Back in May 2014 Ruth @newbank started a Black & White Fortnight challenge / theme which I loved. I chatted to Ruth recently and she is happy for me to start it up again. There are a lot of folk on 365 who excel at b&w photography (including Ruth) and there are also a lot of folk who want to learn more about it and practise. This is a challenge for both. Reading back through the comments made on the 2014 threads, quite a few people enjoyed having a b&w theme to focus on regularly - this is what this is about. Its been a month since so many of us participated in the Flash of Red February this year, expertly guided by Ann @olivetreeann, so this is a chance to challenge ourselves in b&w and to continue practising what we were learning there with a specific focus.
I have had a look back through the thread posts for the challenge that Ruth hosted and I will keep it the same apart from the weekly themes. Based on the response, we can see how many themes we want to do.
So, the challenge will work like this:
Each fortnight (on a Sunday) I will announce the new theme for the fortnight and the tag to use for it. You can also upload images to the thread if you want to share your work with a wider audience.
The first tag will bw-fn2016-1 The fortnight will run Sunday 3rd April - Saturday 16th April
The next theme will be posted every 2nd Sunday.
You can see the photos for the challenge here: bw-fn2016-1
As a way to end the theme, at end of each fortnight I will start a thread "Your favourite B&W of another 365er from the fortnight" to share the work created over the fortnight.
So the first theme
I thought as it is the changing of the seasons for most of us around the world, we could start off with light and shadows. In the transitions between the seasons, the light changes as the days get longer or shorter. It could also lend itself to portraits, landscapes, abstracts, low and high key shots, summer and winter shots, so hopefully something for everyone, wherever you are in the world.
As inspiration
1. For those of us who bought the Batdorff book for B&W February, you can revisit the chapter (Chapter Two) on light and shadows
2. Ann’s thread which summarised his ideas Flash of Red Week 1
3. Images and articles on Google for light and shadow photography
* http://nature-photography-central.com/black_and_white_photography_shadows_and_light.html
* http://www.jeffsinon.com/BlackandWhite/Black-and-White-Images
* http://www.picturecorrect.com/tips/black-and-white-photography-light/
This a theme, so feel free to do the whole two weeks or dip in and out as you wish. Hope you all enjoy it. I will be re-visiting some of Ruths's original themes and sometimes some that may co-incide with the 52 week project/challenge. The aim is to have a wide variety of themes to keep us inspired, interested and interacting with the world around us and our cameras.
Ideas for challenges
I am by no means a b&w expert, so I shall be practising along with you but if you have any questions, please ask. If there is anything particularly you would like to be challenged with in connection with b&w photography then please leave a comment below and I will add your ideas to the 'theme pot’.
Also, if you want to be tagged in the new thread each fortnight, then let me know in the comments.
I am looking forward to seeing your awesome photos. Let’s go!
Debs
@yrhenwr Hi David, of course. As there is no vote and winner for this, just a challenge for ourselves, you can post anything that you think suits the theme.
@juleshoogstraanderson Hi Jules. Will do.
No books or anything required for this, just inspiration! I only mentioned it in case people want to go back and re-read up on light and shadows...
@dibzgreasley - I would like to participate too Debs. It was my love for Ansel Adams' work that got me hooked on photography then later other masters of b/w. So please include me if you will and I am going to start following you on the Project! Thanks for getting this going again.
@skipt07
Its a pleasure, I will add you and thank you for the follow. Thanks for sharing your inspiration too.
When I bought my first film camera I decided I needed another body so I could take b&w - I was inspired by a visit to a Henri Cartier-Bresson exhibition in London a long while back. I have still not been able to get anywhere near his genius.
@shirleydawn
Hi Shirley. Yes the theme is light and shadows in b&w, but everyone will interpret that their own way and in their own style. Looking through the photos tagged so far, some have looked for actual shadows and others have looked at the spaces in the photo that create shadow.
As I understand it from reading the Bartdorff book its about how the light creates shadows, contrast and forms in b&w photos. This extract from Ann's thread is a summary of his thoughts.
LIGHTING is probably the single most important factor in creating a black and white image (which is true for any picture for that matter). Light is instrumental in creating highlights and shadows (the overall contrast in your photo) which allows us to identify shape (circle, square, etc.), form (cylinder, cube, etc.), lines and texture. Bartdorff advises us to watch for how the light is creating shadows that pull your eye through the frame. Shapes and forms are created by light and shadow.
So essentially you can shoot light and shadows in the way that you understand / interpret it. Does that help?
@dibzgreasley Looks good Debs! I will probably pop in and out as I'm WAY behind now!! I believe the summaries from 2014's book are out here somewhere as well- which I liked even better than Batdorff's. I think that one was called The Magic of Black and White- or something like that. However, if you just type in Flash of Red 2014 it will probably show up. Those summaries may be helpful here as well.
Tweets ahoy!
Join the Group
Pin With Me
Let me know if you are new and want to be tagged or taken off the list
@gazbadger @thistle @libertylady@frantic @kayceejay @mats365 @onewing @tristansmum @callymazoo @crewnelson @lyndemc @aliha @ninaganci @teejay14 @della @gnome @gigiflower @cazla @judithdeacon @ridley @gardencat @kathyboyles @redpants @justaspark @gozoinklings @linnypinny @andrewkru @nikkilee @polarvrtx @northy @dh @darylo @bristolrose @quietpurplehaze @mukeshpapd @stevied @radiogirl @joansmor @frankhymus @yrhenwr @seanoneill @lichtecht @oopsadaisy @nookie72 @graemestevens @cimes1 @d_lopes @lleo @snaphappi @annied @salza
@paulam @redpants @dibzgreasley @pitasmum @obmcreations @barbtatum @froggie0628 @swilde @egad @awsadler68 @brigette @genealogygenie @mathilde22cat @shawnasays @stimuloog @mara19500 @rachelwithey @my_photofun @kjbadger @mzzhope @barrowlane @paulty @jocasta @northy @pennyp @soseema @lynnilou @fjmom @voiceprintz @rebecka @annied @farmreporter @rangerxenos @uk@livealittleandie1 @gratefulness @cindyloo @whatsfordessert @ceilidh @winshez @kjbadger @anne_k @mittens @happysnapper65 @catwoman2 @denisefuller @slmaatta @studiouno @my_photofun @pamknowler @axika
@vignouse @michael1947 @daisymiller @axika @melanierivers @golftragic @kbird61 @fivefingerofdeath @mittens @nanderson @eilert
Lovely to have you on board, will keep you posted!
@annied @pamknowler @quietpurplehaze @gozoinklings @salza @newbank
Looking forward to your pics!
Welcome, will do!
Welcome, will add you.
@mittens Great, whenever you want, no pressure.
No problem, its a pleasure, will add you to the list.
Hi Stef, welcome to 365. All you need to join is post a photo in your album and tag it with this tag: bw-fn2016-1, simple as that.
@gardencat No problem, it was great fun first time around!
@aponi Will do.
@homeschoolmom Great. Whats happening in May?
No books or anything required for this, just inspiration! I only mentioned it in case people want to go back and re-read up on light and shadows...
No problem Heather, will add you.
Welcome everyone, I will add you to the list!
Its a pleasure, I will add you and thank you for the follow. Thanks for sharing your inspiration too.
When I bought my first film camera I decided I needed another body so I could take b&w - I was inspired by a visit to a Henri Cartier-Bresson exhibition in London a long while back. I have still not been able to get anywhere near his genius.
Hi Shirley. Yes the theme is light and shadows in b&w, but everyone will interpret that their own way and in their own style. Looking through the photos tagged so far, some have looked for actual shadows and others have looked at the spaces in the photo that create shadow.
As I understand it from reading the Bartdorff book its about how the light creates shadows, contrast and forms in b&w photos. This extract from Ann's thread is a summary of his thoughts.
LIGHTING is probably the single most important factor in creating a black and white image (which is true for any picture for that matter). Light is instrumental in creating highlights and shadows (the overall contrast in your photo) which allows us to identify shape (circle, square, etc.), form (cylinder, cube, etc.), lines and texture. Bartdorff advises us to watch for how the light is creating shadows that pull your eye through the frame. Shapes and forms are created by light and shadow.
So essentially you can shoot light and shadows in the way that you understand / interpret it. Does that help?
Will do, welcome!
Sorry I've been away, will do!