The Power of Monochrome Photography

It's exciting how sometimes, older technologies or artistic creation forms can assume an even bigger value when they're made outdated by the modern and new. This is definitely true of monochrome photography. When colour photography came onto the scene, it seemed the days of black-and-white in both photography and video were over forever.

However that was definitely not the case. Over the years we have seen monochrome take on a brand new artistic value in both genres. As a matter of fact, it's not at all strange any more to find a very modern flick filmed entirely in monochrome. It's also common to visit an art museum and find a photographic artwork display which uses monochrome extensively. Monochrome has some emotional and artistic calibres which are just not possible to attain in colour photography.

Likely the strongest quality which grabs the viewer's attention with a monochrome picture is its emotional power. Even if the picture is just of a vintage car or an old barn , there is an emotional charm which is hard to break down in words but universal to all of us as we view a monochrome shot. That's why monochrome photos can almost immediately take on an artistic feel. So if you're evolving your artistic picture taking style and portfolio, experimenting with monochrome will do a lot to better your work.

Monochrome also directs the eye on the emotional centre of the piece. Perhaps the best subject for monochrome photography is the face. Through one's calm expression, the viewer can experience a vast range of emotions via the eyes, the subtle wrinkles, the tilting of the head or specialities of the face and the intense focus of the gaze.

Monochrome almost always invites the viewer to find out about the story behind the picture. If it's a landscape background, the question "What happened here?" often springs into the mind of the viewer and the longer they stare at the picture, the more their imagery fills out the details. If you're taking in the face of a melancholy or serene girl, it's almost impossible not to think about what she is daydreaming about or what of life's challenges is weighing down her mind.

Along with the affectional power and the way monochrome commands the viewer to search for meaning, monochrome bears with it an enormous romantic power which touches the heart in a mighty way. That romance can easily be interpretated as being sensual or even erotic - without being degraded to becoming pornographic - to attain that effect. Shots which are trying to arouse the power of romance and sensuality often perform well when they involve a water scene like the beach. In spite of the lack of colour, black-and-white charm the five senses in ways which colour can never hope to attain.

The digital camera has inaugurated a whole new era of monochrome photography. You see the form applied even in otherwise non-artistic scenarios such as anniversary photos or wedding portfolios. That's because of that romantic and emotional power which monochrome conveys.

If you have not started playing around with monochrome shots, perhaps it's time to try it now. It's definitely worth the effort to learn how to seize the powerful images via this form of photography. You can gather the feedback from your friends and family while learning how to utilise the subtle but mighty artistic subtleties which seem to accompany monochrome photography almost unknowingly. You may also want to find out how to use photoshop to bring out the emotional centrestage of monochrome shots, together with the creative utilisation of light and framing.

Sooner or later, you may literally find yourself seeing black-and-white shots in a colour world. Your consciousness of this will become so acute that you'll be always ready to catch those moments. On your camera. As well as in your mind.

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