Black & White in Color

"Black and White in Color" is a long-standing series of images I have produced that explore the interaction of hue versus luminosity in the same image. I find that photographic images take a great leap toward the surreal when the primary subject matter are left "pure" (or even enhanced in saturation) while secondary subjects are either subdued or converted entirely to their luminosity components devoid of hue.

What is fascinating is that certain images after such conversion are reminiscent of the fine tradition of hand-colored black & white photography, while other images appear "normal" to the eye at first glance -- in spite of massive de-saturating of the secondary subject matter. I find the effect sublime.

The challenge for me as an artist is to determine precisely what in an image is to be targeted secondary in importance so that the eye of the viewer is drawn into the image in a selective way that would be impossible if presented with the entire gamut of color typical in almost every color photograph. The old saying "less is more" could very well be applied to my photographs in this series.

My hope is to continue to explore and expand this series for many years to come.

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Matt Whorf of The Marshfield Mariner published this regarding this show:

"...As a result, Sullivan pulls intrigue from the ordinary in images of church steeple clocks, silos, ice machines, highway overpasses and sightseeing binoculars. Possibly most captivating is "Chimayo Crossroads," a study of a remote station house at a junction on Route 92A outside Santa Fe..."