Mr. Mussari
Photography One
History of Black and White Photography
Before there was color photography, there was black-and-white photography. Before
national magazines were published with nothing but color photos, they used to run a
color photo on the cover and a few color photos sprinkled through the rest of the
magazine. Everything else was black-and-white. Imagine that! Today, most photos
are displayed in color in magazines and billboards. However….those that are shown in
black and white often convey a very powerful and artistic message.
Daguerreotype
1839 to 1865
Most popular from early 1840s to 1860. Image consists of
silver amalgam (highlights) and pure silver (shadows) on a
silver-coated copper plate; mirror-like surface; usually
encased (in America), often hand-colored with pigments.
Salted Paper Print
1840 to 1890s
Most popular from 1840 to 1855. Silver image on uncoated
paper support; matte surface; purplish-brown, red-brown, or
yellow-brown hue.
Albumen Print
1850 to 1920
Most popular from 1855 to 1895. Silver image in an albumen
(egg white) binder on a thin paper support; uniform gloss;
purplish-brown, red-brown or yellow-brown hue.
Tintype
1856 to 1920s
Most popular in 1860s. Silver image in a collodion binder on a
thin sheet of lacquered iron; some cased, usually in paper mats;
dull gray with creamy white highlights.
Carbon Print
1860s to 1940s
Most popular from 1870s to early 1900s. Image formed by
pigmented gelatin layer on paper support; differential gloss
between dark and white areas; a variety of image colors
possible.
Gelatin Developing-Out Paper, Fiber-base
1885 to present
Most popular from late 1890s to 1960. Silver image in a gelatin
binder on a fiber-base paper support; surface from glossy to
matte; near-neutral image hue during 19th century, neutral to
warm hues and great variety of textures during 20th century;
probable silver mirroring.
Silver Diffusion Print (Black-and-White Polaroid)
1948 to present
Most popular from 1950s to 1960s. Silver image on a fiber base
or RC paper with receiving layer; glossy surface.
Gelatin Developing-Out Paper
Late 1960s to present
Most popular from 1980s to 1990s. Silver image in a gelatin
binder on RC paper support; from matte to glossy surface;
variety of textures; neutral to warm hues; possible silver
mirroring.
Color Print from Digital Exposure
1990s to present
Dye in gelatin binder on RC paper, polyester, or acetate film;
from matte to glossy surface.
Photo-Quality Inkjet Print
1990s to present
Dye or pigment image on coated paper; from matte to glossy
surface.
In its very early days of photographic processing in its simplest form a darkened room
was used to develop the very first kind of processes, silvered copper plates and papers.
The actual term “darkroom” wasn’t established until around 1841, when new light
sensitive processes were introduced and where such a working space was preferable
amongst professionals and enthusiasts.
With the invention of roll film and development of
the hand held camera more control came to the
amateur photographer. Roll film enabled
photographers to set up their own darkroom to
process their own films and make their own
black and white prints. In the 1890’s processing
equipment and chemicals became available to
the amateur for small-scale printing, and many
photographers would make their own darkroom
converting a space in their home, such as a
bathroom or to those that had it a spare room and even some making a more
permanent feature in the garden to accommodate this new past time.
Early color film, processing and printing was
expensive– much more expensive than black-andwhite. Worse still, the quality of the images was
often poor, particularly from low-cost labs used by
amateurs. This was because the film wasn't so
hot, the processing (except for very high-end
magazine and advertising work) was shaky, and
the volume wasn't there. For pros, only some jobs
called for color images. The majority of
photographs that were reproduced in print-even on
television-were black and white. Color
reproduction in magazines and books was usually
poor right up to the 1970s or early 1980s. Sometimes it was downright lousy.
Around 1975-80, color photography became the fad. People everywhere were taking
and developing pictures in color! Black and white photography lost its appeal to some
people with the advances in color photography.
However………black and white IS back!
Black-and-white is back in print advertising. In today's saturated-color manipulatedimage world, black-and-white feels real. To many, it looks fresh. It's as easy to
manipulate b/w images digitally as color ones.
Black-and-white is back because brides want to see black-and-white photos in their
wedding albums.
Black-and-white is back because it's still a great way to learn about how film "sees"
light. That's why good photo educators have never abandoned teaching beginners how
to work with black-and-white film and images. That's why we still teach how to expose,
process and print black-and-white film in professional photography courses.
The bottom line? Black-and-white photography is back because it's beautiful.
There's magic in the black-and-white darkroom. Truly, I can’t wait for you to see how
awesome it is to have control over your photographs and for you to see how beautiful
your photographs will be when YOU control the camera, the developing and the
printing!
So, let’s begin this adventure…together! 