The ImageReflex Gallery: The End Of Traditional Black And White Photography?

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June 17, 2005

The End Of Traditional Black And White Photography?

In what is yet another example of how the digital revolution is changing photography, reports started flying around the Internet yesterday about Kodak's announcement to discontinue manufacturing black and white photographic paper. One of the first announcements I noticed appeared on the Digital Photography Review website. Just about every photographer I know first learned to create images using black and white film and printing on black and white paper. Despite the decline in Kodak's black and white photographic paper business, it would appear--for the moment--that other manufacturers will continue making the paper. Still, the time does not seem far off when making black and white prints (silver prints) will be limited to artistic purposes rather than everyday photograhpy, and it may ultimately mean the end of traditional black and white photography.

Although the reports indicate that Kodak will continue making black and white film, it is difficult to see the point. Black and white film without black and white paper is only half a solution, and while the current photo printers can handle printing black and white, the prints just don't have the same look. There is something comforting in the knowledge that the venerable Tri-X will remain available for a while longer. Personally, however, I find it more comforting that the black and white image conversion software I use understands how Tri-X translated the color world into black and white, and allows me to give a digital image the appearance of having been shot with Tri-X.

Posted by slewis at June 17, 2005 12:40 PM

June 17, 2005

The End Of Traditional Black And White Photography?

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