Black and white photography has a unique way of bringing out the essence of a scene. It’s not just about eliminating color—it’s about mastering light, contrast, and texture.
Coming to you from Alex Kilbee with The Photographic Eye, this candid video showcases Kilbee reflecting on his old black and white photographs from over 30 years ago. He doesn’t hold back, describing some of his past prints as “rubbish.” But it’s more than just self-critique—it’s a lesson in growth. Kilbee digs into why these images fell short, discussing technical aspects like contrast, tonality, and paper choice. He goes beyond just pointing out flaws, offering you a chance to learn from his mistakes and gain a better understanding of what makes a compelling black and white photograph.
In the video, Kilbee walks through several prints, explaining the limitations of each one. He starts by evaluating a flat, low-contrast print of an abandoned house in South Africa. He mentions how his student mindset at the time was more focused on achieving a range of tonal zones rather than considering the overall aesthetic. This serves as a reminder that photography isn’t just about technical mastery but about creating something visually engaging. Kilbee’s commentary highlights the importance of balancing the technical with the artistic to avoid producing flat, lifeless images.
Later in the video, Kilbee moves on to a portrait of a woman sitting in a car, printed on high-contrast paper. He discusses how the use of contrast in this case led to an image with blown-out highlights and overly dark shadows, making it lack the subtlety necessary for a strong black and white portrait. This print is a clear example of how understanding your materials and how they interact with the image is just as important as capturing the shot itself. He offers insight into how using a different contrast paper could have preserved the detail and improved the overall quality of the image.
Kilbee’s review of a documentary photograph taken in a steam locomotive workshop shows his evolving eye for what makes a photograph effective. He points out that while the print lacks detail in certain shadow areas, it captures the essence of the environment and the subjects within it. This part of the video emphasizes how context and mood can sometimes outweigh technical perfection. Check out the video above for the full rundown from Kilbee.
