Black & White or Color...Which do you shoot more?

[jbcrane_gallery]

<p>Good Evening Fellow MF Devotees,<br>

Just returned from an outing in which I ran 3 rolls of Tri-X, 1 roll of Provia and 1 roll of the new Kodak Portra 400 through my RZ. The films are sitting on my desk ready for the lab tomorrow. This got me wondering, which do you shoot more of, and why? I find myself shooting both mono and color pos/neg for diversity, finding myself creating projects to suit specific emulsions. I've just received a batch of Fuji NPH from a generous friend who's moved to large format, and am trying to get a bead on its properties to determine how to best put it to use. <br>

A click through my gallery reveals a bit of a "scatter gun" I'm afraid, but it suits me. But I wonder about the rest of you. Are you, "always" and "never" types, or are you mix n' match?<br>

Just a friendly poll, and please don't be shy about posting your favorite samples or each.<br>

Kind regards,<br>

JBCrane</p>

[djolk]

<p>Black and white.</p>

[a._t._burke]

<p>Mr. Crane….</p>

<p>I shoot color always. Of that I shoot slide film 75%-90% of the time. </p>

<p>A. T. Burke</p>

[colin_elliott]

<p>Colour 90% of the time. 95% Velvia - 5% Ektar 100<br>

Occasionally Black and White</p>

[dougmiles]

<p>I find it difficult to do both in one outing, different eye calibration or something... I mostly shoot color these days, having shut down my darkroom, and I'll reserve black & white for the expectation of finding photos where the color isn't important. Later in reviewing photos shot I may see one that "should" be b&w and will convert it.<br>

With digital shooting, the RAW is color anyway, removing the color factor from the choices while preparing to head out for some shooting.</p>

[chris_waller]

<p>Almost exclusively black and white, but the very occasional roll of colour, in both 35mm and 120 formats. LF only in b+w.</p><div></div>

[jose_angel]

<p>Film exclusively in B&W, color exclusively digital.</p>

[mark_l6]

<p>As Jose, exactly!</p>

[peterbcarter]

<p>I shoot mostly BW and of late reversal. I do use color, but now I seem to be getting lazy and doing that in digital.</p>

<p>My last roll of Neopan 400 in reversal.</p>

<p><img src="http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6186/6136395764_7ee2bd40f6_d.jpg" alt="" /></p>

[nathan_bonsal]

<p>I only shoot black and white occasionally, the rest of the time on color slide film.</p>

[bill_clark___minnetonka_mi]

<p>Everything with B&W film.</p>

<p> </p>

[LenMarriott]

<p>John, In MF I shoot mainly colour, Portra 160NC being my film of choice, and then convert to B&W in PhotoShop if, in my opinion, the scene calls for it. In 35mm I also shoot primarily colour (Portra 160 or Superia 200 & 400), again converting to B&W on occasion. Earlier this year I shot some Tri-X and T-Max 100 for some winter scenes since I KNEW, subject matter being mostly monochromatic, that I'd probably end up converting to B&W anyway. No regrets. Very satisfying results. See my 2011 folder. Best, LM.</p>

[umbush]

<p>Only Black and White! regards</p>

[jbcrane_gallery]

<p>Thank you all for your reply. I find I shoot about half color and half black & white. I have 4 backs loaded in my bag at any given time: 2 with 50/100/400 speed black & white, 2 with 50/100/400 speed color. This works for me because it allows a measure of flexibility in creative application of medium to subject matter. I respect those who "always" shoot one or the other and admit a part of me secretly longs to do the same, but when it comes time to actually do so, I find it undesirably limiting rather than invigoratingly creative (not saying it's the same for you dedicated emulsion shooters ;-).<br>

To my creative eye there are just some images that beg for color, while others beg to be made in black & white. Thus far I've been unsuccessful in precisely defining why. I don't do my own darkroom work, sending everything to the lab - so chemistry for me isn't a consideration (yet). C-41 is less expensive then black & white or E6, though cost isn't much of a consideration - unless I'm developing a large volume of E6 rolls(!). Exposure latitude of negative film over chrome film sometimes causes me to reach for one over another. If color is a primary draw in a scene, obviously color is the emulsion. What color it is will influence what film I reach for. If quality of light is poor and subject matter is excellent, black and white may fit the bill best. Though I shoot a lot of landscape and nature, there's an awful lot of life that happens between the "edges of the day." If hand-holding is necessary, having the faster emulsions is an obvious benefit.<br>

There are applications where I tend to shoot very "graphically" and enjoy how the lack of influence of color sometimes allows the form or structure of an image show through better.<br>

<img src="http://jbcrane.zenfolio.com/img/s11/v29/p1015806950-3.jpg" alt="" /><br>

Sometimes it's as simple as having visualized a shot in my head - where it came from I can't begin to guess - and needing to execute it as per the vision. Scratching an itch, so to speak.<br>

<img src="http://jbcrane.zenfolio.com/img/s11/v30/p844156998-4.jpg" alt="" /><br>

Often times I'll make an image in color, then swap a black & white back on and make the same image.<br>

<img src="http://jbcrane.zenfolio.com/img/s8/v10/p306227034-3.jpg" alt="" /><br>

<img src="http://jbcrane.zenfolio.com/img/s11/v37/p248889068-3.jpg" alt="" /><br>

Some times, a certain shot simply must be made with a certain film, period.<br>

<img src="http://jbcrane.zenfolio.com/img/s11/v27/p621503567-4.jpg" alt="" /><br>

Because an image is a creative response to what's before me, I suppose it depends on what's before me, then - what my response is. Having some flexibility in how I respond based on any number of variables is one of the things that can create stress or joy. Often times, both!</p>

<p>Many thanks to all who have contributed thus far. I find peeks into the head of other shooters fascinating. Please keep them coming.<br>

Kind regards,<br>

John B. Crane<br>

http://jbcrane.zenfolio.com/medium_format</p>

[d_purdy]

<p>It is all about the darkroom for me. I can do all my black and white processing and printing. For color I have to pay someone else to do it. So, for personal work it is 100% black and white.<br>

Dennis</p>

[frank_major]

<p>With my RB67, i'm shooting more b&w because i simply can't get color 120 film processed here. I'd love to be shooting more color, but i'm also really enjoying developing my own b&w.</p>

<p>Generally of late, i'm using my digi cam for events and such.</p>

[q.g._de_bakker]

Whatever the image that is being created calls for.

[jbcrane_gallery]

<p>Q.G.-Well put. Elementary, succinct. Thank you.</p>

[Didier Lamy]

<p>B&W, like people who are still doing drawing or other monocolor techniques, even N centuries after the invention of color painting</p>

[ty_mickan]

<p>i almost always shoot b&w nowadays. It's just how I see when it comes to photography.</p>

[kiwirob]

<p>i didnt get into photography until late and the digital age was in full swing. so i went back to film after a time out of interest from seeing lovely black and whites (the cameras i could afford at the time weren't very good; compared with now). I was also interested in the whole darkroom side of things as i really knew nothing about it - so did a course or 2. Once i learned about the processes it was also easier/quicker/cheaper for me to stick with it. <br />I have run some colour through the camera but only because i got some colour films for free. When i buy it i go for b&w and the colour is left to the digital. i just enjoy it that way round</p>

[steve m smith]

<p>95% black and white. I don't do color but the last 5% is colour.</p>

[kparratt]

<p>Essentially whatever the assignment requires, wich comes out as approx 70% B&W<br>

My photography covers a broad range of applications. When I have colour processing up and running, the experimental work will move the scales nearer 50/50 B&W/Colour.</p><div></div>

[jbcrane_gallery]

<p>So far I count 13 mostly/exclusively black & white, 5 mostly/exclusively color, and 3 of us who let the assignment drive the decision. I must say I'm a bit surprised most people are shooting color only/mostly with their digitals. Many thanks again to all who have contributed.</p>

[leicaglow]

<p>Lovely shot Kevin. </p>

 

<blockquote>

<p>"Whatever the image that is being created calls for."</p>

 

</blockquote>

<p>Some of us hear better in B&W.</p>