Sometimes I feel like I'm doing a disservice to the photos I take when I convert them to black and white. It feels as if I’m stripping away the life from the beautiful plants and flowers. After all, they are flowers—and the most captivating thing about them is often their colors. I feel guilty turning them into images that don’t showcase their vibrant, natural beauty.
But regardless of what I think while editing, my perception often changes when I see the black and white versions. They reveal a different side of the flowers. It's the texture of the petals that suddenly becomes more noticeable. In that moment, I'm awed by the intricate features—the patterns, the contrast between roughness and smoothness in the flowers and leaves. I begin to feel that those qualities can only be truly appreciated once the color is removed. It’s like discovering the hidden beauty of nature, usually overshadowed by its vivid colors.
Since our eyes are naturally drawn to color, we often overlook the texture of flowers. Rarely do people admire a flower and say, “What a wonderful texture it has!” More often, we comment on its color or scent—and that’s usually where it ends. Texture remains unnoticed until the colors are stripped away in a black and white image.
Black and white photography reminds me that beauty isn’t always loud or colorful—sometimes, it’s quiet and hidden in the details. By removing color, I uncover textures and patterns that would otherwise go unnoticed. It’s a powerful reminder that there’s always more to see when we take the time to look beyond the obvious.
”To see in color is a delight for the eye, but to see in black and white is delight for the soul.”
