There is an ultimate question that vexes all glamour photographers, from beginners to gurus. Easy it sounds, simple it looks, but making a certain decision is as difficult as producing a perfect picture from the very first shot. This dilemma lies in choosing between color and monochrome photography.
Most of its history photography has been monochrome - and nobody really concerned about bright and vivid colors. At that time beauty pictures were distinguishable masterpieces, yet none was performed in full color.
With colors becoming another vital factor of a picture’s aesthetic quality, glamour photography altered dramatically. With the help of digital photography anyone with little effort is able to reproduce all the abundance of colors, which seems a strong enough argument to stand by “colorful glamour”.
So, let us investigate this matter and find the solution to using colors and black and white efficiently and wisely. There is no point advising about which of the ways fits best for you - Glamorous Photography prefers freedom instead of concrete rules.
First of all, it should be mentioned first-hand that it is equally difficult to achieve perfect colors and perfect gray-scale image. You cannot possibly make your artistic simpler by choosing what appears to be less demanding - forget it.
Light is crucial in both color and old school black and white photography. Unless you spend necessary time and effort to arrange good light for your work, photographs will keep being flat and uninteresting. It always happens so. Regardless of your preferences, both color and black and white cannot do without proper lighting, that’s why it is so important to always hold this in mind.
What is really different though, is the impression those two different photographic dimensions make upon the viewer. There are several issues you might consider on this matter:
- Color is very useful when it comes to emphasizing some details. Colorful photo attracts immediate attention; composition is easy to arrange based on the colors of its key elements; nuances of color are transformed in the image’s atmosphere and mood, allowing you to make it whatever you would like.
- Classic black and white photography accentuates shapes and texture, not the differences of tones. Black and white photography enables the viewer to notice the interaction of light and objects within the frame, allowing to see those patterns more clearly. Classic black and white helps the artist to create an ethereal, enigmatic and very atmospheric image, this is the beauty of it. Also, monochrome hides color aberrations you wouldn’t like to demonstrate, like unnatural skin shades.
- Different types of monochrome can also help you make an artistic picture. For example, sepia is fairly popular with photographers. A number of other methods can be used in glamour images. There are many tutorials on the Web, so nothing really limits your creativity.
- Colors also can supplement the gray-scale image to emphasize some elements of its composition, it may be a cliche, but why should someone’s superstition forbid you from using it? If you feel you can produce something fresh and original with the help of cliches, go for it. Bright fragments within monochrome immediately draw attention and can prove invaluable for creating great atmosphere; gray-scale areas among the abundance of colors can also be useful for producing atmospheric work.
As in most cases, no way is really preferable or less challenging, both color and black and white glamour photography have their fans who never cease to discuss the advantages and downsides. In fact, you don’t need to choose, if something serves your purpose best of all, corresponds to the mood of your photo and delivers your message efficiently, you should have no doubts about what you do. In order to produce a perfect picture, you should stop over-estimating gear, techniques and styles; they are not instrumental, it is only your vision and your skills that really matter.