black and white

[SarahtheBoring]

It pleases me when it's used selectively and in proper context (for instance, when you're portraying past events in characters' lives, or using it to show something that happened 'in history' - like the excellent videos Victims of War by Brain-Carnival and Consequences of War by flint the dwarf do)

See, I disagree with that - I don't think there is a "proper" context or a set-in-stone list of rules. I just think those are common (um...and rather trite, no offense) uses of the technique.

But if you want to stick closely to the rules, yeah, use it for flashbacks. People use B&W for flashbacks because old photos are in B&W (for obvious reasons), so we associate it with antiquity. Same with sepia tones. I happen to think that's not the only "proper" use for it, but if you want to stick to the book, do that.

[Otohiko]

Oh, that I just didn't clarify. 'Proper', for me, is obviously subjective (as are most other things). I meant it more along the lines of doing it with intention, not at random. I think of it as 'proper' when I recognize creative drive behind it rather than just random eye-candy. That's not to say I can't be wrong, but that's how I'd judge that in a video.

[Bakadeshi [AuN Studios]]

Example of where Black and white is used to depict Mood can be seen In my latest video Angels Redemption /end self promotion ;p

For a good example of when they are used for synchage can be seen in Sierra leornas video, wich is my video pick of the week, see my sig for the link (i'm feeling lazy)

inthesto's video is a good example of when they can be used effectively to depict flashbacks. I also used it for that purpose in AR.

these 2 are just the quickest ones that come to mind atm, i'm sure there are many other good examples. I say look at many videos that use them, see where it feels "right" that they used it there, and also take note of the ones that feel "wrong" and learn based on that.

[SarahtheBoring]

Oh, that I just didn't clarify. 'Proper', for me, is obviously subjective (as are most other things). I meant it more along the lines of doing it with intention, not at random. I think of it as 'proper' when I recognize creative drive behind it rather than just random eye-candy. That's not to say I can't be wrong, but that's how I'd judge that in a video.

Ah, I see. Agreed.

[novablastr]

Example of where Black and white is used to depict Mood

I agree that's the best time to use them. I think you'd basically use an effect like that to boost/emphasize a scene or image to stick with the audience. there's something very dramatic about black and white.

[Chaos Angel]

Personally, I think Black and White works best for either indicating flashbacks (this is just due to it's near-standardized by Hollywood I think, or possibly that black and white reminds us of older films, so it carries a sense of the past) or for quiet, dramatic scenes. B/W is, by it's nature, less dynamic and eye-grabbing by itself than color. When used WITH color, I think B/W stands out a lot more and draws attention to itself, but I digress. Color is variety, vibrancy. B/W is quieter, more laid back. It lends itself well to reflection and pondering. In my <i>Graveside Reverie</i> video I used black and white for the entire middle of the video to both signify memories and to give it that quiet, reflective tone suggestive of a sense of remembering and deep thought. And in the context of the video, it carries a kind of somber mood. Black and white lends itself well, I think, to such things.

And since this post is showing a lot of my artistic-ego-masturbation tendencies, I shall close by saying, very loudly and in all caps:

J'ai eu le sexe avec votre mère!"

[novablastr]

Personally, I think Black and White works best for either indicating flashbacks (this is just due to it's near-standardized by Hollywood I think, or possibly that black and white reminds us of older films, so it carries a sense of the past) or for quiet, dramatic scenes. B/W is, by it's nature, less dynamic and eye-grabbing by itself than color.

i think you're contradicting yourself there, saying it's dramatic but less dynamic? i don't believe by nature it's less dynamic at all. 30's noir and hitchcock films in black and white is very, very dynamic because of the stark lighting.

J'ai eu le sexe avec votre mère!" aka i had sex with your mother

i think i speak for every fangirl when i say - ew.

[Chaos Angel]

Personally, I think Black and White works best for either indicating flashbacks (this is just due to it's near-standardized by Hollywood I think, or possibly that black and white reminds us of older films, so it carries a sense of the past) or for quiet, dramatic scenes. B/W is, by it's nature, less dynamic and eye-grabbing by itself than color.

i think you're contradicting yourself there, saying it's dramatic but less dynamic? i don't believe by nature it's less dynamic at all. 30's noir and hitchcock films in black and white is very, very dynamic because of the stark lighting.

Not all black and white films use the stark lighting, though, only the noir films. Also, it is the lighting and contrast creating the mood, not the abscence or prescence of color.

And by less dynamic, I was thinking that color can be used to identify a character or to create a specific mood (altering the light temperature to make a scene seem colder or warmer for example). Black and White, though, is not capable of that level of subtlety since it reduces everything to tones of gray.

J'ai eu le sexe avec votre mère!" aka i had sex with your mother

i think i speak for every fangirl when i say - ew.

I don't like the idea of coming across as some haughty artiste type, so whenever I discuss stuff like this in detail I try to throw out a reminder that I am, at heart, a raving jack-ass.

[Pie Row Maniac]

I like how the B&W effect was used in DW's Here Comes The Sun video, how it captures the people in the effected clip/still-frame.

[allythealto]

thanks for all of your insights. i want to make an inuyasha video about kikyo and i was thinking of using black and white in some scenes to show how "dead" she is now, but from the videos i've seen, b&w can be emotional too, so now i'm not sure. i suppose i will just have to experiment.