i was just looking for peoples responses on why are black and white photographs more effective than colour? What do they symbolise?i am doing a major work for year twelve and am researching responses on this issue. any responses would be great!

-- jessica (jhunter@loreto.nsw.edu.au), October 14, 2003

Answers

useing black and white is smiple...shooting in side when the only light source is a regular light bulb you can take the photo, and not use filters, brcause color film will produce an off color print....a yellow and bage color...florescent lighting is the best for shooting b+w it is almost like shooting outside on a overcast day... cool white bulbs give the best light for florescent lighting....

-- igby (igby@webtv.net), October 20, 2003.

Well, only two colors are involved, defining the situation a little easier, also, B&W photos last a lot longer than color photos the last I heard, anyhow. Blue

-- John L. Blue (bluescreek@hotmail.com), October 23, 2003.

Black and white photos are a lot simpler, and they just have a more lasting effect in today's world where EVERYTHING is in color.

-- Rachel Quinn (rayray@att.net), November 30, 2003.

Black & white photography helps me concentrate on the basics; composition, contrast, focus, depth of field, etc. I find that without color, a photograph must be strong in the essential artistic elements. If you look at the works of past and present masters of the medium, I think you will conclude that simplicity, and balance in composition and light as well as mastery of the printing process are common to all of them. There is no substitute (IMHO) to real darkroom work when it comes to B&W. I'd also like to say that contrast is B&W film's strongest attribute. The ability to use contrast effectively is a key skill.

-- tim wilson (trewilson@yahoo.com), January 01, 2004.

Black and white photographs gives more consideration on people's eye. At first maybe seems simple, monotones.but the longer you attention, more you get.

-- Vivie Au (vivieou@tom.com), January 15, 2004.

I look at it this way: Color is like TV, and B&W is like radio. With B&W as well as radio, the viewer/listener is involved with and contributes to the minds perception of the image, thus personalizing it. With color TV and photography, it's all given to you, with nothing left for the imagination to embellish.

-- Jon (aether59@hotmail.com), July 11, 2004.