• Members 585 posts
    June 14, 2025, 9:27 p.m.

    Welcome to the Weekly Black and White Photography Thread # 20

    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.

  • Members 585 posts
    June 14, 2025, 9:31 p.m.

    You Can't Beat Mother Nature

    A fine dining establishment meets Hurricane Helena.

    Cedar Key-l1000551-20250318-0270.jpg

    Cedar Key-l1000551-20250318-0270.jpg

    JPG, 2.8 MB, uploaded by tprevatt on June 14, 2025.

  • Members 2136 posts
    June 15, 2025, 12:34 a.m.

    Waiting in Hong Kong.
    Parked in Hong Kong.jpg

    Parked in Hong Kong.jpg

    JPG, 303.0 KB, uploaded by MikeFewster on June 15, 2025.

  • Members 2136 posts
    June 15, 2025, 5:26 a.m.

    A gear discussing aside.
    TP, I note you use a Leica Q2. Looking at many of the shots you have taken with this camera, I'm struck by how close they look to what I get with my Sony RX1. It's something about the sharpness, bokeh and smoothness of the tones. The cameras have very similar specs and the Zeiss f2 35 (actually closer to 32mm) lens on the Sony is much loved in Sony circles.) I sold mine but I'm encouraged by rumours of Sony developing a new version.

  • Members 585 posts
    June 15, 2025, 2:03 p.m.

    It the monochrome version of the Q2. I attribute the tonal gradation smoothness to the fact it is a 47 MP monochrome sensor. Jim Kasson published some comparisons the Q2M to the GFX100 series on his blog recently. He found that the lack of a CFA puts the Q2M very close in rendering to the GFX100 with about the only place lacking in the Q2M was a dynamic range advantage of the medium format. The smoothness of tonal gradations was the first thing I noticed with the Q2M.

  • Members 585 posts
    June 15, 2025, 2:04 p.m.

    Really nice light that is reflected on the smooth tonal gradations on the cars. The low hanging storm clouds add to the drama of the scene.

  • Members 585 posts
    June 15, 2025, 5:12 p.m.

    Sorry, I responded to wrong post with the reply.

    Really nice light that is reflected on the smooth tonal gradations on the cars. The low hanging storm clouds add to the drama of the scene.

  • Members 2222 posts
    June 15, 2025, 8:56 p.m.

    Fairgrounds Race Track, New Orleans

    last week-7.jpg

    last week-7.jpg

    JPG, 1.0 MB, uploaded by minniev on June 15, 2025.

  • Members 585 posts
    June 15, 2025, 9:34 p.m.

    Fairgrounds has a nice paddock. The shot tells the story - the focus of the groom and horse.

  • Members 2136 posts
    June 18, 2025, 4:19 a.m.

    Having a title here is good. It changes our response to the image. With your title, the ultra calm sea and sky take on a different meaning and we appreciate the state of the building.
    It's impossible to say without having been there, but I feel the shot needs more middle tones. Small laptop screens like the one I'm looking right now are not a good way to look at images, especially B&W images where the tones are all important. I know I'll be saying this again, so pardon.

  • Members 585 posts
    June 18, 2025, 1:48 p.m.

    This was taken at Sunset (looking East) off the balcony of a bar (of course) - the day after a cold front moved through so the air was dry (for FL that is). I find that the compression used by ThePhoto S/W and and of DPR S/W that generate the image view tend to crunch from about Zone IV down. I always find that double clicking to get the enlarged version tends to open them up. I tend to prefer low angle directional light which generates strong natural contrast. Of course I am sitting her looking at the image on a 27 inch Apple studio display - vs. a laptop. I would not even venture what it would look like on a phone.