Bob’s Selective Colour Trick (a.k.a. How to Make the Same Walk Look New Again)

So there I was… walking around the same place I’ve walked about 400 times.

Same buildings.
Same paths.
Same benches.
Same “don’t slip” signs that I’ve photographed so many times I’m pretty sure they recognize me now.

At some point you start thinking:

“Bob… are you just taking the same photo over and over again?”

And the answer is… yes. Yes I am.

BUT… here’s the trick.

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Enter: Selective Colour Mode (Bob’s Secret Weapon)

On Sony cameras, there’s this little feature called Selective Colour.

Most people scroll past it like it’s some kind of gimmick.

Bob?
Bob lives in it.

What it does is simple:

• Turns your photo black and white
• Leaves one colour (like yellow, red, green, or blue)

And suddenly…

That boring caution sign?
Boom. Star of the show.

That worker in a safety vest?
Instant subject.

That random red pole you’ve ignored for 10 years?
Modern art.

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The Same Scene… But Not Really

I’ve taken hundreds of photos around campus. Same routes. Same angles. Same “Bob wandering aimlessly pretending to be media” energy.

But this time?

• The yellow caution signs jumped out like they were yelling at me
• The safety vests turned workers into the main characters
• Even a blue recycling bin suddenly felt like it had purpose in life

It’s like the city handed me a highlighter and said:

“Here Bob… THIS is what you’re supposed to notice.”

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Why This Works (Bob Explains Art… Poorly)

When everything is in colour, your brain goes:

“Cool. Stuff.”

When everything is black and white except one thing, your brain goes:

“WAIT… WHAT IS THAT?!”

Selective colour:

• Simplifies the scene
• Removes distractions
• Forces a subject
• Makes everyday stuff look intentional (even when Bob is not)

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Bob’s Field Notes (Highly Scientific)

• Yellow works AMAZING for street photography
• Red is dramatic (good for those “serious photographer” moments)
• Green is hit or miss unless you find the right subject
• Blue… well… Bob uses it when nothing else is working 

And the best part?

You don’t need:

• A new lens
• A new camera
• Or a YouTube review telling you about corner sharpness

You just need to press:
Creative Style → Picture Effect → Selective Colour

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Bob Camera Club Award (Again)

I’m officially awarding myself:

“Most Likely to Photograph the Same Place 500 Times and Still Pretend It’s New” Award

And honestly… I stand by it.

Because photography isn’t always about finding new places.

Sometimes it’s about seeing the same place…

differently.

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Final Thought from Bob

If you’re stuck shooting the same streets, same parks, same campus…

Don’t move.

Just change how you see.

Or in Bob’s case…

Just turn everything black and white and hope one colour saves the photo.

And most of the time?

It does.