Yes - i did not mean to detract from the fact that he had a point.  Black and white photography has a special place in the art that is photography, but it pains me to see it thrown into the "high-brow" corner of the medium by this guy.  The factworthy points he made are no less of a fact because of his language, i dont want anyone to think that they are strictly the realm of the pretentious artist.  But by writing such a piece he does seem to put it out of reach of the aspiring "normal" photographer who doesnt hold a masters in latin, english, history, photography, philosophy and greek..

Personally i aspire to being able to produce a good monochrome image, as the image itself is what is looked at, and not the "eye candy" colours of what it may be in the real world (as so many "good" photos these days seem to be).  The black and white photo holds a special place in my eye as being the pinnacle of being able to affect somone by merely force of image, disregarding any colour present within the scene.

I suppose this thread is a defining moment in people's understanding of what i think about photography.  It should be accessable to everyone.  Pompous articles about monochrome just put it further away from those who (maybe by virtue of education, geography, linguistics, upbringing or anything else) might not understand, but would wholly be able to contribute towards the richness that is the medium of photography.

My two pence - debate it as you will...

"In every colour, there's the light.
In every stone sleeps a crystal.
Remember the Shaman, when he used to say:
Man is the dream of the Dolphin"

Rich Meadows Photography