To start off, let me pose a question. Today, why would anyone consider shooting in black-and-white? There’s 4K resolution, HDR color grading and glitzy neon lights plastered all over the screens. Regardless, filmmakers and content creators continue to tout monochrome imagery not as a thing of the past but as a contemporary tool for powerful storytelling. From indie films to TikTok videos, black-and-white cinematography persists because it works. And it does so intentionally, devoid of any nostalgic longing.
In this article, we’re going to look into why the absence of color can be profound in modern video production, how to efficiently utilize black-and-white, and why it is far from being ‘dated’. So let’s begin.
1. The Emotional Power of Black-and-White: Less Color, More Feeling
Picture Schindler’s List (1993) in color. The girl in the iconic red coat would lose her haunting symbolism. Spielberg understood perfectly that sans color, the audience has to shift their focus to humanity, faces, textures and contrasts rather than distractions, and so he decided to use color judiciously. The color red did wonders as the cherry on top.
This principle still holds true in the modern day. Black and white film photography captures a moment in time. With color eliminated, viewers focus on:
- Light and shadow (how a character’s face can be seen as half hidden in shadow).
- Texture (the folds of skin on a palm, the texture of cut wood).
- Considero Roma, Alfonso Cuarón’s Oscar-winning film. Captured in stunning black and white, the Soapy water pooling on driveways and silhouettes of a family shadowed against a television set brings the audience into 1970s Mexico City. The absence of color does not feel constraining, it feels intimate.
- Why It Matters Today: Brought to us by The Cinematograph, black-and-white films cut through the clutter, and the abundance of needless distraction we all face. This principle makes filters like “Inkwell” on Instagram stand the test of time. Sometimes all people need is a break from needless distraction and for the focus to be directed where it truly resonates.
2. Trendy vs Timeless: Constructing Tales That Endure
Color trends fade and reappear into and from existence, like the teal and orange insanity of the 2010’s. But while those trends exist, black and white escapes what is considered “dated.” A well-monochrome film feels as refreshing today as Casablanca’s joy-riding in 1942 did.
Think about George Miller’s Mad Max: Fury Road: Black & Chrome Edition (2016). The tenth of Miller’s post-apocalyptic epic was received with mixed reviews, but he stuck to his guns saying the film’s primal energy was enhanced by making it monochromatic. What was the outcome? A film that some fans argue to be more visceral than the original.
On the other hand, black and white makes these moods more appealing:
- Film Noir: The morbid grotesqueness of shadows
- Horror: Imagine The Lighthouse (2019) not in color; its nightmare shackles would break.
- Documentaries: Monochrome is often used in The Act of Killing (2012) which incredibly underlines the banality that surrounds horrific actions.
- Pro Tip: Monochrome imagery should signify “timelessness” in commercials or brand films. Like, a luxury watch ad clad in monochrome screams of heritage, craftsmanship and evokes the sense of history.
3. Technical Mastery: Shooting (and Grading) for Monochrome
This one’s an allegedly ironic quote: “You can just desaturate color footage in post”, well for someone sure, but amazing black and white cinematography initiates with the camera not the editing suite.
- Theat: Light is your root power. Black and white photography allows for dramatic high contrast lighting like chiaroscuro along with soft light that can bring about feelings of nostalgia.
- Skin Tones: Two words, character and charm. Even-toned skin in black and white adds charm unlike the uneven tones that would distract in color photography.
With advanced equipment like RED or ARRI cameras, photographers can use monochrome sensor modes for capturing greater detail than color sensors. Nowadays, even smartphones have B&W modes (the “Mono” option on iPhones comes to mind).
During the accompanying editing phase, avoid simply choosing “desaturate.” Use color grading rings with the intent to change how each color transforms to grayscale. For instance, dulling a blue sky in color footage will make it turn a stormy gray when viewing it in B&W.
4. Psychological Impact: How Monochrome Shapes Perception
Emotions that can be tied with color – red translates to passion, blue signifies calmness. B&W allows the viewer to imagine their emotions while watching a scene which makes it so subjective.
Research indicates that monochrome imagery:
- Amplifies concentration on facial expressions and body movements.
- Augments seriousness or currency associated with a visual.
- Stimulates regions of the brain associated with memory (due to the prevalence of B&W photographs and films).
These images portray why companies such as Apple choose a B&W approach when launching a product. The aesthetic exudes authority and feels minimalistic.
5. Modern Applications: From TikTok to Feature Films
The use of monochrome is not only limited to arthouse cinema. Black-and-white is prominent in the following:
- Social Media: Dominated by colorful content, short B&W clips will definitely stand out in feeds.
- Music Videos: The monochrome aesthetic used in Billie Eilish’s Your Power serves to accentuate the video’s somber tone.
- Wedding Films: Couples use the B&W approach to highlight emotional moments such as the vows or first dance.
Even in dramatized productions like Netflix’s The Queen’s Gambit, monochrome was deliberately employed to reflect the protagonist’s chess-centric perception of the world.
Conclusion: Black-and-White is a Case of Choice, Not Trade-Off
As of the year 2023, filming in black-and-white does not evoke nostalgia—it is a creative choice that goes well beyond emotion, weaving aesthetic precision with compositional harmony. Whether you need it for an indie movie, a brand’s ad, or even a social media video, monochrome can add remarkable depth to the narrative.
Next time you’re strategizing for a given project, consider this: Does color removal serve a narrative purpose?
Eager to Explore Black-and-White Choices?
At Reset Media, we focus on modern audiences with ageless works. If you’re either experimenting with monochrome cinematography or even color dynamics, our team is prepared to support your ideas.