the black and white of it

I have recently been lamenting about the undeniable quality of black and white images. Whatever it is, whatever they do to us, black and white photographs can be so...so....you know what I mean.  I don't know about you but there are some images I capture that I know are meant to be black and white. There's just no question in my mind.

I do shoot digitally (color) and I'll admit that I often play with images, process them a number of ways, try different presets on for size and equally enjoy them all. But there are times when nothing but black and white will do.

Do your images ever beckon to you for a black and white treatment? Or perhaps you have been seduced into going back in time and shooting with black and white film again. Oh, the idea does tempt me. I'm sure the time will come when I load up my old film SLR and have a field day but for now, my new Canon 5D (the older version of this amazing thing) rarely leaves my clutches. Which means I shoot in color but I will continue to treat my images as they warrant being treated. When they call for black and white, so be it.

Have you captured a moment in time that was destined for black and white? Do share your marvelous monochromatic shots with us today.

Comments

[Kevyn Jalone]

I adore black and white. Shooting digital, I'm so spoiled with the ability to make the choice after the photo has been taken. It's saved many a ho-hum color shot. This one was a complete throw away in color, but a little cropping and a B&W conversion and it's become one of my favorite shots of my sweetheart yet.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/kevynanddave/3291567955/in/set-72157612118326760/

[KL]

This subject inspired a little unplanned self discovery...and a blog post..

http://blessourmess.blogspot.com/2009/04/weird.html

[Laetitia]

This is the first time I comment on your blog, but I've been following it closely for some time. And I must say that I really, really like it!

Anyway, I know exactly what you mean. Here is my contribution::
http://www.flickr.com/photos/37340760@N08/3429868262/

Personally I think that this photo of mine would lose all its depth if it was in colour :)

[claudia]

At the beginning of this year, I really wanted to challenge myself to shoot more in b&w, not just convert them. Wow, that was harder than I thought! I'm so glad there's no 365 police to check up on how poorly I've been doing!! I'll keep trying or converting if the shot necessitates, I guess.
Here's one before I lost track of what day it was ;)
http://www.flickr.com/photos/laurohunt/3273472846/in/set-72157612224191236/

[Grey Street Girl]

I love B&W. I did one just yesterday.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/greystgirl/3428041538/

[Andrea]

I have this passionate love affair with black and whites, and most recently with adding a bit of vintage into them. They speak to deep places in my heart...

These photos are (in order) of me, my husband, and my baby.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/sgtandmrshub/3145170808/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/sgtandmrshub/3174914260/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/sgtandmrshub/3141674537/

[jag]

This is one of my favourite B&W shots... It captures a moment in time, just waiting for the bus. Interesting to see what kids will do when there's nothing to do but wait. :-)
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jagspace/2730663032/in/set-72157606769833070/
xox

[Jen at Baby Contest]

black and white is my favorite, and obviously much better when it's a picture that really just needs to be b&w for whatever reason! I kind of really like sepia too maybe because it makes me think its even older than b&w photos? haha

[dr lyn]

I like the way turning this photo black and white makes it feel a bit like "time stopped" -- something so relevant to it -- my little girl's first pair of "heels" for Easter. Childhood is going so fast...

http://www.flickr.com/photos/11439752@N04/3430125362/

[Maegan]

I love how a b&w photo brings intense focus to the simple beauty of the subject.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/mbeasoap/3415369344/

[beth]

I volunteer at the boys and girls club and for some reason, I love all thephotos I take there better in black and white instead of color...

http://www.flickr.com/photos/29291473@N04/3429357365/

[Georgia]

I lurve black and white!!! Here is one of my friend and her new baby... I love this moment I was able to capture.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/georgiabean/3387058522/

[Heather]

I think b+w tells a story the way nothing else can. In my high school days, there was nothing sweeter than roll after roll of Ilford and every chance I got to spend in the darkroom at school. Now i'd have to drive 45 minutes to find a store that carried/developed b+w. Today I swear by gradient maps and bright/contrast adjustments in PSE.

My shot from yesterday just had to be b+w

http://heatherk.typepad.com/photography/2009/04/easter-best.html

[melody is slurping life]

Yep, I get it. Loving the one white, one black dog.

And sometimes though you shoot in color, nature creates the black and white for you...

http://www.flickr.com/photos/melsphotophun/3430351284/

[HappyHourMom]

Here is a little moment with my little boy captured amongst the chaos, better know as The Hannah Montana Concert

http://www.flickr.com/photos/happyhourmom/3430117494/

Can you remember your first concert?

[Leslie]

I totally agree some photos were just meant to be B&W's here's mines!

http://lesliephoto.blogspot.com/2009/04/drifters.html

[Julie Alvarez]

Here they are (almost all of them shot on film):
http://www.flickr.com/photos/juliealvarez/sets/72157616603403200/

[Barrie]

http://barrieb.wordpress.com/2008/02/03/day-thirty-three/

I haven't done much conversion to black and white. Here is one that I really like much better in black and white. In fact, it's one of my all time favorite photos.

[kristin]

brother and sister telling secrets under the wash line today.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/14811117@N02/3429869427/

[Chris]

Taken just 2 days ago on our spring break beach trip: http://everydayheartbeats.com/2009/04/10/love-in-black-white/

[brittany]

i love the simplicity that black and white gives photos of children.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/sivyerfamily/3311610375/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/sivyerfamily/3231837935/

[Tracie]

Yes! Just today I took this:

http://www.mywildacres.com/fieldjournal/?p=1026

I love black and white too. When it is good--it it SO good!

[april]

I completely agree... some images just call for b&w. This is a recent favorite, a dog photo that I just love...

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3416/3426620264_8206fcdd34.jpg

[Jean M Fogle]

Better late than never. Today's excuse for not cleaning was the black and white post from yesterday.
Here are pictures of an old deserted house along the interstate.It was yesterdays excuse to not clean!
http://pixels-n-pen.blogspot.com

[brooke]

I love black and white processing. I know exactly what you mean when I know a shot can only be black and white. I have been playing a lot with dark light, and those generally need to be black and white. I love the vintage, nostalgic feel it gives pictures. I think it gives pictures more of a feeling, instead of being straight forward like color. I would love to go back to shooting with only black and white film.

[brooke]

I almost forgot here is the ling to my website, to see the black and white's

http://philandbrooke.blogspot.com/

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