Weekly Black and White Photography Thread # 14 (4 - 10 May)

Welcome to the Weekly Black and White Photography Thread # 14

We’re dedicated to fostering discussions about Black and White photography. This open peer-to-peer forum allows critical feedback on images, leading to discussions on techniques, styles, interpretation, and storytelling. The first few weeks response has been outstanding - keep them coming.

It’s easy - To participate: post an image or essay with a title, short description, and explanation. All comments must include the image or essay as a quote. Replies may or may not include quotes.

THREAD GUIDELINES:
1. This thread is for learning about Black and White photography.
2. Post one image or photo essay for comments.
3. Entries can be single images or short photo essays (3 to 10 connected images that tell a story).
4. Give your entry a clear title and explain why you took it and the story it tells.
5. Provide constructive feedback on others’ images/essays.
6. Go beyond simple praise or dismissal.
7. Explain why you like an image or essay.
8. Negative feedback is welcome (be polite, honest, and constructive).
9. Stay on topic and avoid politics or distractions.

We refine our skill-craft through feedback - Analyzing prints pinned on the virtual wall is our approach, but discussions of styles and techniques are also acceptable. While most images are captured digitally, Black and White film can also discussed. The focus is on image.

Post a photo or photo essay and get comments and feedback. In return, give honest but constructive opinions of others’ images. A simple “like” is insufficient. There are multiple levels of feedback: composition, technique, emotion and storytelling, etc.
What caught your eye about an image and why? What draws you in and what distracts you? What changes would you make? Does the photographer tell their story? Does the image communicate their viewpoint or emotion? As W. Eugene Smith said, “A photo is a small voice, at best, but sometimes – just sometimes – one photograph or a group of them can lure our senses into awareness.” Does the image meet Smith’s criteria?

Explore the image in your head, considering composition, perspective, toning, balance, exposure, and tonality. Consider the story, emotion or opinion the artist is trying to communicate. Provide feedback.

Downloading and reposting - (please note: clear instructions are required).
It’s often challenging to verbalize useful comments about images. Instead, it’s easier to “show.” Unless the original poster specifically states otherwise, participants are free to download, alter, and repost images in replies to express their analysis and critique. The reposted image may remain permanently or be removed after a short period. Downloaded and altered images shall not be used for other purposes or uploaded elsewhere.

Encouragement - When I first pinned a print on the cork-board for the professor and class to analyze, I was apprehensive. However, it proved to be an effective way to learn and develop my skills and vision. Well reasoned analysis and comments aid the artist in improving their vision, skill, and style. The goal is to promote and encourage people to enhance their artistic vision and skill in Black and White Photography by providing constructive feedback. General feedback is also welcome. Sharing techniques for capturing or processing images that aid in creating good Black and White images or photo essays is appreciated in replies.

Why focus on Black and White - As Elliott Erwitt said, “Color is descriptive. Black and White is interpretive.” It’s an abstraction that simplifies photography by focusing on composition, forms, shapes, tonality, textures, and emotions. Ansel Adams famously said, “You don’t take a photograph, you make a photograph.”

Clyde Butcher talks about the hundreds of photographers who flock to Inspiration Point in Yosemite National Park for the “golden hour.” However, the composition at sunrise is poor. For Black and White, it’s not about the color of the light, but the quality of the light. Ansel Adams arrived midmorning when the light was “right” to produce his iconic images. His iconic book, “Yosemite and the Range of Light,” had a significant impact on conservation and environmental movements in the West. It also attracts thousands of photographers each year to capture the “Range of Light.”

clydebutcher.com

Nick Ut’s “Napalm Girl” captured the horrors of the Vietnam War and profoundly impacted the United States. Stripped of distractions, the image exposed the terror in the children’s faces, prompting critical questioning of government actions. W. Eugene Smith’s “Minamata” warned the world. It exposed a corporation poisoning water and killing residents, highlighting the suffering of the Minamata community for profit. William Henry Jackson’s photographs convinced Congress to preserve Yellowstone as the first national park, leading to the creation of the National Park Service and commitment to wild land preservation.

aboutphotography.blog/blog/the-terror-of-war-nick-uts-napalm-girl-1972
www.magnumphotos.com/arts-culture/society-arts-culture/w-eugene-smith-minamata-warning-to-the-world/
www.pbagalleries.com/first-photographic-images-of-yellowstone/

Black and White strips away distractions to expose emotions. It tells unique stories in various photographic genres, from landscapes to social documentaries to portraiture. Check out Annie Leibovitz’s Black and White work.

blog.artsper.com/en/a-closer-look/why-artists-choose-black-and-white-photography/
fstoppers.com/fashion/why-its-still-important-shoot-black-and-white-48141
www.designspiration.com/save/1600176374707/

Another resource is the “Daybooks of Edward Weston,” though dated, still relevant.

Additional Resources - It is encouraged to discuss additional resources on Black and White photography in posts, whether in your images or commenting on others’ when those resources aid in the goals of the thread.

Growing Together - The Black and White thread focuses on growth and learning together. Be active, honest, and respectful.

Working Men - Big Machines

A little change of pace.

Black Church, Iceland

One of those scenes that I knew when I stepped out of the car that I'd be converting to black and white. Not always the case, but sometimes you just know.

Gallery. Montpelier.

A working man at his work. He and his mate frame the work. Their concentration and the leg take us to the pedals, levers, cogs, springs, chains that run the show. It's work that needs muscle and oil. The central position of the hands suggests capability and confidence.
Roll out the superlatives for this photo.

The location could hadly be more different but I feel that minniev's photo works quite similarly to my photo below.
Both are very simple and depend on symmetry. Both have a horizon line. Both use string B&W contrast.Both hint at a face.

There are so many dichotomous stories in this image. The size of the fence and roof compared to the building. The building on sitting on what appears to be a rock. The stark door to the building. The structures sitting where it seems it should not be. Interesting shot.

Wonderful example of minimalism.

Snowflakes shining in the sun

This is looking out from our balcony towards the two huts on the hill on the other side of the valley.
When viewed in full colour this image was already nearly B&W. The conversion just removed the slightly warmer colours of the sunlight at top left.
It was one of those rare occasions when it was snowing, with big snow flakes floating in the air, and at the same time the sun was pouring through a hole in the clouds. That light made the ridge a bright white line and lit up all the snow flakes :-)

Cool!
Yes, it's typically Icelandic, and works well in B&W

Reminds me of too many scenes I saw in the long Colorado winters. The uniqueness of the sun reflected off the large snowflakes is nicely captured and the tonality tells the story.

Great environmental portrait with much detail to explore - the frayed ropes, the metal gears, cables, and chains, the fabric, the DIRT - all of it make the scene come to life. The composition is unusual in that its energy all flows out in every direction from the midsection of the seated workman. Excellent.

I agree about the similarity. We are conditioned to find a pattern that resembles a face, and these two both trigger that response quickly.

Images of this little church shot from the side or from a 3/4 angle look quite different than this. I'd only seen those types of images of the little black church and of course wanted to find something a bit different. This angle sort of made the rock fencing disappear and I hoped it would lend it a graphic and kind of surreal look.

I love this! We so seldom get snow- once have I ever been able to catch the light just right to capture the process, not nearly so well as this. The light is magic, and the separation of the dark foreground from the bright sky makes this a scene straight out of The Tomten. A perfect Christmas card.

This isn't the "pretty" snow of post cards. It's the snow of threatening cold when shelter will be a very good idea.
I'm surprised that the bright area is sunlight. Everything else therefore feels too dark but I know nothing of snow conditions. The light plus the dark background obviously gives intriguing possibilities for capturing snow flakes. The stand of barely seen trees top right also tells us a lot about the conditions.