Subjective / Objective photography

Subjective or Objective

When struggling with whether to use my images from Sedgefield Ball game in the original form as colour or the edited black and white versions there are many aspects I need to consider.

As I expressed in previous research, when looking at my images in both colour and black and white, I felt I much preferred the black and white images as they stood out more and look far more powerful one being turned into black and white and after I had experimented with making the contrast more intense. However I understand there has to be more reasoning behind my choice of black and white or colour other than just 'because I like the look of the images'. 

When turning the images into black and white I have came to realise I have to ask myself why did I do this. I have been beginning to imagine having these images in a portfolio and taking them for a job interview or if I were to use them to get a portfolio review. One question I may be asked is, 'Why are the images black and white.' I normally work in colour so using black and white would be quite a different approach for me to use. 

As I also previously discussed, When I look at the images in black and white they appear to have a completely different mood and feel toward them. I feel the images that work best in black and white are the images where you can see the game being played, where the men are chasing the ball and fighting. The images definitely have a more dramatic feel toward them and especially the ones of the  people watching the game such as the ones of the old man in the hat and the children, definitely feel more light hearted in colour as appose to black and white. 

When I was lucky enough to receive a portfolio review from Matt Finn the documentary photographer, I showed him some prints of my black and white images. I did not show any coloured images as I was intrigued to see what his opinion of the black and white images were.
His comments where that they reminded him of Northern Ireland style documentary photography and especially the pictures of the men, had a 'rough and ready' feel to them as well as giving the impression of aggression. 

This is intact why I must think deeper into whether I use colour or black and white and what my reasonings behind it is. When thinking about whether I want to be subjective or objective towards the documentation of this event, I want to give an honest portrayal of the days events, I simply captured everything that was going on around me this day and when I hopefully produce a book from this work, I want it to simply show a real and honest portrayal of Sedgefield ball game as I experienced it.

Not at any point was I drawn to any particular aspects or chose to photograph certain aspects of the day more than others. When showing my images to outside viewers I do not want to try and give an opinion across or certain feel with my images as I just want the documentation to be honest and something other people can't interpret themselves.

A subjective approach to photography would mean I was trying to give a particular opinion with the use of my work or make people feel in a certain way when looking at the images. I feel the use of black and white definitely does this as the images have a more mellow and serious feel toward them. Although the game is a rough and dangerous game, I still didn't want to try and strongly portray this through my photography, as I wanted to capture the celebration side of the days events too.

Capturing the images in colour means my work comes across as more of an objective approach as the images appear exactly how the viewer them selves would have seen these scenes if they too were there in the moment. Because I have established I want to give an honest approach of the documentation of the day I have come to the decision to keep the images in their natural form as coloured images.