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.
Grinnell Field Rake
This image has a very special meaning to me. It was taken just outside Palouse Washington on Grinnell Road.
This is one of the images I took with me on a visit to see Ansel Adams in 1982. It was what he said about this image that I take with me every day I am taking pictures. He said " every image is three dimensional until you press the shutter". He was referencing the arc of the field rakes wheel in relation to the hill with the same arc in the back ground.
I went back to Grinnell after m our visit and retook this same scene with the wheel where Ansel recommended and send a copy to him. He send me a nice response thanking me, ya, me for my most recent work.
Today I try to visualize that third dimension with every shot.
- No Comments