Black and white
Save your search and find it in your favorites
Save your search to find it quickly
Saved search
Your search is accessible from the favorites tab > My favorite searches
Unsaved search
A problem occurred
Rome, Trevi Fountain selfies
Fabien Olart
Photography - 40 x 60 x 0.1 cm Photography - 15.7 x 23.6 x 0 inch
$561
Bristol, hot air balloons
Fabien Olart
Photography - 40 x 60 x 0.1 cm Photography - 15.7 x 23.6 x 0 inch
$561
Vukovar, the railway station
Fabien Olart
Photography - 40 x 60 x 0.1 cm Photography - 15.7 x 23.6 x 0 inch
$561
Deauville, the sea
Fabien Olart
Photography - 40 x 60 x 0.1 cm Photography - 15.7 x 23.6 x 0 inch
$561
Voltaire
Amrita Bilimoria
Photography - 114.3 x 76.2 x 0.5 cm Photography - 45 x 30 x 0.2 inch
$3,000
Kalinychta
Amrita Bilimoria
Photography - 95.5 x 101.6 x 0.5 cm Photography - 37.6 x 40 x 0.2 inch
$3,000
Contretemps
Juliette Wegrzyk
Photography - 45 x 60 x 0.01 cm Photography - 17.7 x 23.6 x 0 inch
$729
Count your Blessings
Kamal Obat
Photography - 58.4 x 38.9 x 2.5 cm Photography - 23 x 15.3 x 1 inch
$450
Training camp 3
Richard Dunkley
Photography - 61 x 50.8 x 2.5 cm Photography - 24 x 20 x 1 inch
$398
Flamenco, Maria V
Richard Dunkley
Photography - 40.6 x 50.8 x 2.5 cm Photography - 16 x 20 x 1 inch
$331
Assignation 3
Richard Dunkley
Photography - 40.6 x 50.8 x 1.3 cm Photography - 16 x 20 x 0.5 inch
$398
Les Deux Magots
Richard Dunkley
Photography - 50.8 x 40.6 x 2.5 cm Photography - 20 x 16 x 1 inch
$398
Ben Stiller
Noa Grayevsky
Photography - 76.2 x 55.87 x 5.08 cm Photography - 30 x 22 x 2 inch
$11,211
Arbres ( Neiges)
Adrianna MJW
Photography - 80 x 50 x 2 cm Photography - 31.5 x 19.7 x 0.8 inch
$2,803
E5
Jean-Paul Veison Marcelli
Photography - 20 x 30 x 0.3 cm Photography - 7.9 x 11.8 x 0.1 inch
$176
E4
Jean-Paul Veison Marcelli
Photography - 20 x 30 x 0.3 cm Photography - 7.9 x 11.8 x 0.1 inch
$176
Tramontana XI
Amrita Bilimoria
Photography - 61 x 91.4 x 0.5 cm Photography - 24 x 36 x 0.2 inch
$2,500
The Crafty Fox
Amrita Bilimoria
Photography - 127 x 94.5 x 0.5 cm Photography - 50 x 37.2 x 0.2 inch
$5,000
Cleared for Takeoff
Amrita Bilimoria
Photography - 77 x 121.9 x 0.5 cm Photography - 30.3 x 48 x 0.2 inch
$3,000
Bloodlines 07
Amrita Bilimoria
Photography - 76.2 x 93.7 x 0.5 cm Photography - 30 x 36.9 x 0.2 inch
$2,600
The Accelerator
Amrita Bilimoria
Photography - 77.7 x 101.6 x 0.5 cm Photography - 30.6 x 40 x 0.2 inch
$2,850
Bloodlines 03
Amrita Bilimoria
Photography - 101.6 x 152.4 x 0.5 cm Photography - 40 x 60 x 0.2 inch
$3,100
The Equestrienne
Amrita Bilimoria
Photography - 116.8 x 79.8 x 0.5 cm Photography - 46 x 31.4 x 0.2 inch
$3,000
Wisdom's Keepers
Drew Doggett
Photography - 61 x 91.4 x 0.3 cm Photography - 24 x 36 x 0.1 inch
$3,223
Dans la Bible
Jean-Guy Nakars
Photography - 60 x 40 x 0.1 cm Photography - 23.6 x 15.7 x 0 inch
$303
Chapeau l'Artiste
Jean-Guy Nakars
Photography - 40 x 60 x 0.1 cm Photography - 15.7 x 23.6 x 0 inch
$303
L'Homme au chapeau
Jean-Guy Nakars
Photography - 60 x 40 x 0.1 cm Photography - 23.6 x 15.7 x 0 inch
$303
Ralph Lauren
Noa Grayevsky
Photography - 76.2 x 55.87 x 5.08 cm Photography - 30 x 22 x 2 inch
$11,211
Portrait of a hijabi (POAH)
Kamal Obat
Photography - 84.1 x 56.1 x 0.3 cm Photography - 33.1 x 22.067 x 0.1 inch
$320
Gbedu Enter Body (Groove)
Kamal Obat
Photography - 58.4 x 45.7 x 2.5 cm Photography - 23 x 18 x 1 inch
$300
Flower by open
Jean-Guy Nakars
Photography - 40 x 40 x 0.1 cm Photography - 15.7 x 15.7 x 0 inch
$223
Flower by close
Jean-Guy Nakars
Photography - 40 x 40 x 0.1 cm Photography - 15.7 x 15.7 x 0 inch
$223
Alpinistes sur l’Ober
Thomas Crauwels
Photography - 90 x 180 x 1 cm Photography - 35.4 x 70.9 x 0.4 inch
$5,226
Matterhorn/Cervin – Obergabelhorn – Dent d’Hérens
Thomas Crauwels
Photography - 100 x 100 x 1 cm Photography - 39.4 x 39.4 x 0.4 inch
$3,948
Massif du Mont Blanc
Thomas Crauwels
Photography - 90 x 180 x 1 cm Photography - 35.4 x 70.9 x 0.4 inch
$4,529
Panorama sur le Mont-Blanc
Thomas Crauwels
Photography - 70 x 210 x 1 cm Photography - 27.6 x 82.7 x 0.4 inch
$4,065
Grandes Jorasses
Thomas Crauwels
Photography - 100 x 150 x 1 cm Photography - 39.4 x 59.1 x 0.4 inch
$4,645
Alpinistes depuis le Mont-Blanc
Thomas Crauwels
Photography - 100 x 150 x 1 cm Photography - 39.4 x 59.1 x 0.4 inch
$4,645
Chenal de Ploumanac'h /
Didier Cormillot
Photography - 60 x 80 cm Photography - 23.6 x 31.5 inch
$303
Ceasar, Capturing the Essence of a Human Face
Robert Jaso
Photography - 118 x 80 cm Photography - 46.5 x 31.5 inch
$6,166
Journey to Kilimanjaro
Drew Doggett
Photography - 41.9 x 91.4 x 0.3 cm Photography - 16.5 x 36 x 0.1 inch
$2,500
Crossing Time
Drew Doggett
Photography - 43.8 x 91.4 x 0.3 cm Photography - 17.25 x 36 x 0.1 inch
$2,500
Wonderland : Faith II & Return
Ellie Sass (Sassayiannis)
Photography - 50 x 70 x 0.1 cm Photography - 19.7 x 27.6 x 0 inch
$437
Wonderland : Portrait - Return
Ellie Sass (Sassayiannis)
Photography - 50 x 50 x 0.1 cm Photography - 19.7 x 19.7 x 0 inch
$437
Masked Queens - Prayer&Repentance
Ellie Sass (Sassayiannis)
Photography - 42 x 30 x 0.1 cm Photography - 16.5 x 11.8 x 0 inch
$359
Masked Queens - Grounding
Ellie Sass (Sassayiannis)
Photography - 42 x 30 x 0.1 cm Photography - 16.5 x 11.8 x 0 inch
$359
Spiritual Freedom - Deliverance
Ellie Sass (Sassayiannis)
Photography - 70 x 50 x 0.1 cm Photography - 27.6 x 19.7 x 0 inch
$538
Spiritual Freedom - Prayer
Ellie Sass (Sassayiannis)
Photography - 50 x 70 x 0.1 cm Photography - 19.7 x 27.6 x 0 inch
$538
Portrait of a Lady
Kamal Obat
Photography - 84.1 x 59.4 x 2.5 cm Photography - 33.1 x 23.4 x 1 inch
$450
Portrait of a Silverback
Drew Doggett
Photography - 91.4 x 68.6 x 0.3 cm Photography - 36 x 27 x 0.1 inch
$2,500
Derrière la maison
Jean-Guy Nakars
Photography - 42 x 55.5 x 0.1 cm Photography - 16.5 x 21.9 x 0 inch
$503 $454
Be lighting
Jean-Guy Nakars
Photography - 40 x 60 x 0.1 cm Photography - 15.7 x 23.6 x 0 inch
$223 $202
L'ombre d'un Pêcheur
Jean-Guy Nakars
Photography - 60 x 40 x 0.1 cm Photography - 23.6 x 15.7 x 0 inch
$223
Alors on danse
Jean-Guy Nakars
Photography - 40 x 60 x 0.1 cm Photography - 15.7 x 23.6 x 0 inch
$280
Sur la plage ensoleillée
Jean-Guy Nakars
Photography - 40 x 60 x 0.1 cm Photography - 15.7 x 23.6 x 0 inch
$279
Corail Island 2
Jean-Guy Nakars
Photography - 60 x 90 x 0.1 cm Photography - 23.6 x 35.4 x 0 inch
$437
Pont suspendu
Jean-Guy Nakars
Photography - 104.9 x 70 x 0.1 cm Photography - 41.3 x 27.6 x 0 inch
$559
Par la Fenêtre
Jean-Guy Nakars
Photography - 40 x 60 x 0.1 cm Photography - 15.7 x 23.6 x 0 inch
$279
Les Hauteurs de Tana
Jean-Guy Nakars
Photography - 60 x 90 x 0.1 cm Photography - 23.6 x 35.4 x 0 inch
$437
La tour Eiffel
Jean-Guy Nakars
Photography - 60 x 40 x 0.1 cm Photography - 23.6 x 15.7 x 0 inch
$303
Sur les chemins de Mada
Jean-Guy Nakars
Photography - 46.36 x 60 x 0.1 cm Photography - 18.3 x 23.6 x 0 inch
$279
Breakdance
Jean-Guy Nakars
Photography - 33.75 x 60 x 0.1 cm Photography - 13.3 x 23.6 x 0 inch
$279
Rome : Monument
Ellie Sass (Sassayiannis)
Photography - 50 x 50 x 0.1 cm Photography - 19.7 x 19.7 x 0 inch
$437
Terre Sainte B&W
Jean-Guy Nakars
Photography - 90 x 60 x 0.1 cm Photography - 35.4 x 23.6 x 0 inch
$391
Monch Eiger Jungfrau
Thomas Crauwels
Photography - 90 x 180 x 1 cm Photography - 35.4 x 70.9 x 0.4 inch
$5,226
Black and white
Before the arrival of photography – with the exception of some etchings and lithographs – all the images we consumed were in colour. Quite simply, because no one would ever have thought to do anything else – why paint in black and white when colour was so readily available?
Yet despite this, today many photographers still choose to work in black and white – such as Pauline Théon, Kadir Von Lohuizen or Joh Lowenstein – even though their photos are taken in colour by the camera itself. Is the black and white trend a fleeting effect of fashion, or a symbolic return to the roots of the photography movement? Black and white photography has something that colour photos, despite recent innovations and the extraordinary quality of images today, cannot quite access. The use of black and white lends significant force to the composition: the contrasts, the shadows and the figures all stand out more strongly. People simply feel differently when faced with a colour photo versus a black and white image.
Colour is a distraction of sorts, a disturbance: colour is a nuisance.
And yet, some photographers still prefer colour to black and white, whilst others merge touches of colour with otherwise monochrome compositions. But in the end, all agree that both styles impose a totally different way of looking at a photo: from researching the shot to post production work, when artists develop or retouch the image. The use of colour is therefore something of a process in its own right, relating to two different ways of viewing the world and showing it others. The question, then, is what is being told, and why is it being in the way that it is?
The symbolic value of putting black and white together is a good starting point for reflecting on the fascination that they generate even today. There could not be a more fascinating, more striking ambivalence than when black, the 'colour' of darkness and burnt coal, considered a non-colour, is placed alongside white – representing light, and the result of all the colours merged together.
The problem faced by photographers today is that black and white still carry strong connotations of the past, of an era before the popularisation of colour and its massive cultural recovery amongst the press and photo journalists. In fact, it is rare now that contemporary subjects are photographed in colour, but we still associate black and white images with a retro feel.
So what does contemporary art have to say about it all? Discover Artsper's selection of black and white works: on the border of past and present, of the real and the imaginary… let us guide you!