I'm finding it hard to believe we've come to the final week in the Flash of Red Challenge! Where did this month go? I trust you've enjoyed exploring the genre of black and white photography as much as I have. This week we'll finish up Gibson's book by reading through pages 45 to 58. Gibson has entitled this section "Subjects for Black and White Photography" and has this to say, "Of course anything can make a great subject (in black and white), the question becomes this: given my subject, how can I make the most of the unique properties of this medium?" He then proceeds to give a quick overview of 6 photographic subjects and offers one or two tips on how to best shoot each one.
PORTRAITS: Without color attention is focused on the eyes and face, and the texture of the subject's clothes. Gibson also includes shooting in sepia here as he feels it is very flattering to your subject. He also notes that the elderly are particularly wonderful portrait subjects because of their wrinkles and time-worn skin. Soft light and shade are the most flattering light sources for portraiture; direct light creates harsh shadows and for the most part is unbecoming.
LANDSCAPES: Black and white is an effective medium for landscape photography. The quality of your light source draws attention to shapes and forms. Gibson writes, "Black and white photography is immediately one step removed from reality. It is a tool for exploring your creative vision, and a way of coming up with a different way of seeing." In other words, black and white photography gives causes us to see things in a landscape that we might normally overlook.
TRAVEL & STREET PHOTOGRAPHY: This type of subject is all about capturing the memory and emotion of a place. Gibson says that black and white is a timeless format which is suitable for travel shots. It gives a picture the feeling that it could have been taken any time- past or present. It also has the ability to pull together pieces of a picture that color would make distracting. Gibson adds, "I like to include shadows in my photos, where I can. Shadows are mysterious adn let one's imagination fill in the missing details."
FLOWERS: Most people do not think of photographing flowers in black and white. But photographing flowers this way brings out the features of form, shape, and texture in the flower's petals. "The real reason I get excited about photographing flowers in black and white,"
Gibson writes, "is tonal contrast". Flowers which are white or light colored will photograph well against a dark background. Toning brings out the richness of the tonal contrast even further.
NUDES: Gibson feels black and white photography is also an ideal medium for nudes. It treats the body as and abstract composition of shapes and form. Gibson notes that there are a wide range of approaches to this subject (and not all of them are appropriate for 365! We have a very broad scope of people on here at any given point of the day. I've always been most impressed when I see photographers graciously censor themselves for the good of the 365 community.)
ARCHITECTURE: Look for shapes buildings make against the sky. Without color the photo becomes a study of shape, pattern, and form. Old buildings have beautiful weathered surfaces full of texture. Anciend castles, cathedrals, and churches also make great subjects. Cloud-filled skies are also a plus when photographing architecture.
Gibson concludes with these words, "I hope I have inspired you to go out and create your own black and white photographs. I wrote this ebook to share my passion for black and white photography and explain some of the elements that make a great black and white photograph." He promises a follow up volume in which he will discuss some of his post proecessing techniques for black and white.
I did a little checking and The Magic of Black and White Volume II (Craft) and The Magic of Black and White Volume III (9 Photos) are both available on line through the Craft and Vision website. (www.craftandvision.com) You can find them listed under the author's name (Andrew S. Gibson).
This week you have the option of shooting in any of the above cagtegories. By special request we are also shooting macros. It might be an interesting challenge to attempt to shoot some of these categories (such as a landscape) with macro in mind! Macro photography is defined as "taking extremely close-up images of subjects". According to one website, "The technically correct definition would be to take an image at 1:1 ratio (in my lowly vocabulary this means that your subject is the same size in your picture as you see it in real life) but, in general usage, the term has come to mean any close-up photography". You don't have to worry about the proper ratio this week- just have fun capturing those tiny details of whatever you choose to shoot.
Don't forget to tag your photos "flashofred-2015". When the month is over, don't forget to take a look at your calendar for February and enjoy that pop of color (at just about center).
Do you have a favorite shot from last week you'd like to share? Why not post it here? Not crazy about what you took, but inspired by someone else's Flash of Red shot? Post that instead! Here's my favorite shot from the week:
I struggled finding the different lighting situations Gibson covered, mostly due to the weather in my area. So I found myself focusing on how light played off the subjects I'd chosen. The response to this shot surprised me, but I was pleased so many liked it.
This is my favorite photo this week because I love how the b&w treatment brings out the dramatic lighting during the early morning.
Thanks Ann for the help to recognize a good photo in b&w!
Here's one of the coin studies I did this week. I like the other one better, but I couldn't bring myself to completely desaturate it, so it carries some warm tones that make it not quite B&W
I stuggled last week, with light and with migranes so used some old shots I edited into BW... this was my favourite from a trip to Scotland a few years back.
My favourite was my leaf post from yesterday. The light from behind the leaf did it for me.
@olivetreeann Ann, I cannot believe we are almost at the end of Feb already! It has been a great month and thanks so much for organising this theme! I have learnt so much and have almost achieved a b&w post with the corresponding daily letter in each of my albums - thats a lot of b&w.
But it has been good, it has forced me to see entirely in b&w and not get distracted (which is easy for me to do!) with the odd colour shot. Interestingly, combining this challenge with the alphabet one has given my b&w work a real focus, because I've had to think about the letter, the technique and then take a photo. When I compare my shots with those taken the same time last year, I think I see an improvement.
I liked the way the golden hour lighting lit up this roller coaster. I really struggled this week with light. There was not a lot of it, and the weather was so miserable.
When I read about last weeks type of light, I was wondering how to get a good subject for the interior lighting. That afternoon I noticed the lighting in our stables and got the perfect subject :)
I like how this one turned out. It reminds me of an old post card or something. I just wish I had a wide angle lens.
My husbands grandpa died on the 13th and his funeral was last Wednesday, we didn't really know him, but as we live with my in laws we were hosting family and trying to help out my Mother In Law all week. Then Yesterday I woke up to a text message from my uncle telling me that my grandma is in the ICU and I made a run down to see her. All of this has caused my project to run off the tracks a bit, but I am hoping to get some photos taken and back filling and then finish the month up strong. I really enjoy looking at all the photos.
The quality of light that emits from electronic devices is fascinating to me. Intense, soft and even, it creates an instant focal spot that I find beautiful. And often the subject's gaze appears relaxed. You can see that they are mesmerized.
Many thanks to all of you! Marta, Sandy, Tammy, Marily, Lisa, Alison, Debs, Alia, Marta, Mikhail, Susie, Pam, Nicole, Spikez, Julia, Karyn, Bill and Dixie!
I know many of you have expressed struggles you faced this week- you were not alone!! It seemed like the weather and my health were conspiring against me this week. But I am impressed with the ways you found to overcome your obstacles. I can also say that your over-whelming enthusiasm to what you've been learning has been such a boost for me. It has made all the previews and note taking (yes I took notes on Gibson's book!!) so worth it for me. And the pictures above are icing on the cake. You are thanking me, but truly, I am the one who is thanking you- and that's how it should be!
@olivetreeann to put up this calendar view, I had to use it for one of my pictures of the day right? I guess I'm asking if there is a way to upload directly to a conversation with a picture you don't use in an album?
@pandorasecho I have never tried to upload a non-365 picture into a discussion before, but I'm thinking you can't do it because you need the URL address, right? Haha- it's like the blind leading the blind!! And I am still trying to figure out how to get my calendar view on here without doing a separate collage! At any rate- I was assuming I would post it on March 1 for the discussion board anyway. It'll go up sometime tomorrow.
@olivetreeann
Hi Ann, I went to my calendar view and copied the URL and pasted it into the reply just above.
One other way would be to find an open date in one of your calendars and post the screen shot there. Then click on the ellipses... to get the post info here:
My favorite from last week is this one, because I like the visible sunshine at the windows of the bird blind. The image reminds me of how good it felt to be outdoors on an unseasonably mild February day.
@janetb@cherrymartina
Thanks for posting your favorites here- but this is last year's discussion. I'm not sure how that happened- except maybe in need to put the year in this year's discussion thread!
This shot turned out to be a case of mistaken identity (what I thought was the moon turned out to be a lamppost). I was going to delete it, but then decided to see what it would look like in B&W and quite liked it, so here it is.
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This is my favorite photo this week because I love how the b&w treatment brings out the dramatic lighting during the early morning.
Thanks Ann for the help to recognize a good photo in b&w!
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Here's one of the coin studies I did this week. I like the other one better, but I couldn't bring myself to completely desaturate it, so it carries some warm tones that make it not quite B&W
@olivetreeann Ann, I cannot believe we are almost at the end of Feb already! It has been a great month and thanks so much for organising this theme! I have learnt so much and have almost achieved a b&w post with the corresponding daily letter in each of my albums - thats a lot of b&w.
But it has been good, it has forced me to see entirely in b&w and not get distracted (which is easy for me to do!) with the odd colour shot. Interestingly, combining this challenge with the alphabet one has given my b&w work a real focus, because I've had to think about the letter, the technique and then take a photo. When I compare my shots with those taken the same time last year, I think I see an improvement.
Wow, what a month.
I guess this is the better one for me that met the brief of the lighting, plus I'm always happy to see the Springtime emerge......
My husbands grandpa died on the 13th and his funeral was last Wednesday, we didn't really know him, but as we live with my in laws we were hosting family and trying to help out my Mother In Law all week. Then Yesterday I woke up to a text message from my uncle telling me that my grandma is in the ICU and I made a run down to see her. All of this has caused my project to run off the tracks a bit, but I am hoping to get some photos taken and back filling and then finish the month up strong. I really enjoy looking at all the photos.
I like how the Black & White contrast really brings out the details, textures, and tones.
this was my fav for the week,
Many thanks to all of you! Marta, Sandy, Tammy, Marily, Lisa, Alison, Debs, Alia, Marta, Mikhail, Susie, Pam, Nicole, Spikez, Julia, Karyn, Bill and Dixie!
I know many of you have expressed struggles you faced this week- you were not alone!! It seemed like the weather and my health were conspiring against me this week. But I am impressed with the ways you found to overcome your obstacles. I can also say that your over-whelming enthusiasm to what you've been learning has been such a boost for me. It has made all the previews and note taking (yes I took notes on Gibson's book!!) so worth it for me. And the pictures above are icing on the cake. You are thanking me, but truly, I am the one who is thanking you- and that's how it should be!
@pandorasecho I'll be putting up a final post on Sunday inviting folks to put their calendar views up like this one. It looks great Dixie!
http://365project.org/bill_fe/2015/2015-02
Hi Ann, I went to my calendar view and copied the URL and pasted it into the reply just above.
One other way would be to find an open date in one of your calendars and post the screen shot there. Then click on the ellipses... to get the post info here:
Thanks for posting your favorites here- but this is last year's discussion. I'm not sure how that happened- except maybe in need to put the year in this year's discussion thread!
They're both great shots by the way!!