Jump to content

B&W VS. Color what do you like better?


Crazyeighties

Recommended Posts

Crazyeighties

I just picked up the movie "Nebraska" it is the first movie filmed in Black and White in years. it made me think of B&W in a whole new way. What do you prefer, Black and White or Color. Did you see Nebraska and what did you think would it have been better in color? I guess for me it would depend on the movie...

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Mister Pink

I can't say I prefer one or the other. When deciding whether I take photos in black & white or colour, I ask myself; "What is the colour contributing to the image and what I'm trying to say?" If it's not working, I take it out. Some times, if the colours are trendy, warm and bright but I'm going for a timeless raw, dark feel then I'll remove the colour.

 

There has to be some reasoning, I believe.

 

If you like black and white, try Anton Corbijn... he's known for preferring black and white. Check out Control, his first feature about Ian Curtis of Joy Division.

 

Of course there's limitations to black and white... Like if you removed colour from a Wes Anderson film it would decrease it's visual style. However, it may be more appealing to others. So, I treat each photo, idea and film on a case by case way. I don't have a pre-determined preference for one or the other. Whatever works for your idea, I suppose.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I feel basically the same way about it as Pink. Older films may have been shot in black and white due to technology or budget constraints but post 60s, I'd say it's whatever fits the director's vision. Most modern films shot in black and white would lose much of their impact if they were colorized just like modern films that rely on color to augment their tone would suffer if the color was removed. Also, Control is an excellent film.

Edited by Voodoo
  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Don't shoot the postulator here, but holy god the latest trailer for Sin City 2 blew me away; I remember being absolutely blown away by the first one and the stylization. Can't exactly call it black and white, but certainly somewhere inbetween, and absolutely stunning. I'd love to see more stuff exploiting these techniques that isn't directed by wackadoo Miller.

 

Now, that said, I haven't seen Nebraska yet but was confused by the choice to shoot in black and white. Looking forward to it.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Always hated Black and White, even as a movie buff because we were stuck in our home with black and white TVs outside of the main one the parents dictated viewing on, and their own personal Sony Trinitron, while I realize the need to use it for cost, and it's creative edge, you can hardly make a case for sticking with low res or mono audio! So as I see it, realism is the goal. Ultra HD forthcoming would make even B & W look incredible I suppose

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Just like the 2D animation vs 3D animation debate, I need to say, it's how you use it that makes the format. If a random rom-com is black and white, for no reason, that's dumb. Color is the standard. There's no reason any movie should not be in color, but there are many reasons why many movies shouldn't be in black and white in modern film. That said, most black and white movies do it good. They use it right. It's pretty much a no brainer which movies should and should not use it, so it's usually not a bad idea.

 

I really can't think of a movie, off the top of my head that uses black and white wrong. A movie like Clerks though, barely squeaks by. But the story of that was that Kevin Smith couldn't afford color film stock, and because of that, it fits the movie.

 

But like I said, for the most part film makers (good or bad) know when to use it. It's a tradition going back to the Wizard of Oz.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Crazyeighties

Don't shoot the postulator here, but holy god the latest trailer for Sin City 2 blew me away; I remember being absolutely blown away by the first one and the stylization. Can't exactly call it black and white, but certainly somewhere inbetween, and absolutely stunning. I'd love to see more stuff exploiting these techniques that isn't directed by wackadoo Miller.

 

Now, that said, I haven't seen Nebraska yet but was confused by the choice to shoot in black and white. Looking forward to it.

There was a interview I watched with the Director of Nebraska someone asked him why he made the dessision to film the movie in B&W, He replied there is not much to see in Nebraska, nobody is missing anything by the movie being in Black and White. Edited by Crazyeighties
Link to comment
Share on other sites

It really comes down to the film itself. B&W works beautifully for a film like Nebraska but would be terrible in most modern movies.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 1 User Currently Viewing
    0 members, 0 Anonymous, 1 Guest

×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

By using GTAForums.com, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.