+++ The Weekly Landscape Thread - #36, 2025.10.17

There is more to autumn than the colors produced by leaves in their dying phase. That process also leads to unique forms and textures. It also leads to not just vibrant yellows and oranges and reds against a darker muted background which is much different that the mid summer green agains such a background. Ansel Adams was a master of separating these different colors through contrast. He was a master at pre visualizing the effects of color filters on the scene and separating the colors using form and contrast by the use of filters.

For example the bright yellows, oranges and reds coveted in fall colors shots - Adams would turn into a glowing shimmering contrasting highlight by separating the colors in tonality using filters. Minor White shared this same approach. In fact Minor White would often use IR film to lighten the foliage in his B&W shots.

Here are some classic examples of this technique.

articles.anseladams.com/ansel-adams-aspens-new-mexico/
www.anseladams.com/products/merced-river-cliffs-autumn-1
www.anseladams.com/products/explore-half-dome-oak-tree-autumn
www.randybottphotography.com/gallery/influence-of-ansel-adams-in-black-and-white-photography/

Thanks, those examples do look good.
I knew I had asked the right person :-)

This one!

The river…

Both are good :-)
The first is a sort of cool mix of landscape and street photography ;-)

The second is well composed with a mix of reflections and autumn colours along the river. Well seen and taken!

Crohy's Sea Arch Co.Donegal

These are really good. I like the first one best. A great mix of stones and rocks and all sorts of colourful organic stuff in the foreground all composed with interesting lines and textures here. And, of course, the arch as the centerpiece further back.

This week's landscape thread has just started today, maybe you have something good to post there as well :-)

@tprevatt ...
On today's hike I tried to make a shot something along the lines of your first link. Showing Autumn in B&W.
Using the higher contrast of the yellow autumn leaves against the darker background to make the leaves on the foreground tree glow.
I'll process this again on my PC when I get back home, but here is the first result, what do you think?

Interesting. The background may be a little dark. Look forward to the PC processed image.

Thanks tprevatt
Now I've returned home and had a chance to work on my B&W Autumn image on my PC, here is the result.
The background is a bit brighter, and the leaves glow a bit more. Hope you like it.

Raising the back ground also around out the brighter leave. Nicely done.