Victoria Cabrera

02/21/17

Draft #1

Black and White Photography

Some of the most memorable moments in our history as far back into the 1820s, were

documented with photographs. Photography give the human race proof of transformation

through time for our world, and a look at parts of the world, not everyone can explore. From the

start of photography, images were in black and white, leaving viewers question what the absent

colors contained of. Some photographers think black and white photography is very dated, and

that with all this new technology, black and white photography will eventually be abolished, but

I think otherwise. Black and White Photography is an important form of art because it forces up

to look at lights and darks instead of color where depth is limited, it also emphasizes emotion

like no other form of photography, and black and white images play an important role in history.

Black and white photography is the origin of photography itself. Before colored film was

invented in the 1930s, people relayed on black and white images to capture their moments.

For the generations alive before the digital revolution, black and white photography
has an interesting place in our collective consciousness. So many of the most widely
circulated historical images taken by titans of photography have been shot in black
and white. (Murabayshi)

Even then, colored film was so expensive, that during the first and second World War, a majority

of the images were taken in black and white. It has truly been an important role in our history,

and to see images of life was like 100 years ago, helps us develop data on the transformation

weve made, through technology, the economy, fashion, and lifestyle.

 (Hine)

This photograph by Lewis Hine was one of his most famous. He was known for making a

huge difference in the awareness of child labor during the industrial revolution. He photographed

children at work show people the rural conditions children were being forced to work in. These

black and white photographs are a big part of our history, because of the progress thats been

made with child laboring and schooling.

When shooting in black and white photography, light is our friend. The absence of color

forces photographers to use light to capture the full composition of the image.

Light and the relationship with your subject (and the shadows that form) as
well as other complementary elements become the focus, rather than the color
of elements in the frame (Geffin)
 (Luciana, 6)

The image above gives an example of how important light is to the composition of the

scene. A good source of light can capture the most beautiful images and give them infinite depth.

Colored photography, depth and value is limited, the light source can get lost within the color.

Black and white photography appeals to emotion like no other form of art. The lights and

darks of that reflect on the wrinkles of a face can dramatize any picture. Looking at someones

face, or into their eyes, without the distraction of color can provide a stronger emotional

connection to your subject. (Geffin)

 (Milan)

The article I took this photo from was a collection of photographs of transgender people

in New York. The photograph is a beautiful example of emotion showing through photographs.

The expression on her face says a lot about the situation of the struggles trans-genders face,

especially for black trans women. The image being black and white is ambiguous, but gives

everything away with the expressions given by the subjects in the image.

In conclusion, black and white photography is lost art that deserves much more

appreciation than it gets. Its amazing, the power it has, to show life in its raw form. Black and

white photography is a necessary form of art because it limits us to using light for the design of

the photograph, it captures emotion without the distraction of color, and it defines the origins of

photography.
 Works Cited

Luciana, James. Black and White Photography: Manifest Visions: An International Collection.

Gloucester, MA: Quarry, 2000. Print.

Gassan, Arnold, and A. J. Meek. Exploring Black and White Photography. Madison, WI: Brown &

Benchmark, 1993. Print.

Kids at Work Lewis Hine and the Crusade Against Child Labor. N.p.: Paw Prints, 2008. Print.

Geffin, David. "Why It's Still Important to Shoot In Black And White." Fstoppers. N.p., 02 Dec.

2014. Web.

Murabayshi, Allen. "Is Black and White Photography a Gimmick?" PetaPixel. N.p., 14 Nov. 2014.

Web.

Mushero, Lara. "Why Choose Black and White Photography?" BLOG - PAUL'S PHOTO & Creative

Photo Academy. N.p., 29 Aug. 2013. Web.

Milan, Tiq. "Striking Photos of Transgender Life in NYC." CNN. Cable News Network, 16 Dec.

2016. Web.