Why I Shoot With Black & White
Photography as an art form, as opposed to documentation resonated with my heart from the beginning of my image design journey. Even before interacting with the world through a camera, I perceived experience as a cosmic mosaic crafted by an intelligence beyond understanding. Just as infants stare at the world & everything within it with a sense of speechless awe, I too do the same even after 25 years of living. I still have no clue exactly what I’m looking at, or what is the purpose of it all. However, I do know that what I see is beautiful by the blissful responses I receive in my nervous system. A certain chemistry of joy rushes through my mind & body when I am in the presence of visual magnificence which I desire to capture & share.
I began photography shooting in color because that is the default mode of human eyesight. It’s needed for our survival. Of course there are complex emotions we feel from perceiving color which add to the richness of experience; but fundamentally, seeing color helps keep us alive. An important, but limiting factor of the depths of what it means to be human. After the logistics of survival are orchestrated properly, what do we desire? Transcendence: A sense of boundary dissolution into mystical aspects of life beyond logical understanding. This is a step towards the realm of what I consider to be art.
This urge to go beyond survival perception, and see deeper aspects of experience led me into falling in love with black & white photography which focuses on the fundamentals of vision: light, shadow, geometry, & texture. This mystical art form has stood the test of time because biologically it resonates with the human system on a subconscious level. The shades of rich black, soothing gray, and vibrant white are emblematic of ancient minerals. The visual & metaphysical qualities of obsidian rock, silver, & marble are represented creating a sense of luxurious stability.
Without the dance of color, one is able to see the optical essence of life. It allows the introduction of a meditative state as it echoes the frictionless soul. On one level, the under-stimulated monochrome artworks are soothing to observe. On another, they can be used as a catalyst for self-realization. It depends how deeply you desire to see.
