There has always been an interesting debate about the use of black and white versus color in war photography and other violent and culturally disturbing subject matters. Proponents of black and white say black and white focuses you on the immediate brutality without any emotional sentiment except the extreme brutality. Proponents of color say when people see such violence and brutality in the frame of what they see normally (color) provides a shock and immediate revulsion to what is happening in their color universe. Color gives a sense of romanticism which is immediately gone when you realize what you are viewing. Black and white will not give you the contrast of that romanticism. It strips the image down to the essence of its form and texture in in this case to the brutality and violence. Since black and white is rarely featured in entertainment and photography, black and white may be more shocking because of the impact people are not used to.
A photographer could always check with a simple conversion of the image from color to black and white and determine exactly what emotional effect you want to achieve. The choice may result in a photo that has huge impact.
Interesting reflections there Tom. I worked with various photographers who did black and white for these kind of shots. One was Anthony Suau, who even won a Pullitzer and was using actual film when we did a story in Sinaloa for Time back in 2008. (I have some stories about that trip but they are to tell over a beer...).
The most famous black and white war photo I think was Eddie Adams shot of the plain clothes member of the Viet Cong being shot in the head. I have seen the video which was not as effective as the photo, a photo which literally changed people's mind about the Vietnam War.
I literally translate scenes I view constantly to black and white and always wish certain films were filmed in black and white. Sicario is a film that would have been absolutely brutal in black and white. The original film, In Cold Blood 1967 by Richard Brooks, was outstanding in black and white and for pure outrageous subject matter, Eraserhead by David Lynch. Elephant Man he also filmed in black and white. Film Noir films had a huge influence on these films.
Ah yeah that Vietnam shot is so iconic - and brutal. Photographs could perhaps be more iconic from that era though because there were less of them. Now we are flooded by so many images. Great films in black and white in the color era that spring to mind, if I remember correctly - La Haine, Rumble Fish, Dr Strange Love (although was that still in the black and white era). I haven't watched Eraser Head since I was about 16. I need to go back to that one.
Let's not forget about Raging Bull which was made in black and white because of an advisor to Scorsese who pointed out that gloves in that era were either maroon or black. Last Picture Show, Schindler's List and Sin City come to mind. Wim Wenders, one of my favorite directors shot many movies early in his career in black and white with Wings of Desire being his most popular early film and Kings of the Road one of my favorites.
Forgot about a classic in black and white, Battle of Algiers by Gillo Pontecorvo, the best political director. Burn, although in color, with Marlon Brando, also superb.
It's cool that he's been to all those war torn countries before he reminds me of sabastian junger he's a well known war photographer that directed restrepo . A documentary about American infantryman fighting in Afghanistan. Fun fact mathew heineman the director that directed cartel land said he modeled his film after restrepo. Except junger was at least inbeded with professional troops heineman inbeded himself with angry untrained vigilantes
Sebastian is good friend of mine! We met in 1993 in Sarajevo, when we were both "free lancers without a clue" - we all have to start somewhere. We became good buddies and have been covering Afghanistan, Sierra Leone, Liberia and Kosovo for Vanity Fair... Yes, I saw Heineman's work, impressive, so is Restrepo - a doc adored by anti war activists and soldiers/veterans alike!
Yes, i knew Tim rather well, a small world... Incredibly sad when he died together with Chris Hondros... Tim was really smart and sweet guy... I was at his funeral, never forget the touching moment the choir started to sing 'Ave Maria' with Tim's casket in the middle of the church..
Yes, I worked with Nick Quested who was also a producer on Restrepo. The photographer on that Tim Hetherington tragically died in Libya in the war there.
Have you ever met the people that directed narco cultura 2012? I'm sure you have seen it. It's about a Mexican forensics worker in juarez and a narco corrido singer
Also heli a 2013 film about a young Mexican police cadet. It's a Mexican film so it's all spanish language. It's fictional but it does capture the feel of the drug war.
Mexico's bravest man was another good one. It's about colonial leyzoala a Mexican police chief that cleaned up tijuana for a brief moment before an assassination attempt left him paralyzed. Ed calderon used to work for him too
Fascinating set of photos. So much to see in each one. The ancillary props are sometimes more interesting than the primary photo object. Dead bodies, and just no one is paying much attention. That puts things into a perspective that words can’t.
There has always been an interesting debate about the use of black and white versus color in war photography and other violent and culturally disturbing subject matters. Proponents of black and white say black and white focuses you on the immediate brutality without any emotional sentiment except the extreme brutality. Proponents of color say when people see such violence and brutality in the frame of what they see normally (color) provides a shock and immediate revulsion to what is happening in their color universe. Color gives a sense of romanticism which is immediately gone when you realize what you are viewing. Black and white will not give you the contrast of that romanticism. It strips the image down to the essence of its form and texture in in this case to the brutality and violence. Since black and white is rarely featured in entertainment and photography, black and white may be more shocking because of the impact people are not used to.
A photographer could always check with a simple conversion of the image from color to black and white and determine exactly what emotional effect you want to achieve. The choice may result in a photo that has huge impact.
Interesting reflections there Tom. I worked with various photographers who did black and white for these kind of shots. One was Anthony Suau, who even won a Pullitzer and was using actual film when we did a story in Sinaloa for Time back in 2008. (I have some stories about that trip but they are to tell over a beer...).
The most famous black and white war photo I think was Eddie Adams shot of the plain clothes member of the Viet Cong being shot in the head. I have seen the video which was not as effective as the photo, a photo which literally changed people's mind about the Vietnam War.
I literally translate scenes I view constantly to black and white and always wish certain films were filmed in black and white. Sicario is a film that would have been absolutely brutal in black and white. The original film, In Cold Blood 1967 by Richard Brooks, was outstanding in black and white and for pure outrageous subject matter, Eraserhead by David Lynch. Elephant Man he also filmed in black and white. Film Noir films had a huge influence on these films.
Ah yeah that Vietnam shot is so iconic - and brutal. Photographs could perhaps be more iconic from that era though because there were less of them. Now we are flooded by so many images. Great films in black and white in the color era that spring to mind, if I remember correctly - La Haine, Rumble Fish, Dr Strange Love (although was that still in the black and white era). I haven't watched Eraser Head since I was about 16. I need to go back to that one.
Let's not forget about Raging Bull which was made in black and white because of an advisor to Scorsese who pointed out that gloves in that era were either maroon or black. Last Picture Show, Schindler's List and Sin City come to mind. Wim Wenders, one of my favorite directors shot many movies early in his career in black and white with Wings of Desire being his most popular early film and Kings of the Road one of my favorites.
Ah, how could I forget Raging Bull. One of my faves of all time. I didn't know about the gloves story - but what a Masterpiece.
Forgot about a classic in black and white, Battle of Algiers by Gillo Pontecorvo, the best political director. Burn, although in color, with Marlon Brando, also superb.
But I think goodfellas is still my favorite of his. Taxi driver a close second.
Raging bull is a total Scorsese classic. Easily among his best
It's cool that he's been to all those war torn countries before he reminds me of sabastian junger he's a well known war photographer that directed restrepo . A documentary about American infantryman fighting in Afghanistan. Fun fact mathew heineman the director that directed cartel land said he modeled his film after restrepo. Except junger was at least inbeded with professional troops heineman inbeded himself with angry untrained vigilantes
Sebastian is good friend of mine! We met in 1993 in Sarajevo, when we were both "free lancers without a clue" - we all have to start somewhere. We became good buddies and have been covering Afghanistan, Sierra Leone, Liberia and Kosovo for Vanity Fair... Yes, I saw Heineman's work, impressive, so is Restrepo - a doc adored by anti war activists and soldiers/veterans alike!
Especially sierra leone and liberia. You really did live the real life version of blood diamond......
Some definitely intense conflict zones you guys covered
That's so cool that you worked with junger. You guys definitely have a storied career. And yeah heineman is definitely a prodigy
Nice one Teun. Did you know Tim Hetherington as well? He seemed a real true conflict photographer.
Yes, i knew Tim rather well, a small world... Incredibly sad when he died together with Chris Hondros... Tim was really smart and sweet guy... I was at his funeral, never forget the touching moment the choir started to sing 'Ave Maria' with Tim's casket in the middle of the church..
A tragedy but he had a good impact.
In many ways that's much worse and very ballsy
Yes, I worked with Nick Quested who was also a producer on Restrepo. The photographer on that Tim Hetherington tragically died in Libya in the war there.
Have you ever met the people that directed narco cultura 2012? I'm sure you have seen it. It's about a Mexican forensics worker in juarez and a narco corrido singer
Yeah, I worked on a Time magazine with the photographer director of it. It was pretty popular when it hit.
Also heli a 2013 film about a young Mexican police cadet. It's a Mexican film so it's all spanish language. It's fictional but it does capture the feel of the drug war.
I never saw that movie for some reason. I liked "Infierno" about 2010
Mexico's bravest man was another good one. It's about colonial leyzoala a Mexican police chief that cleaned up tijuana for a brief moment before an assassination attempt left him paralyzed. Ed calderon used to work for him too
Marie Colvin was another well regarded war journalist that died in syria
Yeah, Matt Heineman made a dramatic movie about her. He is the same guy who made Cartel Land as he you noted above...
Yeah a private war with Rosemand pike.
Yeah I heard. War photographer ain't know joke as well as narco journalism and the two are so intertwined now in Mexico
Powerful images. Thanks for sharing
Appreciated and back at yer.
Fascinating set of photos. So much to see in each one. The ancillary props are sometimes more interesting than the primary photo object. Dead bodies, and just no one is paying much attention. That puts things into a perspective that words can’t.
Yeah, it really shows it. It makes me chuckle now when I see movies and how they see bodies and throw up right away. It's not like that.