Rodeo Drive, Beverly Hills
Is there still space for black and white travel photography? During a recent trip to North America, I shot a good portion of my images with the intention of transferring them into black and white.
When I visited the States for the first time – I was a student back then – I only packed in black and white film. It was a radical decision that I made and forced me to think differently. It helped me finding new ways on looking at things. Travel photography in black and white is a challenge.
Now I travelled with a digital DSLR, which allowed me to play more and experiment. For the picture, on the left, I stood on the second level of the Anderton Court Shops in Beverly Hills looking onto Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills. The building is designed by Frank Lloyd Wright and was the main reason that day to come here.
Anderton Court Shops
After I stitched the image together back in Cape Town, I looked at the image in color and black and white. It didn’t take me long to confirm what I thought, when I shot the picture.
On the right, you can see a picture from within the building itself. The clear lines of the architecture are supported by the image in black and white. Photography of buildings might be one aspect of travel photography and it might work here, but what about portraits and landscapes?
A few days after photographing along Rodeo Drive, I met photographer Ron Dubin from Los Angeles. We never met in person before, but have been in contact via Twitter and Facebook for a while. While I was visiting Los Angeles, it was a great opportunity to meet him in person.
Photographer Ron Dubin
We met at a restaurant in Venice Beach. Photographers are photographers and they love staying behind the camera. We allowed each other the courtesy to take a few photographs. This was a situation, where I thought that the color version would be better than the black and white. That changed, when I viewed the images at home. It seems that taking away a component of the photographs forces the eye to look differently.
Not always is black and white the perfect answer for an image, but more often than not, it is a great alternative or catalyst for creative thinking and looking.
Sunset enroute from Vancouver to Vancouver Island
For sure, sunsets are a challenge. Don’t they just cry for color? I would think so, but I also think, taking that color away brings aspects of the image to the front, that you would be able to see with color. This image below was taken on my way from Vancouver to Vancouver Island. The ferry is a true commuter ferry and I was amazed by the beauty of that part of the journey. The colors were amazing, but what impressed me even more, was the calmness of the water and environment. The image below, I did not even consider to be in black and white, but since I converted it, I deeply enjoy looking at it.
Is black and white always the better answer for travel photography? No. It is worth risking taking color out of the composition of photography and try something different and discovering a new way of looking.
It seems a wonderful adventure, joining with Ron and with those lovely sceneries.
Thank you, Jose. One of these days I have to visit Spain as well
Funny, every once in a while I’ll be editing photos and about to cut one but I strip the colour from it and realize I really love the photo. Some of my favorite travel photos are in black and white.
Thanks for your response Ayngelina. Isn’t it amazing on how worthwhile black and white pictures can be?
Jurgen,
It was my pleasure.
Sometimes I feel like everything looks better in black and white. There are times when an image screams please convert me. There are also times that it’s the secret to making or breaking an image.
Beautiful image of Rodeo Drive but I enjoy all your work. That 3rd image might be your best though
And yes, we should all meet up in Spain…
Ron
Thanks Ron,
It was great meeting you in person.
I might have to agree with your choice of image