A month of black-and-white film 

I'm kind of surprised that you're taking this so seriously. Not meant as criticism! I've been photographing for more than 35 years, almost exclusively in black and white, and my experience is that the vast majority of folks, photographers included, don't take it seriously. It's treated as the poor cousin of color, something from humanity's dark ages that is just hanging on as a crutch for old farts who can't enter the modern Technicolor world. Your observation that it takes time and intent to understand what black & white brings to the table is true: it's not something you pick up on with an occasional glance, a couple of rolls every now and then to see what it looks like. I hope you make more videos about your year: it will be interesting to see where you go.

I loved how direct you were in the process! It felt more documentary in the “boring” parts you mentioned. Seeing someone else go through black and white like I did for my film photo class is really fun! I do highly recommend going back and turning your brightest colorful photographs into grayscale to see how the way you take photographs has shifted. Also I know that the grain difference in 35mm to 120 film is really fun to play with in black and white as well, so that might be a suggestion for a future video!

I did this exercise a year or two ago. Focusing only on black and white film for (most 😅) of the year. After doing it I can confidently say it dramatically improved my photography and mostly just how I approached subjects. With black and white, i gravitated towards contrast, texture, details, and people. After that year I now have a very special place in my heart for black and white. Personally all my photos of my kids and family and friends I choose to take on black and white. Simply because I found that black and white strips back a layer of pretension when it comes to what someone is wearing, the type of place they are in, etc. It has a special way of filtering those distractions out and truly showing you the emotion and feeling of who that person is. And I love that. Loved this video and how you worded the difference with taking black and white photos vs taking photos for black and white. There is definitely a difference.

I learned photography strictly with B&W starting in 1985 through 87. Occasionally I dust off the SLR or range finder cameras , throw in some rolls and enjoy my day shooting . Things I learned the most: compose in camera , crop in the darkroom (haven’t used a DR in years though); lighting, lighting, lighting; gray/ overcast days can be my friend too. This video inspires me to shoot a few rolls this weekend.

God, I love your photographs, videos and how well you express your thought processes. They're so relatable and lovely! Keep up the great work

What a fun project. I find myself looking at B&W photography for longer durations in comparison to colour, probably because in the absence of colour, my mind searches for more of a 'connection' i suppose, and in turn i pay more attention to things like facial expressions and movement. Keen to see how the remainder of the year pans out!

I got sucked in photography when I got my first camera in 2018, I used to carry it everywhere, use it everywhere, but felt there was something missing. Till I found b&w filter. I've been shooting for around 5 years, and I only shoot b&w. I use digital camera, with manual lenses from decades ago, and it's so fun and interesting, I love every second off it. Great video!

I just finished up shooting my first roll of B&W (Ilford HP5). I knew it would challenge me to think a bit more compositionally, and especially about contrast because I couldn't rely on color contrast. I was pleasantly surprised with how much different I was thinking as I was shooting, and it was so much fun. Plus I loved when I got my scans back and the different feelings my photos evoked after it was all said and done. It reinvigorated some love of shooting in me because I hadn't been shooting film for a while and now I'm very much back to it.

This is great. I often leave my mirrorless camera in a monochrome setting for most shooting unless it's something where I know color and color accuracy are required for the job or project. It is easily my favorite thing about EVFs is the ability to SEE in B&W while shooting. (Plus shooting RAW you always have the color as a nice surprise later). It makes you concentrate on composition, contrast and tonal balance in an image. I looooooooove color, but distilling a composition to its graphic elements is not only an invaluable tool, it is incredibly fun to have an entirely different world whenever you look through the viewfinder. And when seeing the color RAWs later if there isn't a reason for the colors or they aren't adding anything to the picture I will often keep it black and white. It is the essence of photography.

It’s fun for people to learn new ways to shoot, now with BW, looking more at shapes and contrast instead of sometimes relying too much on colour. Good that you’re so committed!

grainydays said that he sometimes prefers black and white film because you can easier achieve what you want to do because you don't have to worry about the colour and I really agree with that. I've found that in my experience, black and white makes you focus a lot more on the composition and its easier to achieve what look i want because i dont have to care about colour

I love the slow reclamation of b&w. From an almost elitist persona to taking a back seat to the vibrant colors of Kodak gold, portra, or cinestill. I was always so intimidated to shoot b&w but have found a lot of joy with it. Great vid. Great pics

Hey! Love your channel! A few thoughts: - One of the reasons I love B&W is that it's a further step "away from" digital: I'm "leaning in to" the non-digital-ness. Because of that, I'm tending to go for older technology and the occasional plastic lens camera (see below); also grittier film with more obvious grain. ;) - To that end, consider trying an old box brownie camera? Should be about US$30-$50 for an actual working one. They're mechanically simple, so if the shutter does the thing, and the aperture changes (if in fact the model you're picking up has multiple apertures -- usually just a metal plate with two different size holes) -- there ya go! (i.e. I'd buy it in person, not through the mail, so you can test it.) ("Light leak" is a risk -- but I have six(?) so far, and no light leak as of yet.) Craigslist will be more economical than antique shops, but either way works. Bonus points if it has a tripod mounting hole (depends on the model). Try to get one where the viewfinder isn't fogged -- although some of mine have bad viewfinders, and I just "guesstimate" by sighting down the sides. Sadly, you only get 8 shots out of a roll of 120 -- so not terribly cost-effective -- but it has a definite "look". Also the "Bulb" setting for longer exposures.... If it takes 620 film instead of 120 it's not a deal-breaker, but it's best if it has the old 620 spool still with it -- otherwise you'll have to get a new 620 spool, due to the different take-up holes (as you know, you can use the "nail clipper" hack to make the 120 film fit into a 620 camera -- but only works for the "feeding" spool, not the "take-up" spool). (After I shoot the roll, I go into my super-dark closet, at night, with the lights off and my phone in another room, and spool the shot roll from the 620 spool back onto the 120 spool [because I don't always trust the lab to save the 620 spool for me]. And then I write "EXPOSED" on the shot roll.) - If you search for an "underwater waterproof children's film camera" (US$20-ish) -- that's fun. Although that the "film advance" mechanism in the waterproof shell doesn't have deep enough gear teeth to properly "lock in to" the camera's film advance wheel -- so I have to take a shot; dry off the camera; open the case; advance the frame; close the case; get back in the water. But, got some fun shots. Mostly, though, I just use it like a VERY economical Holga/Diana. ;) (Skip the waterproof housing.) - More broadly, there's a lot of plastic-body, plastic-lens film cameras out there that are fun to shoot through (not just the Holgas and Dianas). - I recommend the Kodak H35 (half-frame). Since, as you know, B&W has an amazing degree of lattitude (-2 to +3 stops will still turn out decent), this in an economical way to ALWAYS have a film camera with you (72 shots from a 36 exp roll!!!). (And it's an economical enough camera that you won't worry about coddling it.) No focus, fixed aperture, single shutter speed. It has a flash -- but I removed the battery -- just make sure it's a moderately bright day... and take the shot! :) - At first I couldn't tell the difference between the B&W rolls -- but then two days ago I was looking through my different folders and I noticed that I **especially** liked the gritty, "German expressionist" look of a roll: I checked my notes, and it was Ilford HP5+ (400 ISO). Previously I'd just been using Ilford XP2, because it's easier to find someone to do the C-41 processing -- but I'm now going to lean into the HP5+. Further review indicated that the Kentmere Pan 400 B&W is **almost** as gritty looking (and is one of the cheaper brands) -- FWIW. - I agree with "seeing the hidden beauty". I went through a "clouds" and a "trees" phase: soooo many photos of clouds (by themselves; also with landscapes). - Gonna shoot any B&W Super 8 film? :) - Great coverage. :) I like how you remembered to get footage of you sitting on the train. :) -- GG

I’m glad to see you are having fun and learning more about the discipline of seeing in black and white. Pretty soon you’ll be able to se in terms of tone and recognize when two colors will render the same monochromatic tone. Do you have filters? If not, get a set of the common ones - yellow, orange,red, plus bonus blue and green. Try shooting the same scene with various filters.

Such a great video you posted. I'm shooting mostly b&w and struggle with colour. Love the way how you approach your project and the results you get out of it are awesome. Can't wait for more videos of your journey!

So I said a few weeks back that I'd love to do this challenge with you, and I'm here to report that I started two weeks ago! (After starting my 35mm roll, I had to shoot through two color 120mm's already loaded into my medium formats, so I cheated a little bit.) My initial reflections: - I struggled to shoot through the roll - you are SO right when you said, shooting in black and white is so different from shooting FOR black and white. What an entirely different world altogether. I found myself thinking about my composition and the light a lot more, which was great, but on the flip side, I second-guessed myself a lot in the first roll. Still thinking about the shots I wish I took. - I also started turning the monochrome feature on my digital camera for funsies and for practice, to further train my eye for shooting b&w, and it has been game-changing as well! - My bias for b&w is shooting portraits, but I'm really trying to challenge myself to shoot other things, so that's been an extra hill to climb for me. But so far, this has been such a great challenge and has been inspiring other parts of my creative practice as well :)

The ending, though!!! That was pretty much enough to know I needed to follow this. Keep shooting B&W for the love of GOOOOSSHHHHHHH!! ❤

Been gravitating more toward B&W lately and really enjoying it. Felt the same as you described about not missing color during a recent Fall trip. Started the year with a couple solid photowalks with the 100V in Monochrome. Cheers, friends! 🍻

The Talent on this Chica!! 👌👍👏

Looking like Willem Verb in the thumbnail

Shots turned out really nice! Thanks for taking us along with you on your journey :)

So brave! I’ve always struggled with deciding between black and white and colour as I love colour and I have the same fear, that I might miss the colours if I shoot b&w. Then again, b&w is somehow stronger, more impactful I think and it also makes you think of the tones way more. Really cool that you are doing this, good luck! 📸

Wow, parts of this are like taking a walk through my childhood and teen years, in the most literal sense. I grew up living within walking distance from Blue Top Drive-In and it was the place where I fell in love with photography as a teen. I went back again and again to photograph it, eat, attend their car shows and music events; it was a muse of sorts and a consistently fascinating photo-op to me. Love this whole video.

this is inspiring me to experiment a bit more in the black and white spectrum of film. also going to hold out and be hopeful that there might be a photobook from you after this year

This is my new fav film channel!!! Please keep going 😊

Grew up shooting B&W film, Tri-X mostly. Love that you are beginning to “see” in B&W. You will not use that. Even with years of DSLR work, I find slipping back to B&W both easy and wonderful. You have the bug now. Enjoy.

Your channel is very refreshing and interesting,because you do come across as a very likeable and not at all pretentious person. Your project has really made me think: don't we all have something to gain by concentrating on black and white for a time? I think we do. It can teach us so much about light and shadow, along with composition. It's bare, there's nothing there to save you and distract the viewer from the essence. You either got the shot, or you didn't. In most cases here, by the way, you certainly did

Oh! If you end up shooting 120 or 620 (I forget if a 120 is among your existing stash of cameras) -- when I first started I'd keep doing accidental double-exposures by forgetting to advance the camera. So I invented a practice where as **soon** as I took a shot, I'd advance the film until the shot number was out of the window. Then I'd advance to the next number **only** was I was about to take the shot. This approach made it clear when the film was "primed and ready", or "between shots". Except for when I forget to do this -- and then I double-expose anyhow. ;)

stunning🤩 this series is incredible and I am so looking forward to seeing more. Happy New Year to you and your family♥️♥️

Just discovered your channel, great work! I noticed you said “family in Las Vegas” and I recognized Red Rock right away… I lived in Vegas for about 15 years! Looking forward to more videos!

I love how you manage to bring out environments with black and white film. You have an undeniable sense of frame and perception.

I love how you have a song at the end, I always said that if I created a channel, I would end my videos with a song, it’s mind blowing seeing someone else do it flawlessly.

I shoot primarily b&w film. Its all about the light. I love short lighting in the frame. bright highlights with deep deep shadows

I just moved to the city where you took the "Drive in" photo. I shot it on Portra 400 for you last night. Shutter got stuck on the last few images so hopefully they aren't too bad

You went to Highland IN! You have to go to Schoop’s when you come back. Retro diner with the best burgers

I was only shooting colour and then decided to take a lot of black and white. You really do change and see things differently. It's also fun to develop it at home. Very easy.

The work of Vivian Maier tells us that B&W photography must be kept alive. The fact that Leica produced the Q-monochrome is a testament to that. Nice video.

Gotta say, your shot in the coffee shop, of the man with the beard was very good. Your eye picked that up nicely!

I keep telling folks I know that B&W gives you a feeling like no other. I love shooting in this format it gives my photos more life. I’m learning film and I can’t wait to use the B&W film I got.

So this just came up on my recommended, and now im hooked. I really loved this video!!!

Shooting in the winter can be a real challange. The light is low, weak and many times flat. The shots in Waffle House were fire!

Love this video! I shot black and white for about a month and a half last year and had the same experience you described. It’s literally re-training your eye and strengthening your artistic muscle for monochrome! It takes time but it’s sooo worth it when you see the final results. I’m taking a trip to New York soon and you’ve inspired me to exclusively use black and white film throughout my time there.

It's so cool because after having watched your previous video i decided to get on to the challenge too! I've been shooting bw all winter I used to be so bad with bw but I've been loving it more and more and more ❤️❤️

I find when I'm shooting black & white I concentrate on light, shadow & texture a lot more.

😮T3 what a luxury tool😮 But i love my Konica T3 too. Some nice blackandwhite shots here👍

The track at the end is 🔥- Keep on Moving by Memory Fields for anyone else trying to track it down.

This video is so good! Honestly I’ve been hesitant to venture into b&w with my film work, but you’ve convinced me to give it a real go. Also very much expecting more Sunny Sixteen x Creative Club Chicago collabs this year!

The diner portrait came out 🔥

Very chill vid and the first of yours that I’ve seen. I’ll look forward to watching more. Keep up the good work 🙌

i started doing this ab two months ago due to price and the fact my work is generally not utilizing color often anyways. i've quite enjoyed the easier processing. c41 and ecn-2 aren't hard to develop but i enjoy not having to prep at all. keep up the good work!

Yesss the light & shadows are sooo good. Ah I can’t wait to explore b&w! && the song at the end it such a great touch✨

Loved all of these photos and so excited to see how you grow through your the rest of your B&W journey!! Also loved the song at the end!!

Cool Girl, Cool friends, very cool trip and gorgeous monochromatic Photos! Thanks for the great vibes and great music. 😊

Love your excitement in photography

2 years ago when I started film, I shot in BW for 6 months straight before I went to Italy. I knew it would make me a superior photographer in my 1st year. But my first revelation with BW was went I pushed HP5 to 3200 and shot indoors on my M3 in my first month. I saw how perfect shadows and tone reflected my favorite movie ever The Godfather. It all made sense to me instantly. And I felt like a photographer from the 19th century for the first time discovering the art of photography from a pure light and composition (aka BW) approach rather than color schemes and rule of 3rds.

Idk why but your youtube channel brings me so much joy. I'm seriously considering making content just because of your channel, thank you for being the GOAT. :)

Love, love, love this video and the composition of each shot. looking forward to catch up on all. your content!

Superb video, I enjoyed watching, very inspirational. 👍

You pictures are beautiful and inspired me to get out today and shoot some shots of my neighborhood. :)!!

Happy New Year, Taylor! I love your exercise of finding interesting things in daily life. Seeing things with fresh eyes, what a great way to start the new year ✨📸🎞✨

Very good insight to your process and shooting philosophy. Hmm, now I have a challenge to attempt for my 2023. Thanks for the content as always and Happy New Year to you and your family! 😎

Great video! Absolutely love black and white film.

Your so cool I like your style. But your eyes for capturing such a documentary way it’s amazing

im buying a film camera for a film class. super excited!

Great video, have fun, photography is fun, and creative and there is no beating taking an amazing shot.

Happy new year, good luck with a year of b/w. Although half of my work is B/W I wouldn't only shoot b/w only. Actually, this year I'm planning a roadtrip and I'll try to only use colour reversal film on that journey. At least for medium format. In general I want to shoot more reversal and less negative, but CN is just much easier.

Now hit 4 episodes in full... as time allows. Starting at the front going backwards! Once I've finished the lot, I'll go back to the top and hopefully you'll have some fresh takes! Lovin' them all from the UK

your photos & videos are so comforting there’s no other way to describe them!

Do they lack? Of course they do! Not saying you will regret or these are not great, but the option there is for a reason. Sure, someone is a hardcore dedicated to the B&W, but to choose it over the color for an autumn lights and colors? Come on!!! :) Good luck to this dedication, it will test your eagerness ;)

taylor i'm so obsessed with you what the hell

Great video! I love shooting black and white, leaves so much room for compositional freedom through its simplicity. Recommend developing it yourself for the ultimate experience but perhaps you're already doing this (?).

Your video really inspired me to get back into photography. I’ve been shooting for many years but lately I’ve had zero motivation. Im gonna try to shoot b&w for 1 month to see where it takes me.

Happy New Year! Well done with month one. Looking forward to month two.

Digging this challenge so much, already picked up several BW rolls myself, even some cinestill xx. Can’t wait to see more!

So great! I used to live right by that Blue Top Drive-In in Indiana :) I have some film photos of it from high school! I love this first month of b&w pics.

Happy new year for you too! You got this

Ansel Adams would be shaking in his boots. Great video taylor!! 🤍

I’ve been doing photography for like 3 years now and once I started shooting for black and white i never really saw things the same way, I always envision my images in black and white rather than color.

I lately shot Fomapan 100, relatively cheap here in Germany, but good quality. BTW., I put the leader of the film into that 'catch spool' first, then put in the cartridge. Think it saves some film, but may be wrong...

High contrast is the strength of black & white.

❤ wonderful inspiration , loving these photos and the process of them . Thank you ;)

Michael from Australia. Looking forward to following your B&W journey and your images obtained from your 356 challenge...inspiration :-)

I knew I knew that walking path 🫡

2023 is going to be all BW film for me so this was really inspiring. Thanks!

Glad you're enjoying it 😊

there were two brit photographers who shoot during the viet conflit one shot B/w one shot color ,was interesting to to read /see some of their work , i have always thought B/W was underestimated ,

Nice pictures, thanks for the inspiration! I really liked the out-of-focus picture of your family at 0:46. My 2 cents: It seems you are constantly searching for shadows and shapes to shoot, but I think some frames that you recorded short videos (for example 2:51 to 3:10 were also great compositions for BW).

This was really beautifully done.

Thorouly enjoyed this one,sending love from South Africa

are you developing and printing in your own darkroom? if not i cannot recommend it highly enough. it is what makes bnw the best!

Very well said. Color photography is completely different from B&W and vice versa. It’s a totally different cognitive exercise both with their inherently beautiful nuances. I find that when I switch from one to the other I’m always hopelessly lost for a few rolls adapting to either color or B&W. That’s why I’m committed to color at the moment. And does it matter what one shoots. Of course not. One is not per sé better than the other. They’re just different. Cool video.

im going to be trying black and white soon been shooting film for about a year and half and never shot black and white im kinda excited to try something new great vid by the way 10/10

So cool to see y’all were in my neighborhood in Chicago!!!

Hny! And thanks for the inspiration!

these photos are glorious

Love it, Happy New Year🍷💫

Thank you for sharing

These are awesome shots! Absolutely love what black and white does to a scene, it really gives it character. I also think that choosing to shoot in b&w has to feel more intentional than color. I really appreciate how you did walks around your neighborhood and the perspective of making the boring interesting. I think that’s a take away that I’m going to apply to my own photos! I’m curious if you are loading up the same roll of b&w film or are you trying different brands and speeds? I might have missed that previously if you said you were, but curious anyway! I’ve got three rolls that I’m trying out right now. Cinestill, Ilford’s new 120 b&w (can’t think of the name), and Kodak t-max. Great stuff as always can’t wait to see what comes up next month!

Happy New Year! I loved the Waffle House portraits and that shadow waving / puddle reflection shot at 8:24 is awesome. Actually, thinking back, so were the autumn leaves and the street shots and the factory and the trees and bts shots. Lots of fun!

jamming out to that first song so hard I had to watch it twice