Why Black & White Photos?

Black and white photography was born out of historical necessity because we were not so advanced in technology in the past to support color.

For me personally, the choice to work in black and white comes from my own historical foundations. When I was in design school, I realized quickly that there was much for me to learn about color, and before doing so, I would first need to understand shape and form. At the same time, I was blessed with having the great, Milton Glaser as a mentor. He taught me that ambiguity was one of the most important things I could offer my clients when creating design that was meant to “delight” as he would say. The golden Easter egg, the hidden surprise, the big reveal is what would keep my viewers viewing. 

After a deeper study into color, and even after teaching on the subject in later years, I ultimately decided that shape and form were enough of a focus when thinking about portrait photography, and thus adding ambiguity by leaving out color. The photographs keep their mystery.

Now, viewers are able to study the character, the shapes, and the deeper emotion of my portrait work with less interruption when the choice of black and white is intentional. 

There are millions of opinions on the subject, and that is what makes photography a powerful medium. I would never say that black and white is more powerful than color nor vice-versa, it simply allows for more concentration on the elements of line, texture, and shape when it comes to the face and human form. 

For now, the style preference of black and white portraits offers me the benefits that come with focus. However, my work does not exist without color, therefore in several projects, I add it, in portraits it’s useful in branding, especially for food-based branding. There are some things that simply cannot be without the rainbow. When not necessary, color is questioned in a deeper way, a way that allows the eye to see what would normally disappear when color takes over.

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