5/18/12

Grayscale – Part I


Desaturation: To remove color from an image. 100% desaturation results in a grayscale image. Notice that it's a "grayscale image" even though we call it Black and White, which is odd considering that "grayscale" is quicker to say and type. I'm not saying that we shouldn't call it “B&W,” I'm just saying that it's odd that we don't say “grayscale.” Another oddity to add to my collection (which is massive…just saying). 

As a lot of photographers will agree there is something very special about black and white photos. Black and white are the essence of photography. When all color except for black and white (and gray, let's not forget the all-important gray) are eliminated, it is never more clear that photography is the art of Shadows and Light

Don't get me wrong, I absodamnlutely love color. Every color. Color is awesome. Stunning. Brilliant. Sensing a "but" is on its way? You got it. Here's the "but:" color is distracting. Yeah. Color adds dimension, but color can also detract from whatever it is you happen to be perceiving. There are small details in shapes that can be missed because color gets in the way. Weird, but true. And this is true of any shape: fruit, flowers, blades of grass, animals, and people. Especially people. There is nothing quite like a black and white portrait. In a strange way, I believe color doesn't really do the human form justice. 

Maybe it's because most of us see in color and we're accustomed to missing the finer details of shapes and when color is eliminated it's astonishing to see what we've missed. I suppose the perception of people who are color blind must be completely different the color sighted. An interesting thought. 

And how flipping fantastic are digital cameras? I used to have to buy black and white film, take the photos, and then hope everything would come out all right in the darkroom. Now, I can set my little camera to “B&W,” which essentially desaturates my view and I can actually see everything in black and white (and gray). How awesome is that? Not to mention the fact that I don't have to go through the hassle of developing the film, making the prints etc. 

How different the world is when seen through a desaturated filter...grayscale is pretty cool. But we all know that it’s the contrast that makes for a great B&W image, not the grays. Too many grays and everything just blends, the image becomes “muddy” and nothing stands out. Not enough contrast and your image is flat, and basically uninteresting. Too much contrast and you can’t see a damn thing. The lights are too bright and shadows too dark.

It’s all about balance, isn’t it? Photography and Life have a lot in common.



Morning light on bedroom wall. I know it's grainy, but I still like it. 


Weird, eh? This bulletin was just laying on the sidewalk. There are signs everywhere.

Me and my husband's feet lazing about on Saturday morning. A bit muddy, but I like the intimacy of this image. I have no idea what's on the TV.

Flowers work in grayscale or color. Nature always works.

P.S. Whether in conversation or writing, it's not like me to blurt things out (except, of course, expletives)...and grayscale doesn't blurt out. Grayscale saunters, meanders, works its way up to whatever. Nice.

20 comments:

  1. Loving this post IK! The pictures are awesome especially the discarded page on the ground.

    I love my cheapie little digi camera as it takes great greyscale pics and wonderful sepia pictures provided you direct them at the right subject matter.
    I'm looking forward to wherever this post is working it's way up to!

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    1. Directing the camera at the right subject matter is key, isn't it? But then, that's the fun part. Sepia is wonderful, too. I'll have to work on a few of those next. Thanks, MGG, always a pleasure.

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  2. Preachin' to the choir, Ik:)

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    1. I know RA and I always enjoy your B&W pics! :)

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  3. Knoty, I love how you make me think and see things in a different way!

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  4. Love the photos, especially the clouds. Very beautiful! Your photos are always so pretty :)

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    1. I'm glad you enjoyed. That means a lot to me, Frugal, thanks so much! :)

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  5. I love B&W photos, too. Matter of fact, that's what most of the photos in our wedding album are. It seems to ,e that there's more drama and emotion in them, if that makes sense. I also have family photos taken in the 1800s. I don't know exactly what it is about them, but they seem to freeze the moment in time so much better than modern pics. Natch, they're all in shades of gray or sepia. The addition of a single color is really dramatic, too. Years ago, a co-worker's husband experimented with developing picture in shades of a single color. It was fascinating to see how much the mood of a picture could be transformed, depending on which color he used.

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    1. You're absolutely right, Susan! There is more drama and emotion in B&W photos. I think it's wonderful that most of your wedding photos are grayscale. And old photos are amazing. Amazing.

      In my murky past, I went to film school and I was always playing around with colored filters and I agree that color greatly affects mood.

      Thanks for stopping by and for your insightful comments, Susan! :)

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  6. This post was awesome. I love black and white photography, too, when its appropriate it works beautifully. The footsy image with hubby was adorable. *wink* I bet the photo taking stopped soon after that one. Hehe!

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    1. Haha! You could be right *wink*. Thanks, Amberr! :)

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  7. Hey Intricate Knot!

    First, I want to thank you for helping me out with the blog roll! Your instructions were perfect! :)

    Second, I am sooo glad you liked Dark Shadows! I love Tim Burton but like I said before, lately his movies have been more on the comedic side which is not always bad. But I wish he would go back to being a bit more dark and gritty, like Edward Scissorhands. But I'm glad that he didn't destroy a classic like Dark Shadows!

    Lastly, I love grayscale-- whether it's photography or drawing. I actually used to be big into drawing-- everyone in my high school thought I was going to major in art. Boy did I shock everyone when I majored in English lol. But I did minor in Art History and interned at an art gallery for 2 years.

    Anyway, I know what you mean about grayscale vs. color. Color can be quite distracting and is a good way to hide things. But when you strip it down to grayscale, things are a bit sharper, it's naked. It's definitely hard to explain but you know exactly what I mean.

    Have you ever heard of monochromatic art? I love it. It's like painting something but only using 3 colors, like black, gray, and white or dark blue, light blue, and white, etc. One of these days I'm going to have to post some of my old artwork on my blog. Whenever I get around to it, I will let you know :)

    As always, it's a pleasure stopping by!
    xx
    Mia at The Muses Circle

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  8. Hey Mia,

    I would absolutely LOVE to see your art. Please find some time to post it!

    I completely agree with your assessment of grayscale vs color and I think you explained it beautifully.

    Totally agree with you about Tim Burton. I would love for him to balance out the comedies with his gritty, dark faery tales. I'm looking forward to "Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter."

    Thanks for stopping by, Mia! It's always lovely to hear from you. xo

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  9. fantastic photos IK!! i love b&w photos (though not b&w movies lol).. there's something u cant catch in color
    sorry havent been by in a bit, but always appreciate you coming by when i post a new post!
    and while on the black and white topic, im curious.. how do scientists know dogs can only see in black and white??

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    1. No worries! I know you're busy promoting your book "White Lies." Which I can't wait to read! :)

      As to being color blind, I believe the science-type-dudes have noticed that color blind people have a different shape to their eyeballs (cornea??). Apparently dogs eyes always have this shape, so the science-type-dudes assume that dogs are all colorblind. Obviously my answer to this question is limited due to the fact that I am not a science-type-dude or dudette. Hah!

      Always a pleasure, Jeremy. Thanks for stopping by!

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  10. i don't know about photography...but i like what i see in your pictures!!

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    1. Aww thanks, Annmarie! Glad you like what you see! :)

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  11. I could never figure out why B&W photos were so enticing... you summarized it so nicely, though! "In a strange way, I believe color doesn't really do the human form justice." <- So true! Thanks for putting this into words for me! :)

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