Colour, or Black and White?

Probation Officer, Northampton
Probation Officer, Northampton

Is it true some photographs lend themselves more to colour, or Black and White?

I took the above photograph while I was working for the Probation Service at a time when the whole profession was being ripped apart by the spectre of privatisation.  Amongst my responsibilities were communications and, for some reason or other, there was an outstanding probation officer who I needed to interview for a staff newsletter.

He told me how he had dressed up on that particular day, knowing I was coming to interview and photograph him.  I’m certainly pleased he didn’t dress up any further, that would have been going too far.

We found a little quiet room in the building; a fading modern office block in Northampton town centre.  Although bright outside, there wasn’t a great deal of light coming in through the north facing window.  He offered to turn the lights on, but I preferred just the daylight coming through the window.

I remember taking just a couple of photographs with my iPhone and I knew I had got it; there was no need to take any more or to go hunting for a different window with a different light.

I certainly liked using my iPhone, it was good enough for images which would be seen via the IT system or on a A4 sheet of paper.  I did have the use of a fancy Sony digital camera but it always seemed too fiddly and complicated to use.  The only redeeming feature was a wide angle lens, which was seriously wide.  Tempting as it was, I hardly used it.

I enjoyed my interview with this probation officer.  He was down to earth, honest and conscientious.  He didn’t seem to have any kind of an ‘agenda’ with me and was slightly puzzled as to why we, as in the management team, took such an interest in him.  He was admired for his work, as simple as that.

So, is black and white better?

Same photograph, stripped of colour.  You know, I think I prefer it, at least as far as his face is concerned.  I like the way the tones come through and you can see the structure of his head a little more.  The background, being a mid tone, also helps.  Highlights don’t fade into a white background and it’s just the same as the darker, shadow areas.

Arguably the photograph could be enhanced further, both the colour and black and white versions.  However, sometimes images can be spoiled through being overworked; perhaps they’re best left as they are.

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