Luminous Landscape Forum

Equipment & Techniques => Beginner's Questions => Topic started by: RMW on July 24, 2020, 01:37:07 pm

Title: To mix or not to mix ?
Post by: RMW on July 24, 2020, 01:37:07 pm
Hi All.
If you have a collection of images that are all about the same subject and some are in color and some are in b&w, do you display them all together or do you separate them?
Some people have told me they find it confusing to look at a color foto, then a b&w foto, and then back to a color foto.
Not sure how best to go about this.
All suggestions appreciated.
Richard
Title: Re: To mix or not to mix ?
Post by: Jeffrey Saldinger on July 24, 2020, 02:44:40 pm
When I look at a collection of photographs in a book or exhibition, I usually prefer that the color and BW be in separate groupings. In my opinion, keeping color and BW in their own groups makes it feel (in most cases, anyway) easier to see the images in each group without the jarring alternations of adjacent images that would otherwise result.

It might in some cases help to go beyond the color/BW groupings and consider the impact of grouping horizontal, vertical, and square images separately.

Perhaps the purpose of the photographs will matter -- assuming there is a purpose beyond our own delight in making the work -- and thus the audience’s preferences or needs. But without a clear audience preference/need (if any such audience homogenization is even possible), my approach is to organize photographs in whatever sequence best serves the work, without a counterproductive solicitation of other people's preferences (productive solicitation is another thing). And then the art of sequencing photographs comes up for discussion. It is an endless one.
Title: Re: To mix or not to mix ?
Post by: nirpat89 on July 24, 2020, 04:42:34 pm
Hi All.
If you have a collection of images that are all about the same subject and some are in color and some are in b&w, do you display them all together or do you separate them?
Some people have told me they find it confusing to look at a color foto, then a b&w foto, and then back to a color foto.
Not sure how best to go about this.
All suggestions appreciated.
Richard

If it is of the same subject and there is a story/thread that connects the images, then I don't see why a segregation is necessary or even sensible.  As long as the images are sequenced in the way that there is some sort of flow - visually or contextually, mixed colors and b&w should be fine and feel natural....in my opinion, of course.
Title: Re: To mix or not to mix ?
Post by: RMW on July 26, 2020, 11:48:27 am
Thanks Jeff.

Thanks nirpat89.

I'm thinking I'll mix the two, but keep the ones with the most vivid colors separate.

Richard
Title: Re: To mix or not to mix ?
Post by: dkoretz on August 08, 2020, 09:56:57 am
I don't think this question has a single answer. It depends on the prints and the context. E.g., are the prints related in some manner?

I'd start by asking: how do YOU like to see these particular displayed?
Title: Re: To mix or not to mix ?
Post by: RMW on August 10, 2020, 12:24:07 pm
Hi dkoretz.
Thank you for your good input.
I agree with you.
Particular prints in a particular context matter and in the end you have to rely on your own sensibility.
Richard