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This question crops up every now and again, and it's often related to how an existing image might best be processed. Digital giving us the massive advantage (or maybe, massive disadvantage) of delaying the decision until we have the image in the computer.
But , black and white images aren't just colour images without the colour and arguably need a different approach to colour photography that begins before the photograph is taken and not at the start of it being processed.
For anyone interested I've put together some videos that I hope might be useful in answering the black and white or colour question. They are all rather long (between 1 and 2 hours) and not necessarily "easy" watches. Although, some of the videos touch on the technical aspects of making black and white, the main focus is on "seeing" in black and white and why the photographer chooses black and white over colour. There is a heavy focus on landscape/expressive photography and almost nothing about documentary/reportage photography.
Taken together I think they give a good feel for how black and white photographers (some at least) see and feel about the subjects they photograph.
1. Judy Hancock Holland. https://www.jhhphotography.com/
Black and White: Why and How (1h 11m)
This is a zoom talk to a photography club from a photographer who makes colour and black and white photographs. Of all the videos this one probably most directly addresses the colour or black and white question posted on forums.
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JDMkZ7aZ8Yc
2. Mark Koegel. https://www.marckoegel.com/index
The Art of Black And White Photography (1h 35m)
This is a presentation from Phase One by Mark Koegel who uses the Phase One Achromatic digital back for fine art landscapes. This is the only digital back he owns, which, as it's monochrome only, means he is heavily committed to Black and White. There is some brief discussion about Phase One cameras and techniques, but I don't think it distracts from the core black and white photography theme
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O9ssKL_SHp0
3. Cole Thompson https://colethompsonphotography.com/
Why Black and White? (1h 25m)
The only two photographers mentioned by Judy Hancock Holland are Ansel Adams and Cole Thompson, both names that crop up regularly when it comes to black and white landscapes. This is another Zoom talk to a photography club, and it goes well beyond the talks title, as it covers Cole's entire approach to photography, but its all illustrated with black and white images. Like Marc Koegel, with very rare exceptions, Cole Thompson only makes black and white photographs. There is some nudity relating to breast cancer contained in the talk
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9eTkl-WAt8w
4. Len Metcalf. http://lenmetcalf.com/
MY ART – ARTIST’S TALK SERIES (Edition 11) Speaker: Mr. Len Metcalf (Photographer). (1h 56m)
A Zoom talk to PhotoMuse (India's first museum dedicated to the art, history and science of Photography) which, like Cole Thomsons, ends up being Len's life story and philosophy as he explains his dedication to black and white photography. There is a strong bias towards trees in this talk. Like Cole and Mark, he is almost 100% a black and white photographer. There is some limited nudity (male and female) in this talk.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cl6Ij7LJi5A
5. Eileen Rafferty.
eileenrafferty.com
Seeing in Black and White (1h 55m)
A presentation on the B&H Youtube channel, which is more a lecture on seeing in black and white than an individual photographers talk. The talk is illustrated with well known photographs and photographs by the lecturer.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V8Hh8S-Z68s&t=36s
But , black and white images aren't just colour images without the colour and arguably need a different approach to colour photography that begins before the photograph is taken and not at the start of it being processed.
For anyone interested I've put together some videos that I hope might be useful in answering the black and white or colour question. They are all rather long (between 1 and 2 hours) and not necessarily "easy" watches. Although, some of the videos touch on the technical aspects of making black and white, the main focus is on "seeing" in black and white and why the photographer chooses black and white over colour. There is a heavy focus on landscape/expressive photography and almost nothing about documentary/reportage photography.
Taken together I think they give a good feel for how black and white photographers (some at least) see and feel about the subjects they photograph.
1. Judy Hancock Holland. https://www.jhhphotography.com/
Black and White: Why and How (1h 11m)
This is a zoom talk to a photography club from a photographer who makes colour and black and white photographs. Of all the videos this one probably most directly addresses the colour or black and white question posted on forums.
2. Mark Koegel. https://www.marckoegel.com/index
The Art of Black And White Photography (1h 35m)
This is a presentation from Phase One by Mark Koegel who uses the Phase One Achromatic digital back for fine art landscapes. This is the only digital back he owns, which, as it's monochrome only, means he is heavily committed to Black and White. There is some brief discussion about Phase One cameras and techniques, but I don't think it distracts from the core black and white photography theme
3. Cole Thompson https://colethompsonphotography.com/
Why Black and White? (1h 25m)
The only two photographers mentioned by Judy Hancock Holland are Ansel Adams and Cole Thompson, both names that crop up regularly when it comes to black and white landscapes. This is another Zoom talk to a photography club, and it goes well beyond the talks title, as it covers Cole's entire approach to photography, but its all illustrated with black and white images. Like Marc Koegel, with very rare exceptions, Cole Thompson only makes black and white photographs. There is some nudity relating to breast cancer contained in the talk
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9eTkl-WAt8w
4. Len Metcalf. http://lenmetcalf.com/
MY ART – ARTIST’S TALK SERIES (Edition 11) Speaker: Mr. Len Metcalf (Photographer). (1h 56m)
A Zoom talk to PhotoMuse (India's first museum dedicated to the art, history and science of Photography) which, like Cole Thomsons, ends up being Len's life story and philosophy as he explains his dedication to black and white photography. There is a strong bias towards trees in this talk. Like Cole and Mark, he is almost 100% a black and white photographer. There is some limited nudity (male and female) in this talk.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cl6Ij7LJi5A
5. Eileen Rafferty.
Eileen Rafferty | consulting: philosophy + practice
Seeing in Black and White (1h 55m)
A presentation on the B&H Youtube channel, which is more a lecture on seeing in black and white than an individual photographers talk. The talk is illustrated with well known photographs and photographs by the lecturer.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V8Hh8S-Z68s&t=36s