Walter Eckardt

B&W vs Color - Drawing vs. Painting

Current mainstream seems to prefer black & white. However the real world comes with colors. So why is black & white liked better?
The reason is probably simple: It is easier to create B&W as it is easier to digest B&W.
For photographers: B&W doesn't ask for managing colors, doesn't require respecting messages which colors automatically bring, doesn't contain color-intrinsic moods (e.g. red for love, red for aggression).

B/W focuses on a picture's structures but subordinates the message of the scene.
Color does similarly - just the other way round.

For viewers: It's ways easier to detect the structures, the geometry of a picture by not being distracted by additional information coming from colors or the scene. B&W is much easier digested. It's fine for the quick glance, but it runs the risk for becoming boring when being watched intensively.

This series of pictures tries to show the B&W baseline (drawing) which makes the foundation for the final picture (painting).

Choose by yourself.