Change in Direction

“I believe black and white is immediately more mysterious because we see in color all the time. It is also more subjective. I think it’s quieter and calmer than color.”

—Michael Kenna

I am exploring the prospect of a change in the direction of my photography. Specifically, making the switch to concentrating on black-and-white images. As the quote above suggests, I do think it is more timeless, subjective, creative, and less distracting than color. So, let’s see where the pursuit of light & shadow, shapes, and texture takes me. Here is a series of practice photos aiming to capture some of these basic forms.

Rays of sunshine over Cascade Lake.

Leading lines.

Shadows and shapes.

Objects which wouldn’t necessarily make for interesting subjects in color can take on a more mysterious and moody form when presented in black-and-white. The absence of color and the distraction it provides allows the viewer to linger longer on the image and create a story in their mind.

Variety of shapes and tones.

This is the back-yard of a fuel oil company and these are some of their storage devices which sit empty on the back lot.

Lourdes High School. Three crosses.

The contrast provided by shadows. Again, the absence of distracting color allows the viewer to linger a little longer and appreciate the complexity of what would otherwise be overlooked simply as a shadow; something we see every day and elect to otherwise ignore.

I like the way the shadow provides a leading line directly to the dark figure walking away. Despite being in the mid-80’s, hot and humid that guy had on dark long jeans and a heavy long-sleeve sweatshirt.

Removing color allows the textures of these black-eyed-Susans to really stand out.

Black-and-white really makes the use of lighting an even more integral part of the artistic aspect.

The ruins of the demolished dam take on a more timeless and textured nature.

The use of a red filter turns what would usually be a bright blue sky into a moody and ominous looking one. I really enjoy the use of the light and contrast in this genre.

This was using the 33mm lens, but I am really looking forward to what I can create with the Macro lens in black-and-white. This is a direction I am going to explore for awhile.