Why This Photographer Spent £5,000 on a Black and White Camera

Black and white photography can challenge your perception of light, contrast, and composition. If you’ve ever wondered whether the lack of color could make your images more compelling, here's a look.

Coming to you from Goughie, this insightful video takes you through a journey of a month-long experiment with the Leica M10 Monochrom. Goughie, initially skeptical about black and white, spent £5,000 on this specialized camera to see if it would change his views. Throughout the month, he found that some images truly benefited from the absence of color. In particular, he mentions how certain shots, which might have been cluttered or distracted by color, became more focused and striking in black and white. By simplifying the image, monochrome photography brought out essential elements, making for a cleaner, more evocative visual experience.

One of the key takeaways Goughie shares is how shooting in black and white altered his approach to light. Over the course of the month, he began to notice light patterns in everyday settings that he had previously overlooked. He took photos of things he wouldn’t have considered before, simply because the lighting caught his eye. For example, he mentions taking over a hundred photos of a vase just because of how the light played on it at different times. This awareness of light is something every photographer can benefit from, as it teaches you to see beyond the subject and focus on how light can transform an image.

Another interesting point is his experience with editing black and white images. Unlike his approach to color photos, where he would tweak colors and make various adjustments, he found himself spending less time editing monochrome shots. Most of his edits involved slight adjustments to exposure, highlights, and shadows. However, he also became aware of how much post-processing work goes into some black and white photos he admired online. He realized that many of these images are heavily edited, often beyond what he originally thought. This insight reshaped his perception of the genre, showing that while black and white can appear more straightforward, it still allows for a deep level of creative manipulation.

Beyond the technical aspects, the video also touches on how the Leica M10 Monochrom altered Goughie's general photography habits. He discovered that this camera changed the way he approached scenes. Unlike with his Leica M11, where he would underexpose shots and plan to adjust them later, with the M10 Monochrom, he found himself trying to get everything right in-camera. The monochrome sensor’s handling of light and shadow forced him to be more deliberate, and this was a shift he hadn’t anticipated.

Goughie reflects on the challenge of using the M10 Monochrom, especially when deciding which camera to bring on new trips. He realized that for new destinations, he couldn’t commit to capturing only in black and white. This insight led him to a deeper understanding of how he wanted to document unfamiliar places versus those he already knew well. While he saw value in bringing new life to familiar scenes through monochrome, the idea of missing out on the potential color of a new location made it hard for him to justify carrying only the M10 Monochrom. Check out the video above for the full rundown.