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11/18/2004 02:09:24 PM · #1 |
I sure hope people aren't blowing through the black and white challenge due to the volume of entries just so they can vote on all of them quickly. There are a lot of real gems in there that if you spend a few moments looking at them, you can really see details and compositional choices that are outstanding. Granted, there are stinkers in there too, but for the most part, black and white photography is a real study of light and composition and I for one, am enjoying voting on them.
-danny |
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11/18/2004 02:17:30 PM · #2 |
| I certainly agree with your observation. I for one have gone to them and looked at every image for about the 6th time now. I am still reshifting votes and hope to comment on many. There are some real fine studies here. |
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11/18/2004 02:23:33 PM · #3 |
| I was so happy to see another B&W challenge as they are my most favorite to shoot and my most favorite to view. Due to the lack of color to the shots, they seem to have to be that much more strong in compositional and contrasting elements as well lighting and subject matter. To me, b&w photos seem to carry more emotions with them for the most part. They always seem to be more visually striking to me. This has been a wonderful challenge to vote on, that's for sure. They do deserve the extra time to study all the little details and thought that people put into them. |
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11/18/2004 02:24:48 PM · #4 |
The voting for Black & White II have been very interesting. I'm usually fairly generous when voting on images that you might call advanced snapshots. When you take color out of these shots, problems like uninteresting lighting and weak composition really start to stand out. I thought that learning with black and white was something that was going away with film, but now I can see why black and white is such a powerfull learning tool.
I'm sure my average score given will drop by at least one, but I am also enjoying the good images because they really stand out from the rest of the pack.
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11/18/2004 02:26:13 PM · #5 |
I̢۪ve been spending this rainy windy day trying to finish up my first pass at the lot (which I started two days ago). Just taking a break to rest the eyes. I agree that there are some real gems in there. I dreaded doing this many but find I'm enjoying enough of them to make it worthwhile. I̢۪m also learning tons about composition and light and realize why mine is scoring in the mid to low 5̢۪s (normal for me). I plan on making a second pass tonight and also try to comment on at least some.
Time for a snack and then return!
Message edited by author 2004-11-18 14:28:32. |
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11/18/2004 02:38:49 PM · #6 |
| I have been trying to do around 40 a day, trying to comment on all, and have been taking a considerable amount of time on each. There is so much more to a black and white photo, than to color and it really shows. |
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11/18/2004 03:36:44 PM · #7 |
This challenge really seems to bring out those who put effort into their submission vs. those who just took a picture and desaturated it. I've come across some images that I know would not work in color, but made me say wow! in b/w. It's the same ephphany I reached when I really started to study Ansel Adam's work.
A successful shot is so much about the qualities which b/w emphasize. One of the best virtues of a study in b/w as a novice photographer (for me anyway!) is that it reduces the complexity of an image to discrete elements. Color tends to merge those elements. When I look at b/w work, it becomes easier to ask and answer the question, "Why did I (they) take this picture?". Often, the lack of an answer speaks volumes.
This basic question of subject definition is easily lost in the complexity of a color image because of beautiful colors working to bring the elements together, yet the overall composition *could* have been better if the b/w effect was taken into account to improve contrast, shape definition, etc.
As a result of the critiquing/voting I've been doing on this challenge (will it ever end?!?), I think I'm going to start a b/w landscape project to focus on highly communicative design elements. By that, I mean a very simple and clear subject whose presentation is only enhanced by surrounding elements... Trying to work on simplifying my images to their most basic message. I really think this challenge in particular is going to give me some great inspiration going into the fall/winter.
Message edited by author 2004-11-18 15:37:02.
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11/18/2004 04:38:49 PM · #8 |
| I have been away from this site for awhile, but I it seems to me that there are more quality shots in this challenge than we often see in the typical challenge. In some cases, there are shots that are pretty interesting as black and white that I really don't think would work very well in color. But overall, maybe people have paid more attention to improving their composition, lighting, etc. Anyway, I do like the results, overall. |
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11/18/2004 05:19:49 PM · #9 |
I am only a third of the way through voting, but yes, there are some absolutely stunning shots in the challenge, I am enjoying voting on it more than I have for a while (I am biased though, I always love B&W photography).
There are a few though which I think should never have been B&W and would have been far better in colour, and strike me as "Hmmmm, need something to enter, that one is a great photo so I'll convert that" unfortunately taking it from a great colour photo to an average B&W one.
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11/18/2004 06:22:12 PM · #10 |
Originally posted by cghubbell:
A successful shot is so much about the qualities which b/w emphasize. One of the best virtues of a study in b/w as a novice photographer (for me anyway!) is that it reduces the complexity of an image to discrete elements. Color tends to merge those elements. When I look at b/w work, it becomes easier to ask and answer the question, "Why did I (they) take this picture?". Often, the lack of an answer speaks volumes. |
I had the good fortune to take a photography course from Ruth Bernhardt at University of San Francisco a long time ago. I still remember what she said. Two messages that came across loud and clear: "the subject of photography is light" and "color should be one of the subjects in a color photo - if it isn't, shoot the photo in black and white." She was an amazing lady and a great photographer. Ann
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