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Can the experienced photographers here tell if a photo was taken in black and white as opposed to a color photo being made black and white in image software like Photoshop? If you can tell the difference, what do you look for?
If the color image is printed after it is made b&w, can you still tell the difference (if you can tell the difference)?
For any BW photos (converted or not) you will be better of printing on true b&w photo paper, then you definitely wont see the difference. Just wanted to add.
Once upon a time I did my own developing and printing in black and white. If I had the photograph in front of me, I might be able to tell whether it was b&w or colour and converted, but I doubt it is easy to make that kind of detection on a computer screen.
Once upon a time I did my own developing and printing in black and white. If I had the photograph in front of me, I might be able to tell whether it was b&w or colour and converted, but I doubt it is easy to make that kind of detection on a computer screen.
I agree, I have developed pictures in a dark room and I can tell if I am holding the picture in my hand.
For any BW photos (converted or not) you will be better of printing on true b&w photo paper, then you definitely wont see the difference. Just wanted to add.
All of your answers were very interesting. I always wondered if someone could tell the difference. I know I can't but I didn't know what to look for. How about a follow up question - what kind of color photos do you tend to convert to black and white? You know, is there a particular type of subject that usually looks better in b&w? Or are there some subjects you wouldn't even consider as black & white? Are there any long time photographers here who still resist color photography?
I must say I resisted colour, and digital cameras for as long as I could, and in fact, now that I know a neighbour has a dark-room, I may just go back to my old fashioned Nikon and shoot with it and not the new cameras I have. So I resisted until the last one or two years and prefered a point and shot Olympus over a digital. And only used that and not a SLR because of weight on the road, not performance.
As for what I preferred with b&w, I'd say the more detailed the image, the better I like(d) it without colour: a very expressive face, a very dreary but beautiful landscape...and perhaps all urban landscapes. There is a certain articulation in black and white that seems to get lost with colour.
Here's another link to some of the 20th century photographers, many of whom I much admire.
Last edited by ontheroad; 03-14-2008 at 06:44 PM..
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So I resisted until the last one or two years and prefered a point and shot Olympus over a digital. 
And only used that and not a SLR because of weight on the road, not performance.
