Arrangement In Black And White

Day 178: In the opinion of this photographer, monochrome images have a particular elegance and can be very effective for conveying mood to the viewer. Colour often blunts the effect, overwhelming the eye and distracting it from other compositional components such as arrangement and lighting. Colour sacrifices detail to flamboyance; it homogenizes. In colour, this image would be rather bland and boring, but in black and white, the eye is freed to discover light and shadow, spirals and curves, de-emphasis and focal points. The photograph becomes more of an essay, less of a capture as the viewer studies its elements. A simpler palette, black and white imagery can be quite complex, and most certainly, it is an essential tool in a good photographer's kit.