Photography has been a tool used to capture our favorite moments for years. Originally photos were all in black and white until color photography became very popular in the industry.

First let’s have a look at a quick timeline of the photography industry…

1839- Photography was invented by William Henry Fox Talbot

1861- James Maxwell produces the earliest form of color photography (Norman 1)

1907- Auguste and Louis Lumiere invented Auto chrome (Touchette 1)

1937- Leopold Godowsky Jr. and Leopold Mannes produced Kodachrome in the Kodak Research Laboratories, inventing the modern era of color photography.

By the 1920s the techniques improved and color was accepted by magazines, and later in the 1954’s, became standard in newspapers.

Today, it is used for authentic purposes but is rarely seen in professional photography because of its outdated technique. Although it is old fashioned, it’s also very important and should be continued for years to come. Photographers who shoot in black and white keep the authenticity alive.

Black and white photography is the most down-to-earth form of photography because it is without illusions or distractions from the moment in front of you. It shows the subject best whether it’s a person or place because it’s focus is the subject. It is simple, yet beautiful. The focus isn’t the color or the vibrancy of the photo, instead its focus is the composition and what is in the photo. The lines and shape of your subject is what will make this photo.

Let’s say you are taking a picture of a person and you shoot it in black and white. When you look at that photograph, you see the core of that person. You see the simplicity of them and nothing else. Black and white photography is simplistic and authentic. To look through the black and white lens is to see a simpler world without any distractions. Personally, I find it peaceful to look through a black and white lens because everything looks so pure and simple without all the complications in life

Photography, in general, is a way to stop time and keep that time frame as a remembrance. It is used all the time whether it’s through your phone or a camera. To put your photography in black and white is to keep the historic look and link us to pasts precious moments. It is the purest classic form of photography, and I encourage fellow photographers to stop and shoot simply and see what it looks like. You won’t be disappointed