In Black & White
Ishara JAYAWARDANE
L H R Wijetunga is one of those people you don't easily forget. He
was at his exhibition, his right arm in a cast, and his eyes, a bright
gray. His face bore all the marks of age and great experience and yet he
had so much energy and enthusiasm. A man who knows his subject. And that
was photography. His voice had the timbre of an expert who knows his
subject inside out.
"This is an exhibition primarily in black and white. Photography
started in black and white. It became color in the last 25 to 30 years
ago. So people ask me why I go to this old black and white photography
with modern day technology such as digital, color and so on. I feel in
portraiture black and white is far superior in my opinion than color.
Because in colour you can't represent sadness, thoughtfulness and
feelings. Black and white enables you to do that more efficiently. Black
and White allows the viewer to create or imagine his own real image.
Color is just straightforward. There is nothing to think about. It is
more interesting I would say. And I think the tones, the compositions,
the curves and so on in a black and white make it easier to transmit the
message," said L H R Wijetunga
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L H R
Wijetunga |
Hailing from the Photographic Society of Ceylon, Wijetunga,
mHaaintains that color is alright for factual pictures such as visas
where the exact replica of the person is important. Wijetunga maintained
that color is good for legal purposes and medical purposes. This old
hand at Black and White photography entered photography in 1962, after
leaving campus where he did his degree in physics. Amongst his various
portraits is a portrait of Martin Wickramasinghe.
"All these pictures represent moods and emotions of a person taken in
a studio or taken outdoors. When you see a color portrait the color
takes the whole thing away. Black and white enables you to think,"
stated Wijetunga
Wijetunga is quite accurate in saying that in black and white you can
represent many things. However, Wijetunga, the man who took so many
photographs, is in the end still a man. A mortal. Writing this article
reminds me of Macbeth in Shakespeare's play Macbeth.
"Out, Out, brief candle !
Life's but a walking shadow, a poor player
That struts and frets his hour upon the stage
And then is heard no more. It is a tale
Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury,
Signifying nothing"
Many have had painting exhibitions. All men who must one day succumb to
time. Time the great mediator.
The judge and the jury of our lives. Time in whose eyes we are all
equal.
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