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Author
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Topic: Colour v. B&W
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WAWalsh
Member Posts: 809
From: Cortlandt Manor, NY
Registered: May 2000
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posted 10-09-2001 05:48 AM
   
Last week, NPR ran a piece about a Kansas town preparing a time capsule. One of the comments was that the town was including black and white, rather than colour photos because the former retained their quality far better than colour.As a variation on the photo v. lithograph debate of the past, can anyone weigh in on the validity of this position? I do believe that colour photos involve more chemicals in processing, but I am not sure what impact that would have. |
Jacqueline
Member Posts: 344
From: UK
Registered: Jan 2001
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posted 10-09-2001 09:25 AM
If you bear in mind that colour photography as such, and I mean general usage, has only been around for approximately 30-40 years whereas black and white has been around for over 100 years.With regard to black and white photographs - to make them truly archival they should be put through a sepia toning process - this is what I learnt when I ran my own business which included a black and white dark room. Of course I could be completely wrong - but if I had to choose between black and white and colour it would be black and white hands down. Jacqueline |
Leon Ford
Member Posts: 309
From: Shreveport, LA, United States
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 10-09-2001 09:37 AM
For those of you in your 40s, go back and take a look at your parent's wedding photographs. Chances are they are in black and white and chances are they look like the day they were picked up from the photographer. While color photography has come a long way in just the past few years, for the really long term, I think black and white still has the edge.Leon |
Rick Mulheirn
Member Posts: 4167
From: England
Registered: Feb 2001
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posted 10-10-2001 04:50 PM
Jacqueline had the right idea when she suggested sepia toner for archivally treating black and white photos. Selenium toner however would be preferable as it does not impart the brown "antique" finish typical of sepia. Be careful however as selenium toner is more costly and toxic if not used correctly. Steer clear too of modern "coated" black and white photographic papers. There is some evidence that the coating degrades in time. Stick instead to specialist non coated papers for the best results ie. Agfa "Record Rapid". Colour for sure does not get a look in.Rick. |
Ben
Member Posts: 1896
From: Cape Canaveral, FL
Registered: May 2000
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posted 10-10-2001 05:36 PM
Now, Im no expert on photo processing...but,A photo put into a time capsule will be in total darkness in a sealed environment, and wont see sunlight or interact with any new elements until its opened. So...wouldnt the photo survive in that type of environment without getting ruined over time? Just a thought. ------------------
______ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
-Ben http://www.geocities.com/ovcolumbia/totaleclipse.html "'Time was invented to keep everything from happening at the same time.
Space was invented so that everything doesen't happen to you.' -Anonymous" |
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