A nostalgic comeback

Quaint appeal

Swiss-American photographer Robert Frank once said, “There is one thing the photograph must contain, the humanity of the moment.” True to that, monochrome and vintage photographs have the ability to capture a moment or emotion in all its reality. Subtle yet versatile, these photographs are retracing their way back to the albums. 

The city too has photographers who have a penchant for these old world looks. “Black and white and vintage-looking photos instantly evoke a feeling of nostalgia. This style of photography works wonderfully well if one wants to capture candid or emotional moments. This trend is picking up and is here to stay,” says Sunitha Vardhan, a candid photographer.

One of the special features of monochrome or vintage photographs is that the mono colours focus right on the emotions of a moment. Thus, there is less or no distraction of the surroundings of the photograph. “This trend is observed more in travelling and  wedding photography. Black and white photos are my all-time favourites as they focus on what is happening at a wedding in the midst of all the colour splashes,” adds Sunitha.

It’s like choosing a vintage vehicle over a modern one. The rustic appeal and the old world charm is an instant attraction. What attracts Anju K P, another photographer, to this trend is the intensity of the image in terms of one’s facial features. “Apart from weddings, one can see this trend being explored in the fashion world also. The simplicity of a black and white photograph tends to attract a lot of attention too,” says Anju.

Manvi Gandotra, a wedding photographer, opines that there is a sense of timelessness that makes her nostalgic about vintage and monochrome photographs. “These photos break the barrier of time. There is a sentimental appeal to these pictures. Talking in terms of wedding photography, capturing the sheer moments of it is an amazing experience. The lack of colour makes it refreshing, very emotional and personal,” says Manvi.

She points out that monochrome wedding photography has seen a sudden surge in popularity. “Earlier, people wanted postcard-perfect wedding pictures, now the trend is more towards capturing candid moments in monochrome. This trend is here to stay — in the sense that everyone needs magic in their moments and the black and white trend surely achieves that,” she adds.