"I've Gone to the Dark Side"

Back in the mid-80s, when I first got into photography, my trusty Pentax Super Program always had a roll of color film loaded. Black and white film? It never even crossed my radar. During my time in the Air Force, I was fortunate enough to be stationed in Germany and travel throughout Europe—and still, every single roll was color. My thinking was simple: I see in color, the world is full of color, so why wouldn’t I shoot in color? Munich, Frankfurt, Paris, Zaragoza—in black and white? No way.

Years later, when I transitioned into digital photography, nothing changed. Whether I was shooting landscapes or portraits, color remained my go-to. I spent several years photographing weddings with my good friend Melissa—who eventually moved to sunny Arizona with her husband. Every now and then, I’d convert a portrait to black and white to give clients a different option, but I’ll admit, I wasn’t very good at it. I didn’t take it seriously, nor did I study how to do it properly.

After Melissa moved away and we closed our wedding photography business, I hit a rough patch. A broken foot followed by a torn rotator cuff in my right shoulder kept me away from the camera. I couldn’t even lift it for a few months. Photography was out of the question, and my gear sat untouched in a bag for over a year. Honestly, it was a strange and quiet time.

Eventually, the itch to shoot returned—but I wasn’t interested in weddings or portraits anymore. I was tired of giving up my weekends and craved something new. I still enjoyed landscapes, but I needed a fresh challenge, something that would help me grow as a photographer.

“Your camera is broken.”
That’s what a good friend often tells me when I post one of my black and white photos. Not too long ago, I would’ve agreed with him. But last year, something shifted in my life—a moment of change that sent my photography down a new path.

By chance, I stumbled across a YouTube video by Alan Schaller—and was blown away by his black and white imagery. I’d never seen anything quite like it. Then I watched an interview with Phil Penman, and just like that, I was pulled into the world of black and white photography. I dove deep—watching every video, reading every article I could find by these two incredibly talented photographers (and others). I was hooked—and I haven’t looked back since.

The way Alan and Phil construct their images with contrast and visual storytelling is incredible to me. They have this uncanny ability to make urban environments look surreal and visually stunning in black and white. When I scroll through social media, I can instantly recognize one of their photos before even seeing the name. Their styles are unique and unmistakable.

Now, I’m not trying to copy them. While I admire their work, my goal is to develop my own technique. After all, they live in big cities—I live in small-town USA. Our shooting opportunities are worlds apart. But maybe, just maybe, one day someone will look at my photos the way I look at theirs.

So, why do I now love black and white photography?

Because to me, it transcends time. It invites the viewer into a world where emotions and stories are amplified by the absence of color. Black and white photography draws attention to light, shadow, texture, and composition—bringing out a depth and mood that color sometimes masks. Sure, I’ll still create color photos from time to time, but it’s rare. Alan and Phil have fully converted me to the dark side—and I couldn’t be happier. Thanks, guys.

Thanks for reading! I hope you enjoyed this story about my journey into black and white photography. If you did, please consider sharing with your friends and following me on Substack for more rants, ramblings, and of course—photos.

Here are some links to both Alan Schaller and Phil Penman and their work . I hope they will inspire you the way they inspired me.

Alan Schaller
Website: https://www.alanschaller.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alan_schaller/
YouTube: Alan Schaller on YouTube

Phil Penman
Website: https://www.philpenman.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/philpenman
YouTube: Phil Penman on YouTube

Some photos from my home town