Intro- Feb. 1-3
February 2019 snuck up on me as I was battling some health issues in January. So I hope you won’t mind a little self promotion with a few excerpts from my book and a simplified approach to our weekly assignments this year.
Perhaps the most obvious obstacle to “seeing” a black and white shot is the fact that we don’t actually see that way; we see in color. So our eyes must be trained to see when color conditions are suitable for black and white. This can be accomplished with handy devices like a monochrome viewing filter or the monochrome live-view in your camera, but it’s really not that hard to see this with your “naked eye”. Like all skills it just takes practice.
(From Seeing in Black and White: An Amateur Photographer’s Thoughts on the Art of Monochrome. AHL c.2018)
So challenge yourself this month to see the shot in black and white before you actually turn on the monochrome setting in your camera or convert it to black and white in post processing.
Feb. 1-3 Seeing the Light
So where does one start? As with any photograph, color or black and white, light is a key element. From the first to the third choose any subject you’d like based on lighting conditions. You can create your own light source or use what light is available naturally. Take note that when light is bringing out color, or it is muting and softening it, you can safely assume that this will also produce a strong black and white composition.
Need some inspiration? Check out some of the masters of black and white photography who also keyed in on light and how it affected their subjects: Ansel Adams, Henri Cartier-Bresson, Robert Frank, Paul Strand, Edward Western, Dorothea Lange, Steve McCurry, Brassai, Margaret Bourke-White, Jerry Uelsmann, and Annie Leibovitz to name a few!
Looking ahead:
Feb. 4-10 Texture and Pattern
Feb. 11-17 Same Subject (Shape, Positive and Negative Space)
Feb. 14- OPTIONAL “flash of red”
Feb. 18-24 Leading Lines
Feb. 25-28 Playing with Contrast
Tag your photos flashofred2019 and feel free to post your favorite photo from Feb. 1-3 in the discussion thread below.
I'm looking forward to seeing what everyone does- and while I may not comment on all of your photos, I will definitely pop in on your projects from time to time to see what you're shooting!
I have never done this challenge, apart from an odd extra photo, so thought I would give it a go. Always wanted to shoot better in black and white, so why not, eh?
Maybe this year I will actually try to follow the instructions 😇... regardless - thank you SO much for once again hosting one of my favourite photography months on 365!
Thank you so much for doing this once again, Ann! It is a great challenge and you do such a good job organizing it.
I was so pleased that I was able to do the whole month last year and will attempt that amazing feat once again.
I have also incorporated your challenge into the February words of the month challenge for those who like to do both.
Please add me to your list!
@shutterbug49 on the 14th some opt to do a selective colour image for valentines day... optional , looks great in the calendar view once the month is completed
@shutterbug49 Because there is an optional choice to use selective coloring on Feb.14 and add a spot of red to your black and white shot. It's always optional to do this so that's how the "flash of red" comes in.
@olivetreeann Thanks Ann - really looking forward again although may not be able to post on each day daily but will catch up. Hope your health issues are improving.
@space319 I hope you enjoy it and welcome aboard! @mandygravil Not a problem Mandy- do what you can and have fun with it. @randystreat I'm glad you're joining in Kathy!
this is a huge challenge for me, don't know if I will manage it every day but I'm going to give it a go as I almost never do BW! please add me to the list :)
@olivetreeann Thanks for doing this Ann, I always love February b&w!
I'm looking ahead and have a question about the week of February 11-17th, can you explain it more?
Do you need to have 2 photos to compare shape, positive or negative space?
@radiogirl Positive and negative space are present in every picture. Positive space is the area which is occupied by your subject. The negative space is the space that is created between, around, under and through your subject. The idea in this week will be to choose one subject and work with it emphasizing positive and negative space in your picture. There will be more on how to do that in the write up which I'll be posting on Friday. No, you won't have to have 2 photos to compare positive and negative space but hopefully the week will help strengthen our composition skills by working with it.
@shutterbug49 I'm glad you're enjoying it. I enjoy bright and bold colors too- and what I've found is that when they are present in color, it usually translates to a great high contrast black and white. So as part of your black and white month watch for that- take the color shot and then convert it to black and white and take note of what the colors do. It's a fun way to learn about black and white.
@teriyakih Good for you Teriyaki! I will add you on to the list!
@olivetreeann Hi Anne, for next week where you say it’s “Feb. 11-17 Same Subject (Shape, Positive and Negative Space)” are we being asked to take a week of the same subject, but to play with positive/negative space? I guess it’s the ‘same subject’ bit that is confusing me as I understand the negative/positive space bit.
Even if I don't always remember that in Feb I wanna go black and white: Thank you for that challenge! :) I never really did black and white photography and it makes me think in different direction and try different things :)
@phil_sandford Yes- the same subject but playing with the positive and negative space in your composition. However, if there is a variation you prefer, that's fine. I don't mind if people tweak the challenge to their liking.
@flaumel I'm glad you're giving it a try Flaumel. Even if you don't post a shot in black and white every day, feel free to tag your black and white photos flashofred2019 so others can see them.
@olivetreeann Thank you so much for sponsoring this and for providing your lessons and inspiration. I am very flattered and humbled to win the 2019 Flash of Red Challenge. When the rainbow is done I plan to look for more b&w opportunities. I don’t know how to thank all the participants in this year’s challenge, but they were all a great inspiration to me as well.
@shutterbug49 I'm glad you enjoyed it Shutterbug. And yes, return to black and white throughout the year. It's a great genre and sometimes is a better way to treat the subject than the usual color. I'm glad you learned from the experience- I always do! And keep your eyes open on the discussion thread next January for the 2020 version!
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@northy lol I don't mind if you bend the rules- or make your own. I would never put a stopper on creativity.
@30pics4jackiesdiamond It's selective coloring on the 14th- but there are no 365 police to hold you to that!
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Just making sure you see this post.
Glad you'll be joining the fun ladies!
Thanks to all- wow we start in 2 days!!
I was so pleased that I was able to do the whole month last year and will attempt that amazing feat once again.
I have also incorporated your challenge into the February words of the month challenge for those who like to do both.
Please add me to your list!
@golftragic @kiwinanna @adi314 @beryl
So glad you're all joining in! It's going to be a good month!
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Just a reminder that Feb 1-3 is listed above and we start tomorrow!
Thanks also to Wendy @farmreporter who incorporated Flash of Red with the February word list to give you an extra dose of inspiration!
http://365project.org/discuss/themes-competitions/32724/february-words-of-the-month
Glad you're all joining in- here we go!!
@moonbi yes- welcome aboard!!
@kali66 Thank you Kali!! We're up to 58 participants (on record)!
@inthecloud5 You're welcome!
@annied The first always comes up so quickly!
@phil_sandford Whatever works for you is fine with me.
@northy Yes- flashofred2019 It was in bold on my computer but didn't transfer into the discussion box- not sure why.
@etienne @lsquared @chejja
Thanks for joining in!
@mandygravil Not a problem Mandy- do what you can and have fun with it.
@randystreat I'm glad you're joining in Kathy!
Sure can and here's the link to this week's post: http://365project.org/discuss/themes-competitions/32739/flash-of-red-february-feb-4-10
I'm looking ahead and have a question about the week of February 11-17th, can you explain it more?
Do you need to have 2 photos to compare shape, positive or negative space?
@shutterbug49 I'm glad you're enjoying it. I enjoy bright and bold colors too- and what I've found is that when they are present in color, it usually translates to a great high contrast black and white. So as part of your black and white month watch for that- take the color shot and then convert it to black and white and take note of what the colors do. It's a fun way to learn about black and white.
@teriyakih Good for you Teriyaki! I will add you on to the list!
@flaumel I'm glad you're giving it a try Flaumel. Even if you don't post a shot in black and white every day, feel free to tag your black and white photos flashofred2019 so others can see them.