Life Isn't Black & White But Photos Are!

"Not everything is black or white".  You may have heard this phrase repeatedly throughout your lifetime.  Basically it was used to point out that there isn't always a definitive solution to every situation in life.  However in photography the incorporation of black and white photography produces additional details not initially seen by the eye.  I feel black and white photography is an effective tool to enhance shadows, highlight outlines in patterns, and bring to light elements of a scene or aspects of an object that may be overlooked. 

I present for example the first photo of benches lining the boardwalk.  The use of black and white photography allows the lines in the grain of the wood in the boardwalk to become intensified.  It captures the shadowy outlines cast by the benches, as well as shadows of objects not visible in the capture, thus adding to the viewer's visual experience.  The capture of shadows of unseen elements allows the viewer to envision the scene for themselves, creating pictures of what the additional objects must look like.  In a way black and white photography is the "imagination filter of photography". Writers use the words on a page to form a vision of the scene for the reader through descriptive imagery.  Photographers using black and white images do the same through reflections and shadows. 
The viewer must imagine the colors possible in a black and white capture.  In this way writers and photographers using black and white film captures are similar. 

A boardwalk gets enhanced in black and white

Linear lines in flower petals get enhanced

Black and white photography also ready brings out all the fine linear lines in a flower's petal creating an intense initial impact.  The delicate beauty of the shape, natural lines, and intricate details of flowers become clear and stand out as a result of using black and white photography.  The overall final effect is very dramatic and creates an artistic look for flower captures that wows your viewers.

Delicate petal outlines are highlighted

The sheer beauty created through the use of black and white photography is lovely to view.  The added bonus of the enhanced shadowy effects and artistic nature of these types of photos make the use of black and white photography something to consider when trying to evoke the viewer's imagination!