Black and White Scanned Negatives
Black and white photography can be absolutely beautiful, as well as, offer a unique perspective on any subject. By removing color you can bring out the hidden details, textures, patterns and shapes. When you shoot in color, you use that color to 'tell' your audience what to look at, whether it's a bright red doorknob, like in The Sixth Sense, or an emerald green dress, like in Vertigo. Shooting in black and white—you don't have that option.
When you create a black and white image, you’ve taken away the key element that creates interest in the human brain—color. You now have to find other ways to attract the brain’s attention. One of the ways that you have accomplished this is through the use of shadows. Most of us probably have some childhood memory of standing outside, late in the day, and looking at our long shadow stretched out across some piece of pavement. Shadows attract attention, and they are visually exciting even to someone who isn’t particularly interested in photography.
Another way you attracted my brain’s attention is through the use of lighting. Lighting is absolutely key to a good black and white photograph because it affects all five of the cornerstone attributes that we always attempt to infuse into our black and white pictures...Contrast,Tone, Shadow, Shape and Texture.
Also, by using light intensity to draw your audience's eye to important areas of your frame, you still have the ability to 'tell' them what you want them to look at. Just like you did when you waited for the sun to light up the rock in the foreground. Which, in my mind's eye, turned out to be time well spent! You certainly have an eye for black and white and thanks again for sharing another of your stunning images.
Ansel Adams Myself, Left, and my good friend Bob Hubner to the right
Today is the anniversary of a great even in my life. 34 years ago today in 1982, I made a trip as a Senior in high school with a good friend to see the greatest Photographer in the world. This is the first time I have shared this image of Ansel Adams myself, on the left, and my good friend Bob with the social networking.
We made the trip from Moscow Idaho to Camel California. Ansel Adams answered a letter we sent him asking if we could visit him during our spring break. To our surprise he said sure.
Ansel Adams gave us an afternoon in his home. We met his wife Virginia and got a tour of one of the greatest dark rooms where Black and White photographic magic happened.
Ansel Adams took the time to critique some of our work and just talk about an array of different things. Amazing how sharp his mind was at 80 years old, he was doing complex calculations in his head to help answer our inquiring questions. To our surprise he was just a normal person.
This is a trip I will always cherish and I share the stories whenever I can. So I toast Ansel Adams, and may his images live on forever.
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