Classic Black & White Versus Color Photography

by William Lulow

Color Photography

When Kodak introduced Kodachrome film for 35mm cameras in the mid-1930s, photographers were thrilled. Before that, nearly all images were rendered in black and white because that was the only process available.

In the 1820s, when the first permanent photographic methods were developed in France and England, people were amazed simply to see a printed image. Prior to photography, painters used the camera obscura to get accurate perspective but had no way to preserve what they saw. After that, prints were the norm for viewing images. Now, it seems that digital images on iPhones is the way most people view photographs.  

The Challenges of Color Photography

By the 1950s, color film became widespread, and today, in the digital era, color is everywhere. Yet sometimes it can overwhelm a photograph.

On a recent trip to Amalfi, Italy, I captured a street scene with my digital SLR. The color version felt too chaotic—too much competing detail. Converting it to black and white revealed the composition’s strength and mood. I often create both versions of a scene to compare them, but when you’re capturing a fleeting moment, you don’t always get a second chance. Converting color images to monochrome usually means increasing contrast and adjusting tones, but the payoff can be dramatic.

Why Black & White Still Matters

Color naturally draws the eye—reds, yellows, and greens dominate attention. Sometimes that’s good; sometimes it distracts. In the Amalfi shot, I found that removing color let the shapes and tones breathe.

I often follow what I call the Cartier-Bresson approach: waiting patiently for interesting people to pass through the frame. In today’s crowded world, you rarely find an empty street scene, but that anonymity can actually add depth and universality.

Even though we experience life in color, black-and-white photography can convey structure, feeling, and story more directly. Before color film, photographers relied on Kodak Tri-X—simple to process and ideal for learning the craft. Color film, on the other hand, required strict temperature control and precise timing. Many photographers had home darkrooms and processed their own black-and-white film—it’s how many of us learned the science behind the art.

When Color Is Essential

Some images demand color. In one of my photographs, a bright red surfboard pops against an otherwise muted beach scene. The vivid hue transforms the composition—proof that color can be the subject itself.

Combining Both Worlds in the Digital Age

Thanks to digital editing tools like Adobe Photoshop, we can now blend color and monochrome in the same image. In one city scene, I masked the people in warm tones against a grayscale background. The result highlights human warmth against urban neutrality—a subtle but powerful effect.

The Takeaway

Some photographs are strengthened by color, others by black and white, and a few by both. The key is to look at your work objectively and decide which approach best expresses what you felt when you captured the image.

It’s not always an easy decision—but developing that eye for tone, balance, and emotion is one of the most rewarding parts of being a photographer.