag var också en gång i tiden emot det, jag ville bara ha färgglada bilder 😀

    Reply
    1. Anita Avatar
      Anita

      Färglada bilder är oftast gladare 😀 Tack för din kommentar Annica!

      Reply
      1. annicaaktiv Avatar
        annicaaktiv

        😀

        Reply
  11. Jag Avatar
    Jag

    De här personbilderna gör sig väldigt bra i svartvitt. Den enda bilden där jag ät tveksam är den med det äldre paret, damens vackra hår försvinner på nåt sätt. Kanske skulle lite mer kontrast eller skärpa avhjälpa det. En levande och snyggt fotad serie!

    Reply
    1. Anita Avatar
      Anita

      Tack för kommentar och tips snälla!

      Reply
  12. Manja Mexi Mexcessive Avatar
    Manja Mexi Mexcessive

    Well, your photos are simply wonderful, but it was only seeing them in colour that made them so to me. 🙂

    Reply
    1. Anita Avatar
      Anita

      Interesting! Thank you kindly for your comment Manja.

      Reply
  13. Ostendnomad Avatar
    Ostendnomad

    Lovely black/white series. Gr Stef

    Reply
  14. Lwbut Avatar
    Lwbut

    All profile shots, with the exception of the Korean(??) girl.

    Not sure if you had a telephoto lens handy but maybe taking some more ‘front on’ shots as they walked towards you looking at their eyes may give a more ‘soulful’ picture? Just a thought. 🙂

    Reply
    1. Anita Avatar
      Anita

      Thanks for your thoughts which are always appreciated and I agree. But since I sat in my car I had no options.

      Reply
  15. Robert Smith Avatar
    Robert Smith

    I love these gorgeous black and white photographs

    Reply
    1. Anita Avatar
      Anita

      Thank you kindly Robert, for both your nice comment and for visiting my site.

      Reply
      1. Robert Smith Avatar
        Robert Smith

        You are very welcome Anita. I would love to visit the your site again

        Reply
  16. Antonio Mozeto Avatar
    Antonio Mozeto

    I think your BnW’s are good. In my opinion it all depends on what one has in mind when make a photograph. To my way of thinking a BnW image I like making them more contrasty, with blacks and whites deeper, more profound …going for what’s called the absolute blacks and whites. Hope I presented some contribution. Cheers. antonio

    Reply
    1. Anita Avatar
      Anita

      Thank you Antonio, your comment and thoughts are much appreciated.

      Reply

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