It’s here! The month some of you have been looking forward to since February 28, 2023- Flash of Red 2024! I am pleased as any one could be when I think of how this month-long challenge has become somewhat of a fixture here on 365. This year I’ve tried to find some new creative twists to expand one or two of the weekly themes so that it’s not “the same old same old” black and white month. As always, our “flash” of red will officially take place on February 14th but some folks like to put it smack in the middle of the month. This year we have the added bonus of an extra day since it’s a leap year, so, I will let some mathematical genius figure that date out since math has never been my strong suit! I will try to give you links each week for further reading should you desire more information (and hopefully they work!).
As an introduction to the month, I’m drawing information from an article written by Andrew S. Gibson of the Digital Photography School. ( https://digital-photography-school.com/beginners-guide-black-white-photography/) entitled, “How to Shoot in Black and White.” For some of you this will be a review but for those of you taking on black and white for the first time, I thought his insights were well-said and easy to understand. Gibson begins: Before digital photography, the only way to work in black and white was to use black and white film. But these days, you have two options:
1. You can shoot in color and convert your photos to black and white in Lightroom, Photoshop, or some other post-processing program. (I use Smart Photo Editor and BeFunky.) OR
2. You can switch your camera to its Monochrome mode.
Gibson highly recommends you choose the second option. He says, “By shooting in black and white from the beginning, you’ll get black and white previews on your camera’s LCD. You’ll also be able to see in black and white via your camera’s Live View mode. And if you use a mirrorless camera, you can look through a black and white viewfinder – so you know exactly how the different colors will convert before you press the shutter button. (If you’re not sure how to switch your camera to black and white, check your camera’s manual. The process is quite simple in most cameras and even on cell phones.)”
Gibson prefers to shoot in RAW, not JPEG (or shoot in RAW+JPEG, which will give you a file in each format every time you press the shutter button). He feels RAW essentially offers you insurance. If you decide you don’t like your shot in black and white, your RAW files can be reverted back to color with the click of a mouse. And if you decide to extensively edit your photos in post-processing, RAW gives you a lot of flexibility. However, if you’re new to photography, Gibson says, “I recognize that you may want to work exclusively in JPEG, and that’s okay. Just know that you’ll probably want to switch to RAW eventually (it’ll deliver better image quality in the long run).”
Personally, I have tried the RAW route and never had the creative success with it that many fellow photographers claim to have. I find that more often than not, I end up adjusting the picture to where JPEG starts and feeling robbed of all the minutes it took to do that, so I shoot in JPEG. In the end, I think it all boils down to what you feel comfortable with- shoot in color and convert, shoot in black and white, shoot files in RAW, or shoot files in JPEG, each one of these options is a creative choice you make based upon what YOU want to do, not what others say is the right or wrong way.
While most of us tend to think in color when it comes to photography, black and white can be an excellent way to hone your photographic skills. Black and white photography has remained a viable art form since its creation and many would argue that some of the greatest photographers earned their reputation with it- Ansel Adams, Edward Weston and Henri Cartier-Bresson to name a few. But how does black and white improve your skills as a photographer? It forces you to “see” the world differently. Gibson makes a powerful observation in this respect, “Color is very powerful. It tends to dominate photos- to the point that beginners struggle to see other key elements like contrast, texture, shape, form, and quality of light…Black and white strips away color, allowing you to focus on the other elements that matter.”
Some subject matter works really well in black and white, particularly landscapes and portraits. Portraits may be a little daunting for the beginner, but landscapes (or cityscapes) are easy to find and photograph. We begin our Flash of Red February with a “short” week, so use this time to test the proverbial black and white water. Shoot landscapes from February 1-4. Take note of how black and white effects the sky (especially cloudy ones). Look for contrasts of texture between trees, earth, water or other details. Shapes can also be a key visual element in landscapes and of course the lighting will have a profound effect on the picture in general, so take notice of how it is falling on your subject and the time of day you’re taking your picture.
February 1-4 Landscapes (or cityscapes)
Looking Ahead-
The rest of the month will play out as follows:
February 5-11 Focus on elements of composition with Architecture
February 12-18 Non-traditional flash: Playing with Toning and Tone Splitting- a colorful twist to black and white photography * OR * do a traditional week of black and white with February 14 featuring your Flash of Red! Use selective coloring on a red subject (instructions to follow). And wait until the end of the month to see it pop!
February 19-25 Exploring Negative Space: Negative space simplifies your composition, draws attention to your subject and highlights elements such as lighting, lines or patterns, and shape.
February 26-29 Bring out the contrast (with the option to explore what color filters do to your black and white shot) by paying attention to light. Return to landscape or architecture as your subject matter- or if you’re feeling bold and brave try portraiture!
Want to know more about the basics of black and white photography? Try these articles for further reading:
I will be posting black and white photos but probably not doing assignments. I will try to do some of the weekly assignments but just can't get out enough to do this all the time. I will try to use old photos when I can't if they work. I am the opposite of you - I love the detail I get with RAW and prefer to convert to black and white. But mostly this month makes me sad because it makes me miss Richard Sayer.
@joansmor What photos you post is up to you. Archive shots are fine. If you follow the prompts the calendar has a nice look to it at the end of the month. And yes, Richard was a huge fan of this challenge- always very supportive.
@skipt07 The last thing I remembering hearing was that his health was not good so he and his wife "left" 365 to deal with the concern, but others may have more accurate and correct information than I.
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FOR2024
As observed by Dixie the tag was missing in the first post. I've added it now- FOR2024
I'm looking forward to all your photos!
@beryl @louannwarren
Thank you Sally, Beryl, and Lou Ann- looking forward to your photos!