Weekly Black and White Photography Thread Year 2 No. 17 (7 June 2026)

Welcome to the Weekly Black and White Photography Thread

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 the Story it tells.
5. Provide constructive feedback to others..
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).

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 encouraged. 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. There are multiple levels of feedback: composition, technique, emotion and storytelling, etc. 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.

Downloading and reposting - It’s often challenging to verbalize useful comments about images. Instead, it’s often 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.” Or as Clyde Butcher often said, "Only in black and white can I see the design and textures. I don't consider color photography art. Black and is interpretation. Color is duplication." It’s an abstraction that simplifies photography by focusing on composition, forms, shapes, tonality, textures, and emotions.

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.

Black and White strips away distractions to expose the story. It tells unique stories in various photographic genres, from landscapes to social documentaries to portraiture.

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.

Taking a Break in the High Country

After a long climb on a beautiful day, time to take a break.

Nice. The Lone Ranger and a very sturdy horse. How did you get a picture like this? Back in the day of North American westward exploration/expansion, it is interesting to consider the relationship between man and horse -- the mutual dependency (although more skewed toward "man depending on horse" I would guess). I love animals, and you would definitely LOVE (and take good care of) your horse if you were an explorer... or anyone/everyone... in those days. Right? And the horse would love you back. :-)

Inside a B-36 from early Cold War times. 6 prop engines and 4 jet engines.

The Guru Nanak Darbar Gurdwara (Punjabi: ਗੁਰੂ ਨਾਨਕ ਦਰਬਾਰ ਗੁਰਦੁਆਰਾ (Gurmukhi)) is a Sikh Gurdwara situated in the town of Gravesend, Kent. It is the largest Gurdwara in Europe and also one of the largest outside India (Wikipedia)

Puget Sound East Passage:

VERY interesting!

I grew up on a cattle ranch in Western Kentucky too many years ago. I had my first pony at 4 and my first horse at 6. Roll forward to after college and getting my career established and a wife that always wanted a horse and we pick up a couple good horses and have had horses and been riding horses ever since. That was 40 years ago. I picked up the sport of long distance endurance events on horse - 50 to 100 mile veterinary controlled cross country events call endurance riding. I had one of the better horses in the country - a real athlete. My other good horse has received a longevity award from the sanctioning body - 13 years of active competition - retiring at 20. He and I are a decade team - 10 or more contiguous years of active competition. My wife rode him his first two before he got to much for her.

At 79 I still ride, although my wife doesn't. She had to give up because of injuries which have led to a new hip. I have over 5000 successful competitive miles ( about 2000 on one and 3000 on the second) and at least that many conditioning at a trot, canter and gallop. Talk about repetitive stress injuries and my knees show it. This coming winter - replacing my right one. Of course I'm 79 so no reason to believe my knees would not be toast anyway.

So yea, I know and love horses. I still have two and I still ride. In the summer we spend one to two months out in Wyoming. One week is at a ranch where I get a guide to take me out in the high country. This is one such day. The mountain in the background is the Grand Teton as we are looking West toward the Grand Teton NP. We spend an hour and 1/2 climbing up to the top of Wolf hill. On the way up the spooked a bull elk out of an aspen grove and on the next ridge line spotted a family of wolves ( male, female and 4 pups). Another day we came along a young grizzly - about 2 probably just thrown out on his own by his mother. Another day we had to wait about a half an hour to cross a creek to give a herd of bison a chance to cross.

So yes next to my wife, my horses have been my best friends. I trust them more than I trust most humans. The Arabian horses were so prized by the Bedouins that they slept inside the tents with the family.

"There is nothing so good for the inside of a man as the outside of a horse." - Winston Churchill

"The winds of heaven is that which blows between a horse's ears." - Bedouin Proverb

Interesting history. I didn't know the B-36 was a combination of prop and jet engines. I just looked it up. It seems there were two, the B-36 and the A-2 Savage (a carrier based bomber).

I like the symmetry of the third shot.

Daneland, as usual interesting geometric composition executed with nice tonality.

More interesting shots unique to the Pacific NW. The rising fog or low hanging clouds is a nice feature.

An engaging image! I like the railing detail, the ceiling lines, the shoe cubbies, the two people, and the signage.

LOL. I was expecting a cell phone shot, not a REAL camera. Did you set-up your tripod, too? Any "visitors" while you were in the process? Black and white it is! LOL. :-)

Interesting geometric composition. The ultra wide angle works here to bring out the geometry. Of course this is a unique subject and gives new meaning to the term "bathroom art." 🤣