One of the things I love about photography is producing something that is a reflection of the world as I see it. Another is that way that it affects those that view them emotionally. I get so many comments from people appreciating how I manage to capture the mood of a scene or the essence of the atmosphere, and it's surprising just how different the reaction can be with an image in full colour, or the same image converted to black and white (Mono). You would think it's the same image, so no different, but it can transform how you perceive it on a subconscious level.

Take this image for example "Dusk at Penmon" taken at Penmon Lighthouse in Anglesey, North Wales.


It was late afternoon in October, and the sun was getting very low behind me. The tide was going out revealing pools of water and seaweed on the rocks, with Puffin Island in the background. A break in the clouds allowed some late afternoon sun to shine through catching some of the foreground and the lighthouse, making them stand out against the backdrop of the sky. This is actually my favourite kind of light because it accents the landscape but doesn't illuminate the clouds. It's a beautiful location and the light was perfect. I used a Nisi Polariser to boost the colours and cut through the pool of water, giving a hint of mystery to what lies under the water. Using a polariser also reduces the shutter speed making the water blur, leaving a trail drawing the eye into the frame.

Now take a look at the Black and White image. It was converted in Nik FX and the contrast boosted a little. It will obviously be different because colour has been removed.



But how does it affect you emotionally compared to the mono? What does it now say to you? I'm not suggesting which is better, just highlighting how it can be different. I often convert an image I think is suitable to mono, and sometimes as an exercise post the colour version and the mono a day later and ask for reactions, and it's always fascinating.

Removing the colour also removes that wonderful golden tone, but it allows the richness of the subtle tones to come through. The lighthouse is more dominant against the subtle greys and the sky is much more dramatic. All images are different, another scene may not have the same drama or the same depth of tone, and indeed some images may be 'high key' with little or no black, mainly light greys.

We don't see the world in black and white, we see colour. When we see a mono image we are drawn to it, the tones, the composition, and we subconsciously get drawn into the world that is the image without the 'distraction' of how we interpret the colour emotionally. There's a sense of wonder to black and white images, and a timelessness to them. I'm not advocating every image should be black and white, I adore our world of colour, but the next time you see an image that is black and white, stop and ask yourself what it is that appeals to you, and would it be the same in colour?

You can find both of these images in the Seascape Gallery and the Black and White Gallery.