Why B&W Photography Is Most Often the Choice for Street Photographers
Before we jump into why b&w is the preferred medium for many street photographers, let’s start with a definition check. When we talk about black and white photos we also talk about them being monochrome or grayscale. Are they one in the same?
By definition, a monochrome image has a single color channel. That means it only has one hue, the pure color of the family, along with tones which are created when either black or white is added to the hue. Every monochrome image can have as many as 255 tones.
A b&w image is a specialized monochrome image. It is a monochrome image where the single color channel is gray. It can have up to 255 tones of gray including black and white.
A grayscale image is a b&w image. The terms mean exactly the same thing.
Photographers use the term b&w. Designers use the term grayscale.
b&w = grayscale < monochrome
Disclaimer: Some people use the term b&w to mean “true” b&w. Photographs that are true b&w use only black and white to make the image. It fairly uncommon to see a true b&w street photograph.
As to the question of why it is more common for a street photo to be a black & white photo than to be a color photo:
It is the tradition.
The Masters shot in b&w. In the beginning there was no choice because there was no quality color option. When color did become available, there was resistance because it was thought that color photographs could not attain the status of fine art.
It is more widely accepted.
Color street photography tends to be less popular than b&w street photography. For example, Vivian Meier took some color photography, but it has never been popular.
It can be easier to manage some of the hurdles in street photography.
It is easier to conceal mistakes, particularly ISO mistakes. We are accustomed to seeing noise in old film photos. If you shoot with a high ISO, perhaps because you had to or perhaps in error, the resulting noise can be seen as a desirable quality in the b&w but not in the color.
It is easier to increase contrast, which tends to increase drama.
Color in street scenes is not something you can control. It can be distracting if we do not remove things from the frame, like the blues the picture below.
Photo by @the_human_journey_ Used with permission. You can see this photographer’s gallery on Instagram @the_human_journey_.
Photo by @the_human_journey_ Used with permission.
It can alter our perception of when the photo was taken.
Photos in b&w can convey a vintage feeling. It is what the Master’s did. But it can also help a photo feel timeless. Color is one of the identifiers of a period in time. The absence of color removes that reminder of the past.
Photo by Yer Soliven. Used with permission. I have a hard time telling that this photo was taken recently. You can see Yer’s Facebook gallery at Yer Soliven.
It helps us focus on the content.
Color can become the subject of a photo. Street photographers who are committed to only b&w call sometimes describe the phenomenon as “eye candy”. This lovely red hat becomes the subject of the picture.
Photo by @the_human_journey_ Used with permission.
Photo by @the_human_journey_ Used with permission.
It creates mood.
Low light is moody and tends to evoke a strong emotional response. Because it can conceal information, it can make a picture feel mysterious. Bright light, on the other hand, can create an airy photo that conveys happiness or optimism.
Exercise
Do you have a preference for your photos to be in b&w or color? Why?