Black and White in Our Lives

Black and white photography correlates with the current state of the world. The black and white images here suggest a need for balance: safety and freedom, light and darkness, self-care and social responsibility.

The Coronavirus forced us all to go into immediate lockdown, essentially leading to no human contact besides one’s close family and friends.

Many of us became lethargic and felt as if the virus brought a dark and gloomy cloud, causing the feeling of loneliness.

However, during quarantine, many of us have learned something new and found some light. People were able to focus more on themselves, practice self-care, spend time with family, and discover new enjoyable activities or hobbies.

The Coronavirus is like black and white photos because many people see them as being dark or gloomy. This is how we viewed COVID in the beginning of the pandemic; in what we initially saw as a difficult situation, we had to learn to find the silver lining.

Black and white photography can also symbolize a balance between one’s environment and mental health. With the recent start of virtual school, we must learn to find the balance between our Zoom classes and self-care, including spending time outdoors, being with family, and relaxing. Black and white photos depict a balance between the two opposing colors, which corresponds to the internal balance we must find among ourselves.