A monochrome photograph. (TV: Spearhead from Space [+]Robert Holmes, Doctor Who season 7 (BBC1, 1970).)
Monochrome, or, more colloquially, black and white, was the term relating to a single colour or hue.
History[]
Haemovariforms' vision was monochromatic. (TV: Tooth and Claw [+]Russell T Davies, Doctor Who series 2 (BBC One, 2006).)
The Doctor's first two incarnations were said to have had monochromatic vision due to colour blindness; the War Doctor mused over this after noticing the new colour balance in his eyes shortly after his regeneration. (PROSE: The Day of the Doctor [+]Steven Moffat, adapted from The Day of the Doctor (Steven Moffat), Target novelisations (Target Books, 2018).) In another account, the Third Doctor recalled noticing the colours of the rocks on Gallifrey in his childhood after meeting a hermit on the mountainside. (TV: The Time Monster [+]Robert Sloman, Doctor Who season 9 (BBC1, 1972).)
Prior to the late 20th century, photography was primarily in monochrome. (TV: Spearhead from Space [+]Robert Holmes, Doctor Who season 7 (BBC1, 1970). etc.) This included films of the era (TV: The Impossible Astronaut [+]Steven Moffat, Doctor Who series 6 (BBC One, 2011). etc.) and television. After witnessing the Wire turn a black and white television to colour, Detective Inspector Bishop was amazed. (TV: The Idiot's Lantern [+]Mark Gatiss, Doctor Who series 2 (BBC One, 2006).) Upon arriving in New York City in 1930, nearly 80 years in her past, Martha Jones recalled the sight of its depiction in "old black and white newsreels". (TV: Daleks in Manhattan [+]Helen Raynor, Doctor Who series 3 (BBC One, 2007).)
Behind the scenes[]
The Doctor's first and second incarnations being described as having "monochromatic" vision is a reference to the black and white filming of their eras, before the transition to colour at the beginning of Jon Pertwee's run as the Doctor.
