Re: I believe it is OK to have fun too.

[Robert Erickson <bob@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

The point that I was trying to make is that color is VERY important! Even
when given the task of making a "black and white image" it is human nature
to fight it and try to sneak color in.

I had to laugh a while back. Popular Photography did a "side by side
comparison" article about how black and white was better than color. They
printed the color images as small thumb nails, the black and white versions
were blown up. All that it proved to me was that the bigger was better. It
was a cheap trick that I bet most readers fell for.

Now an Art Joke:

The teacher noticed that every day in art class Johnny would do only black
drawings. Black flowers, black sun, black grass, everything black! Each day
the teacher would hand out crayons, every day Johnny would draw only in
black. Worried that Johnny had a problem she spoke to the school
psychologist. Alarmed about the mental health of Johnny an appointment was
made for the next day.

After subjecting Johnny to three days of tests the psychologist asked Jonnny
why he would draw everything as black. He told the psychologist that he sat
in the last seat in the row. By the time the box of crayons was passed back
to him, black was the only crayon left. 8->

Artiest/photographers have such a difficult time mastering line, shape,
value, and texture that they choose to not deal with the problem of color.
Not because color is bad but because it is so damn difficult. Also, the
truth is that many of the worlds fine Black and White works were done in
black and white because the artiest/photographer could not afford to buy
color media.

Go to the library and pick up any art history book. See what the world
considers the truly great works of art. How many of them are done in black
and white? NONE! Zero! Zip!

On the other hand... I have found that black and white photography sells
VERY well. If you want to make money then by all means make black and white
prints! If you want to make it into the history books as one of the greatest
artiest of our times, then choose color.


Robert Erickson, bob@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
http://www.panoramic.net
-----Original Message-----
From: Alan Zinn <azinn@xxxxxxxxxx>
To: panorama-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx <panorama-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Date: Wednesday, November 25, 1998 7:34 AM
Subject: Re: I believe it is OK to have fun too.


At 09:05 AM 11/24/1998 -0600, you wrote:
>"If you permit me, may I, as promised, start another discussion? A famous
>photographer once told me that real photography, as art, should always be
in
>black and white. What do you think?"
>
>
>OOOOOH, Baby. I have been waiting for this one! Why would any artiest
choose
>the total absence of color?
>

>I personally feel that strictly black and white is stupid. I much prefer a
>mono tone: one color and all the tints, shades, etc.  I LOVE printing my
>"Black and White" pans on paper with my Epson Photo Printer. I use the
>driver to print "B&W" with color ink. This way I can warm, cool, or tint
>with a click.
>
>I choose mono tone over B&W.
>
>Robert Erickson, bob@xxxxxxxxxxxxx

Bob,
You are either missing the point entirely, or being extreeeemely facetious.

AZ
Lookaround Cameras are more fun.

See cameras and pictures at:
http://www.keva.com/lookaround
http://www.geocities.com/SoHo/Gallery/8874

Also at Cafe Society Gallery:
http://www.curdev.hull.ac.uk/root/cafe/cafegal.htm