Shooting a black and white photograph doesn’t simply mean stripping an image of its colors. It’s a conscious choice that requires a different mindset, a way of seeing the world through a lens that emphasizes contrasts, textures, and light. When you shoot in black and white, you need to think in black and white. This means that at the moment of capture, you should already envision how the details will be rendered without the support of color.
Black and white highlights the essence of the image, distilling it down to its fundamental elements: shapes, lines, and tones. Light becomes the main character, and the photographer must capture how it shapes subjects, creates shadows, and generates depth. It’s not just a matter of removing color, but of interpreting reality in a unique way.
Personally, I believe that showing the same photo in both black and white and color diminishes its impact. Every image should be conceived and executed with the final result in mind. If the goal is a black and white image, then everything should be oriented toward that vision, from the moment of capture to post-production. Similarly, a color photo should fully exploit the color spectrum to convey the intended emotions and message.
Mixing the two versions of the same photo risks diluting the effectiveness of both. Black and white and color are two distinct languages, and they cannot be combined without losing their uniqueness. When a photo is shown in both versions, there’s a sense of inconsistency, as if the photographer couldn’t decide which path to take. In conclusion, shooting in black and white means embracing a specific and coherent artistic vision, capable of communicating with strength and simplicity.
