Is a duo-tone still considered black and white? I'm a little confused on this subject. I hope you don't view this as a stupid question, though I guess it may be, it's an honest question! :)
Your question is not stupid at all. This has been debated several times here at DPC that I know of. Some consider B&W to be only gray pixels ranging from 1 to 255 (White to black with shades of gray in between). Other feel duo-tone such as Sephira counts as a black and white photo as well. Personally speaking when I hear the term Black and White I feel that is what it should be. But that's my opinion and does not make it right or wrong. The same can be said for others that feel the opposite.
I wish I could give you a better answer but it is a subjective subject.
Personally, I'll probably vote true B&W images more than those done up in a stronger duotone, but I'll also allow for a moderate amount of warm/cool toning. However, something that is deeply tinted or hue-shifted as to add color to the image is kind of out of the spirit of what I believe one should strive for in such a challenge.
Still, ask 50 people and get 50 different answers.
Oh I'm so confuzled! I have something I would like to enter... but I like it better now that I have put it into a duotone! I agree with you D10Dguy I have a feeling voters will take the challenge very literally and will.. not vote down a duotoned image but... not vote as high! haha well I'm interested to see where this thread goes!
I believe that if you're adding a duotone to an image, there should be a strong and compelling reason for doing so. You should be able to explain to yourself why you're adding it and what purpose it serves. If it serves a good purpose and has a sense of meaning, then people tend to pick up on that and will forgive its presence more.
If that makes any sense.
The strength of the toning is very important as well.
If I see true blacks and true whites i'll vote accordingly. If I see a mishmash of grays, it'll get a gutter vote.
What a boring image that would be. You want line art???
Have you ever really studied a black and white print? Seriously, not only glanced at it, looked at the qualities of the image and why it is a great B&W image?
If I see true blacks and true whites i'll vote accordingly. If I see a mishmash of grays, it'll get a gutter vote.
What a boring image that would be. You want line art???
Have you ever really studied a black and white print? Seriously, not only glanced at it, looked at the qualities of the image and why it is a great B&W image?
So in essence you are pre-defining a challenge, that the first word in the title is abstract…..Shakes head..
If I see true blacks and true whites i'll vote accordingly. If I see a mishmash of grays, it'll get a gutter vote.
What a boring image that would be. You want line art???
Have you ever really studied a black and white print? Seriously, not only glanced at it, looked at the qualities of the image and why it is a great B&W image?
So in essence you are pre-defining a challenge, that the first word in the title is abstract…..Shakes head..
Pre-defining a challenge? It sure doesn't take much for you to think so. lol Have fun with it.
If I see true blacks and true whites i'll vote accordingly. If I see a mishmash of grays, it'll get a gutter vote.
But can you have grays amidst the blacks and whites??
lol A trick question Melethia?
In school I had this mentor who was a b&w god, to me at least. He preached the Zone system and I believe this is the only way to take B&W shots.
Considering 8 of the 10 zones are shades of gray, you are going to be one conflicted voter if you admire the zone system and don't want to see a bunch of grays.
Would be nice if a black and white challenge ran under advanced editing rules instead of basic. Not being able to use dodge and burn and contrast masking really cripples the possibilities when making a b/w print.
edit: or there should be a special b/w editing ruleset.
Is a duo-tone still considered black and white? I'm a little confused on this subject. I hope you don't view this as a stupid question, though I guess it may be, it's an honest question! :)
Evan
If your duo-tone is black and white sure.
If you add a colored version duo-tone, then, obviously, it detracts from black or white.
Black and white means having your %18 mid-tones, grays, and your whites should not be blown out, and your blacks should not be abysmal.
The trick is to have your pure blacks and whites still have texture.
