Black And White Photography Brings Out True Beauty
With apologies to Paul Simon, writer of the hit song Kodachrome, everything does not look worse in black and white. To many people’s eyes, everything looks better in black and white photography because with the subtle palette of grey brings out the inner beauty of a subject much better than being masked by a riot of color.
Case In Point Peter Gabriel
When British rock star Peter Gabriel was asked for a portrait to be on the cover of Rolling Stone for January of 1987, the magazine wanted a color portrait to emphasize the singer’s intensely blue eyes. As Peter Gabriel’s big hit So contained the song In Your Eyes, it was logically thought that a simple portrait of his face centering on his blue eyes would best portray the singer-songwriter.
Robert Mapplethorpe was honored to take the portrait. The sessions lasted over days as both artists battled heads over what constituted a good portrait. In the end, both artists wound up with a profound respect for each other. When Mapplethorpe generously gave Peter Gabriel the pick of the portraits as a gift, Peter Gabriel chose portraits done with black and white photography. That portrait would later grace the cover of his greatest Hits compilation in 1990.
Why Black And White?
Color can be blinding. Just ask anyone who has a red car. Even though there are no actual scientific studies done, it is popularly thought that red cars are ticked more by police than any other color of car. We are ingrained to associate specific color with specific meanings. Colors are archetypes in the collective unconscious. Black and white photography should really be called grey photography, since even the colors black and white are softened. But grey photography just doesn’t sound as catchy, does it?
In black and white photography, there is no extra baggage hauled around with colors. You concentrate on the shape, the arrangement, the expression, the decay anything that the photographer wishes to emphasize. Perhaps with the case of Peter Gabriel’s portrait, both Mapplethorpe and Gabriel thought the focus on Peter’s blue eyes and peaches and cream skin did not portray the true man. Gabriel’s music touched more people than just blue eyes white people. By using black and white photography, Gabriel was now race less, sexless and beyond fitting into any categories we automatically place strangers in he was just a human being like any other one on the planet.
Comments on Black And White Photography Brings Out True Beauty »
Wedding Photography Tips - How The Trends Of Wedding Photography Throughout The Nation Vary @ 5:10 pm
[…] on this link to discover more information: Stock Photography and more information at Black And White Photography as well as Photography […]
Fun Websites! » Blog Archive » Digital Wedding Photography Or Film Photography- Which is Better? @ 1:31 am
[…] find out more go here: Photography Gallery with additional useful material at Black And White Photography in addition to Photography […]
Wedding Photography - One Of The Most Important Decisions For Your Wedding » Make Digital Video @ 8:17 am
[…] to this link for more information: Photography Competitions with additional useful material at Black And White Photography and at Still Life […]
Photography Experts » Blog Archive » Wedding Photojournalism - One Of The More Recent Direction In Wedding Photography @ 11:13 am
[…] more helpful information click here: Landscape Photography with additional useful material at Black And White Photography in addition to Underwater […]
Photography » Blog Archive » Selecting a Professional Wedding Photographer @ 6:59 pm
[…] find out more go here: Glamour Photography also Black And White Photography and Scenic Photography […]
Another Photography Website » Blog Archive » Wedding Photography in The United States - Which Direction Is It Heading Throughout the Country @ 9:11 am
[…] find out more go here: Landscape Photography also Black And White Photography and Wedding Photography Subscribe to the comments for this post Posted on : Dec 09 2008 […]
Wedding Photography - One Of The Most Important Decisions For Your Wedding | Digital Camera Zone @ 12:15 pm
[…] the link for more details: Art Photography also Black And White Photography and at Wildlife Photography Related PostsThe Fine Art of Taking Wedding VideosA huge number of […]
Photography Experts » Blog Archive » Wedding Photography - Why It Is One Of The More Critical Choices For Your Wedding @ 5:20 pm
[…] more helpful information click here: Glamour Photography with additional useful material at Black And White Photography and at Photography […]
Photography » Blog Archive » Wedding Photojournalism - One Of The More Recent Direction In Wedding Photography @ 4:33 am
[…] more helpful information click here: Pet Photography with additional useful material at Black And White Photography as well as Photography […]
Hidden Cameras Spycams › How The Trends Of Wedding Photography Throughout The Nation Vary @ 6:14 am
[…] more helpful information click here: Photography Business also Black And White Photography as well as Wedding Photography Get Social, Bookmark […]
Photography » Blog Archive » Wedding Photojournalism - One Of The More Recent Direction In Wedding Photography @ 6:18 pm
[…] more helpful information click here: Underwater Photography and more information at Black And White Photography and at Photography […]
Another Photography Website » Blog Archive » Picking a Wedding Photography Package Which Fits Your Needs @ 10:42 pm
[…] find out more go here: Family Photography with additional useful material at Black And White Photography in addition to Photography Backdrops Subscribe to the comments for this post Posted on : […]
Photography » Blog Archive » Selecting a Professional Wedding Photographer @ 11:18 am
[…] on this link to discover more information: Family Photography also Black And White Photography and Wedding Photography Tags: Professional Wedding Photographer Posted in Photography on December […]
Digital Photography Revealed » Picking a Good Professional Wedding Photographer @ 7:11 am
[…] the link for more details: Landscape Photography and more information at Black And White Photography in addition to Photography […]
Wedding Photojournalism - One Of The More Recent Direction In Wedding Photography @ 6:12 am
[…] on this link to discover more information: Photography Gallery also Black And White Photography as well as Photography […]
Buy Digital Cameras › Selecting a Professional Wedding Photographer @ 10:32 pm
[…] more helpful information click here: Underwater Photography and more information at Black And White Photography and Popular Photography Get Social, Bookmark […]
Wedding Photojournalism - The Latest Trend In Wedding Photography : Thinkstars @ 1:56 pm
[…] the link for more details: Family Photography and more information at Black And White Photography and at Underwater Photography Share and Enjoy: These icons link to social bookmarking sites where […]
How The Trends Of Wedding Photography Throughout The Nation Vary | How to sell photographs @ 2:57 pm
[…] can learn more by clicking here: Family Photography and more information at Black And White Photography as well as Stock […]
Professional Wedding Photography Is It a Necessity At Your Wedding? | How to sell photographs @ 3:02 pm
[…] can learn more by clicking here: Family Photography also Black And White Photography as well as Photography […]
Digital Wedding Photography Or Film Photography- Which is Better? | Blue Ray @ 4:46 pm
[…] on this link to discover more information: Professional Photography and more information at Black And White Photography in addition to Stock Photography Mail this postPopularity: unranked [?]SHARETHIS.addEntry({ […]