Black and white

Black and White (B/W or B&W) is a term that describes an image, photograph, film or graphic work that does not use colours. Its visual rendering is composed exclusively of a range of grey tones (grayscale), which vary from the deepest black to the purest white.

It is not simply the absence of colour, but a deliberate stylistic and compositional choice.

What is it used for / Why is it important

The choice of black and white is not a limitation, but an expressive tool. By removing the "distraction" of colour, the viewer's attention is guided towards other elements:

• Form and Composition: Lines, geometry and the structure of the image become the protagonists.

• Contrast, Light and Shadow: B/W thrives on light. The way light hits surfaces and creates shadows (chiaroscuro) defines volume and atmosphere.

• Texture and Materiality: Grain, the porosity of skin or the roughness of a wall become more evident and tactile.

• Emotion and Drama: It is often perceived as rawer, more honest, more dramatic and "timeless", isolating the essence of the subject.

When is it used / In what context is it useful

B/W is a fundamental choice in many creative fields:

• Artistic Photography: It is the basis of fine-art photography and street photography (e.g., Henri Cartier-Bresson, Ansel Adams, Sebastião Salgado).

• Photojournalism: For its ability to document events with raw realism and emotional impact.

• Cinema: As a precise stylistic choice by the director (e.g., Schindler's List, Roma, The Artist) to evoke an era, create a dark atmosphere (noir) or for artistic purposes.

• Branding and Design: For logos and visual identities that aim for elegance, minimalism, classicism and maximum recognition (e.g., Chanel, Nike).

• Printing (Necessity): Historically, and still today for budget reasons, single-colour printing (black) is much cheaper than full-colour printing (four-colour process).

Practical example

Think of a portrait. In colour, attention might fall on the bright colour of a jumper or the eyes. The same portrait in black and white forces the observer to focus on the subject's expression, wrinkles, the light sculpting the face and the intensity of the gaze. Emotion becomes the main message.