Creating Memories in Monochrome

ADVICE | inspiration

From Richard Avedon to Audrey Hepburn, to Chanel’s little black dress there are countless monochromatic icons that shall forever be memorable for their gray-scale displays. Whether it be artwork or photographs or fashion, a black and white is a classic palate that will forever be considered luxurious. But why does this color palette makes these icons iconic?

Finding The Beauty in Black and White Photographs

There’s nothing quite like reliving memories through beautiful imagery. I remember looking at a classic black and white portrait image of my late grandmother in her much younger days with a floral printed saree and her hair in a neat bun (as she always had), adorned with a dot on her forehead, shot on the unrivalled medium of film. Why is this image so memorable? What makes it stand out? Let’s go back…

In all honesty, I used to be very subjective on black and white imagery and felt it had to be confined to a specific subject or setting. With a desire to understand monochromatic images and as a creative who loves pushing boundaries beyond the expected, I decided to only photograph in black and white for a while and that’s when the magic happened! In doing so, I found myself seeking different perspectives to paying attention to the movement of light in a scene. Infusing my work with innovative flair and the highest level of creativity, there is no denying that it’s helped me train my eye to find hidden moments or details in the hustle and bustle of a scene. Here I share with you the reasons why I love the neutral palate of black and white photographs through my work.

Why Black & White Photographs Stand The Test of Time?

Simplicity

I always lean towards things that will stand the test of time rather than “trendy for now”. The same sentiment remains true when it comes to my photography. The monochromatic neutral palette allows for (sometimes) unnecessary & distracting details to fade into the background and reveal the simplicity of a moment in time. It draws our focus to the essence the image. This is where the true beauty of ‘less is more’ shines and draws us toward an important moment that makes the image shine.

TIMELESS CLASSIC

As a photographer who seeks to create imagery that stands the test of time, black and white images have driven my creativity to think of my compositions more critically; what is most important about this moment and how can I capture its essence, the light, the beauty such that it guides the viewer’s eye through its simplicity of the composition.

the NostalgIA

Removing color from an image simplifies the composition, removes noise, focuses on the emotion and leaves a sense of nostalgia that forces us to look beyond color to see the textures, the uniformity and the simplicity becomes amplified by the lack of color.

A Forever Classic That Won’t Go Out of Style

While capturing a moment and making time standstill is part of what I do, I also look to erase time when capturing imagery. From the weddings we capture to the portraits or editorials we photograph, when it comes to creating a memory that will last forever, no matter the year you’re in, the timelessness of black and white stands the test of time and can be travelled through for generations, by spanning all of time.

“Black and White Photography Erases Time From The Equation.”

– Jason Peterson

I CHOOSE TO CAPTURE MOMENTS OF SHEER BEAUTY AND MAGIC IN A WAY THAT SHALL REMAIN FOREVER TIMELESS AND A CLASSIC

So why is my late grandmother’s portrait so memorable, you ask? Though this image is close to home, for me, it is the simplicity and lack of distracting colors, that leaves sheer timeless beauty and nostalgia, making black and white photographs a forever classic and icon to stand the test of time, through every generation.

Black and white film has a marvelous ethereal quality that continues to draw me in with it’s neutral palate and makes me want to use it over and over again. Maybe it’s the quiet moment between the couple rather than the color of their clothes, or the subtleties in details that become dynamic in a busy setting as the light fills the scene… whatever the reason, there is beauty in black and white photographs that beacons you to take a second glance.

In a day and age where photo filters are trendy and just like style, they come and go… but black and white photography has remained a forever classic that won’t ever get old. From the weddings & portraits we photograph to the fashion editorials, to even the wildlife and landscapes we capture, black and white imagery has always been a staple for my work and shall forever remain.

DISCOVER WHY FILM IS MY MEDIUM OF CHOICE: