The Power of Color #6

Jacob Riis is known mostly for his publishing of How the Other Half Lives. He was a photo journalist who captured those who were overlooked and quite literally thrown into corners. Mr. Riis’ black and white stills hold a certain emotional atmosphere that the viewer climbs into when they view his work. He photographed in black and white not by choice but because that was how photography was still developing during his time. However the lack of color helps contribute to the gloomy feeling in the photos.  Today black and white photos are used for formal occasions, and serious events that just have to saved on film. But these photos often don’t carry much emotional baggage along with them, in comparison to Riis’ work. Why is this, have we been sensitized to color photos? Or is it purely the content that drives the photographic experience?

                Lets conduct a small test. Look at both of these images, which one do you feel more of any emotion from? The one on the left or the one on the right?

Both photos are simply of a man in a rocking chair, and not much else but why does the photo on the left feel like it is more than just a man in a chair. It may be due to the lack of color which in turn can be contributed to emotion. The void of color doesn’t provide much of a base for the eye to grab onto, and instead the brain takes in the image in a different way. The photo now draws in our eye but not because of the color but because of the content.  When the viewer looks into the photo and directly into the content of the piece, they may tend to stray for a deeper meaning even if there isn’t one. And on the chance that the piece functions as a method to inform people of something such as a social injustice. This leads to the emotional feeling(s) experienced and pairing that with a black and white color scheme and that makes for a truly memorable photo, that can be used to express a topic that people might feel uncomfortable discussing with words.

  In Jacob Riis’ case his photos captured not only a colorless void but also a compassionless void as well. These two factors are what made the photos Jacob took so compelling even today.