SWFeral Loc: SWNM

All my canyons are favorites depending on which one I'm hiking in; Cherry Creek Canyon was today's excursion, and therefore today's favorite. Because the day was overcast and wet (a rain/snow mix, hallelujah) I looked specifically for scenes that would look best in black and white. Some of you will argue that ANY photo looks better in color and I disagree, but bearing that in mind I did include a couple of color images to help you get oriented. It fascinates me to see how removing color can really emphasize line, shape, texture, and pattern. It can also produce a more abstract result, and that suits me as well.

Blah, blah, blah, who really cares what goes on in my head? I just want to share photos that you'll enjoy. Some of these will lend themselves to further experimenting with duo- and tri-tone processing, but I'll save that for a REALLY rainy day when I can't get out, or won't. I do occasionally show good judgement.

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lamiaceae Loc: San Luis Obispo County, CA

Those are neat! I like B&W and do B&W conversions as I can still think/see images in B&W from my film days. I sometimes (probably like you) purposefully shoot something figuring to present it in B&W.

By-The-Way, I have a friend who now lives in NCNM in El Rito. It snows there a lot! He moved there from Pasadena, CA after retiring.

SWFeral Loc: SWNM

Thanks. I guess I appreciate B/W because both my parents were enthusiasts, plus my dad had his own darkroom.

Once I start seeing without color on my hikes, it's hard for me to switch gears. I think it's a good exercise for the brain (though I have no evidence that mine has improved from it).

I had to look El Rito up because I couldn't remember where it was. It's six hours north of here, so they get more snow than we do. Maybe this year will surprise us!

luvmypets Loc: Born & raised Texan living in Fayetteville NC

Very nice!! Love all the textures in your B&Ws!!

Dodie

pecohen Loc: Central Maine

They are all great. #4 is my favorite, the the last is most thought-provoking. Are the reflections from a piece of obsidian?

Manglesphoto Loc: 70 miles south of St.Louis

raymondh Loc: Walker, MI

I think these are exceptionally well toned!

SWFeral Loc: SWNM

Thanks, Dodie. I love revealing the richness of texture through B/W, and the fact that the rock was wet from rain enhanced that. I kept things kind of dark to match the mood.

SWFeral Loc: SWNM

Thank you. #4 is simply a tight view of the patterns in the wet rock, and #10 shows a depression in the rock, maybe three feet across, that has caught water. If I were working in color I'd have used my polarizing filter to remove the reflection on the surface of the water and deepen the hues in the rock, but this added to the abstract drama.

SWFeral Loc: SWNM

I'm glad you liked these. Thanks for looking.

SWFeral Loc: SWNM

Thanks for looking. I guess what I like about B/W is its wide range of possibilities, whereas if I'd presented color versions of these images I'd be limited (or should be limited) to results that look believable.

Curmudgeon Loc: SE Arizona

Very nice set. I like the inclusion of the color that show off the stark differenced between the two mediums. I appreciate the difficulty of creating a B&W image, my failures greatly outnumber my successes. Keep up the good work

dreff Loc: Bow, WA

👍

SWFeral Loc: SWNM

Thanks, I appreciate your feedback. Obviously I am not posting my failures--I can't even count that high. For me it is a good exercise and keeps me from getting bored with my own images. One thing I do not do is take a bunch of photos that aren't very good and then try to salvage a few by doing a conversion. If they're not good to begin with, no amount of processing is going to fix that.

SWFeral Loc: SWNM

I appreciate your looking.