Colorblind

They say that women dream in color and men dream in black and white. That may be true. But do you remember in color or black and white?

Because when I close my eyes and try to recall the images that have made the greatest impression on me I see nothing in color, just black and white. 

   —Worn, discouraged, haunted-looking people in the dustbowl during the '30s.

   —Couples in Times Square, joyfully embracing in celebration of the end of World War II.

   —Little John Kennedy Jr. saluting his slain father.

   —A young Vietnamese girl running naked on a road, screaming, her clothes and back having been burned by napalm.

   —A Viet Cong guerrilla executed by a pistol shot to the head.

  —The last U.S. helicopter to leave Saigon perched on the top of a building, with an impossibly long line of desperate South Vietnamese hoping to board it.

There are many more just like them. Each capturing a defining moment and conveying powerful emotion. And there isn't a single colorful Kodak moment among them. 

All I see is in vivid black and white.

You'd think that with all the rich, vibrant color film people have burned through over the years there might be something that stands out in my mind's eye. And with digital cameras so omnipresent today, you'd think that great color photos would be all over the place. A dime a dozen. 

But no. Somehow color doesn't leave a lasting impression for me. If anything color seems to detract—or distract—from the essence of a photo. 

Try to think of all the photos that have left an impression on you. Do you remember in color? Or black and white?