Street life – Black and white or colour?
I recently had a little evening wander around Silvertown and North Woolwich in east London with my camera. I tried out some cityscape photography – with mixed results, mostly not particularly great.
I am drawn to people and I think I photograph people better.
So I was very happy when I was winding my weary way back to the DLR, not terribly happy with what I had accomplished and rounded a corner to find great excitement with a whole community and police gathered on the street. A car being driven by a group of ‘youths’ had just crashed into a load of parked cars. The action was all over but lots of people standing around gave me a great opportunity to photograph those gathered. The trouble is, I can’t decide if I prefer them in black and white or colour.
I’d love to know what you think.
A crowd gathers
A crowd gathers – black and white
A crowd gathers #2
A crowd gathers #2 – black and white
And this was taken earlier in the evening at North Woolwich looking towards the Thames Barrier. I think this works better in colour because the red lights are lost in black and white.
Summer evening, North Woolwich
Evening sun, North Woolwich – black and white
Hey Nicola,
Although I am a fan of the wonderful world of monochrome, in the above examples (to my eye) color just has the edge. i particularly like the young lad in the pushchair, could almost attach the speech bubble “you looking a me” – good image.
PS – The more I look at it, the more the monochrome grows on me.
Thanks John. The comments I have received on Twitter have all been for the black and white, except for the last photo with the sunset. I’m still in two minds. I processed them in black and white and then I looked at my colour originals and just thought that they might work better. But I wasn’t sure, so I asked for opinions.
Usually I love monochrome photo but something on this examples take me to the color because this this photo without color lost life and become depressive to much and in color really work better and give the soul to expression on them.
Thanks Ivan. I too usually prefer black and white but when I compared colour and monochrome, I felt more drawn to the colour. And I think you may be right about losing some of the life in the black and white photos
I usually use black and white when I have some old architecture or nature in the background or even sepia mode but I never try to photo some so urban area in black and white and this is really good example when you can see and feel the both on one place. Thank you for this example and opportunity to watch and comments.
Hi Nicola,
I’d definitely go with the colour. For some reason the B&W look a bit flat, and the colour gives it much more life.
Thanks Abtin. Opinions are very mixed. I’m still in two minds. I think the images convey very different feelings (if that is what I mean?) in colour than in black and white.
Hi, new to the group so just seen your post. What did you go with in the end? I’m a big fan of monochrome film but think that desaturated digital shots can sometimes look a bit drained. I also think the colour shots suit the contemporary content, and like the repetition of the police van colours with the cafe sign. If you did go with the monochrome, have you tried lightroom or phoroshop to lift the shadows a little and add a little more punch?
I think you are right. There is not enough contrast for the black and white to work.
But I like to get photographers’ opinions. It’s good to see what other people like and don’t like