the interesting thing to me about this conspiracy is how much it depends on seeing monochrome photography as the exception to the capturing of images and not, until relatively recently, the rule.

it so reminds me that you do have to learn how to “see” a monochrome photo, as it were, same as how modern viewers have to actually acclimate themselves to pre-color films.

right! black and white photography is its own thing and for my part there are ways and circumstances in which it can more effectively communicate a story or feeling than color. https://twitter.com/scurvyelbow/status/1314303073095802880

also, worth saying that color photography in that era was intentionally very bad at capturing darker skin tones https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/syreetamcfadden/teaching-the-camera-to-see-my-skin

i’ll say this thread reminds me also of one of my favorite things i read all year, this photo essay from @johnedwinmason https://bittersoutherner.com/features/2020/john-edwin-mason-democracy-of-speed-drag-racing-waynesboro-virginia