Is the above image a black & white photograph or a color photograph?
Black = a combination of all colors in pigment form (subtractive)
White = a combination of all colors as light (additive)
Q: Scientifically speaking, is black a color? Is white a color?
A: Yes- There is no question that black and white are colors. The technical definition of color that is internationally agreed upon includes them as colors. This definition defines achromatic colors as follows: "A color lacking hue, such as white, grey or black". Basically, Black, White and Gray are colors that lack HUE.
Definitions of Color according to the ISCC (Inter Society Color Council) www.iscc.org
Munsell color system
The idea that there are three color dimensions: hue, value (lightness), and chroma (color purity or colorfulness)
COLOR TERMS:
ACHROMATIC: a color lacking hue; white or gray or black
HUE determines the weakness or intensity of a color.
LIGHTNESS (sometimes called value or tone) is a property of a color. It is the perceived brightness of a color for the human eye along a lightness–darkness axis. A color's lightness also corresponds to its amplitude, or strength.
SATURATION is the colorfulness of a color relative to its own brightness.
IN CLASS SHOOTING EXERCISE:
Using various "hue-less" objects (black, white, gray and clear objects) create still life images using the case lights and white, black or gray backgrounds. Pay special attention to the white balance. The goal is to make sure you don't have a color cast to the image- no bluish or orangish tones. Shoot a series of digital images in color. If you opt to shoot film, use a color temperature meter or a corrective gel on your lens to get the shades of gray to look just as your eye sees them. Your resulting images should look black and white but actually be in color. FOR HW: Finish last week's assignment and make one 8x10 print of one the achromatic image you shot in class. Make a print using the printer of your choice.
A shift in temperature change should be more easy to see when shooting color photographs of achromatic objects. Sometimes it is more difficult to see a slight color shift in skin tone or everyday color scenes.
In thinking about still life, for ideas of COMPOSITION, please refer to the works of the late Irving Penn for inspiration.
Click image below for samples of his still life photos.
Erwin Olaf's work called "Dawn" is a series of color photographs that look almost achromatic. Color photographs below by Erwin Olaf
Still Life Images by Laura Letinsky:
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