Is it a phase or is it permanent?

[ronlane]

Okay, for about the last month, I have found myself converting more and more photos to black and white. Is this just a phase or is this something that I'm totally addicted with no cure to be found?

Here are a few more from this weekend, that I converted.

1) Same barbed wire as before with a different lens, crop and angle.


Afternoon walk-5-2 by Ron_Lane, on Flickr

2) Where am I?


Afternoon walk-2 by Ron_Lane, on Flickr

3) Union Pacific time.


Afternoon walk-1-2 by Ron_Lane, on Flickr

 

[DarkShadow]

Good question because I find my self liking b&w a lot, especially street shots. For example, Some street shots may have subtle colors but then have a area that's vibrant and distracting. If it gets converted to b&w my eyes seem to rest easier on the subject if that makes any sense. I like color and saturation to but less then I did when I first started shooting and seems my perception has changed for some unknown reason to me. I still don't like b&w in wildlife though.

 

[Derrel]

We're gonna' send photowrangler out the to OK, to beat the B&W right outta' you, Ron! lol !

I like the Yukon sign on the building shot, and the barbed wire shot is actually pretty interesting to look at. The way I see it, photos that are designed with a lot of line, shape, mass, texture, and tonal variation are well-suited to B&W. Like the barbed wire on the pole: loads of lines, which create shapes, paired against a solid mass that itself has loads of textural clues: THAT is the type of subject that works well in B&W. Supremely well. The same can be said for the Yukon sign on the old building: lines, shapes, masses, textures, tonal variations...again, a NATURAL B&W type of subject matter.

 

[ronlane]

Good question because I find my self liking b&w a lot, especially street shots. For example, Some street shots may have subtle colors but then have a area that's vibrant and distracting. If it gets converted to b&w my eyes seem to rest easier on the subject if that makes any sense. I like color and saturation to but less then I did when I first started shooting and seems my perception has changed for some unknown reason to me. I still don't like b&w in wildlife though.

I can relate totally. It seems that I'm making virtual copies of just about every photo and trying a b&w conversion on it just to see. My wife even commented that I'm doing a lot of b&w lately.

We're gonna' send photowrangler out the to OK, to beat the B&W right outta' you, Ron! lol !

I like the Yukon sign on the building shot, and the barbed wire shot is actually pretty interesting to look at. The way I see it, photos that are designed with a lot of line, shape, mass, texture, and tonal variation are well-suited to B&W. Like the barbed wire on the pole: loads of lines, which create shapes, paired against a solid mass that itself has loads of textural clues: THAT is the type of subject that works well in B&W. Supremely well. The same can be said for the Yukon sign on the old building: lines, shapes, masses, textures, tonal variations...again, a NATURAL B&W type of subject matter.

Go ahead and send said photowrangler to see me. I see what you are saying about the sign and the barbed wire. Where as the train, not so much. It's one of those that I just had to try the conversion on.

Just another step in the journey.

Thank you for the responses.

 

[pixmedic1 1]

My condolences Ron..
The wife and I both hope that this horrible affliction soon passes and that you are able to make a speedy recovery.

 

[astroNikon]

I love the first two
but couldn't figure out what I didn't like about the last one until I thought about it.
But the railroad car is superbright and the other two photos are on the dark side across the entire image. And as Derrel indirectly alludes about, the railroad car is a few flat slabs lacking detail.

did you add vignettting too?

 

[sashbar]

I like the Yukon shot. I think you have just discovered how powerfully a B&W image brings out the shapes, lines, geometry, shadows, contrasts and as a result - the drama that is present in an image. And it is a great thing. It means that you are developing your visual culture, so to speak. I do not think it is permanent or a phase. Treat it as a new opportunity, you have just broadened your choice of artistic interpretation. :thumbup:

 

[ronlane]

My condolences Ron..
The wife and I both hope that this horrible affliction soon passes and that you are able to make a speedy recovery.

Thanks Pixmedic, Since I got a 70-200mm f/4L yesterday, I can see that I'll be getting back to some portrait work shortly.

I love the first two
but couldn't figure out what I didn't like about the last one until I thought about it.
But the railroad car is superbright and the other two photos are on the dark side across the entire image. And as Derrel indirectly alludes about, the railroad car is a few flat slabs lacking detail.

did you add vignettting too?

Thank you astroNikon. I did add a light vignetting to them. click on the link and see the color version of the train and the sign.

I like the Yukon shot. I think you have just discovered how powerfully a B&W image brings out the shapes, lines, geometry, shadows, contrasts and as a result - the drama that is present in an image. And it is a great thing. It means that you are developing your visual culture, so to speak. I do not think it is permanent or a phase. Treat it as a new opportunity, you have just broadened your choice of artistic interpretation. :thumbup:

Thanks sashbar, I am learning about what is making a good b&w and I see it as adding another tool to my toolbox.

 

[paigew]

I don't think its a phase. I think you have been sucked in to the bw club. Almost all my personal work is bw.

 

[KmH]

It was summed up nicely by sashbar.
You want it to be permanent.

I have to think more and work harder at making good B&W images than I have to to make good color images.

Most of my fine art photography work has been done in B&W.

 

[ronlane]

I don't think its a phase. I think you have been sucked in to the bw club. Almost all my personal work is bw.

Sweet a new club, lol.

It was summed up nicely by sashbar.
You want it to be permanent.

I have to think more and work harder at making good B&W images than I have to to make good color images.

Most of my fine art photography work has been done in B&W.

Keith, you are right, I want it to be permanent but only if I am doing it right.

 

[Rick58]

Some subjects render themselves to B&W, while others do not. With film you had to pre-visualize the final print before snapping the shutter. Not simply throw a switch back and forth to see which you prefer. I still do that with digital. I know before snapping the shutter if I will process it as B&W or color. Almost never do I change my mind while at the computer.
I look through the B&W gallery and see so many photographs that have no logical reason to be converted other then it's the new "in" thing.

I really enjoy your post and wire. I think I personally would have lost the space on the right a zoomed in on some of the post and wire textures, but that's just an opinion. There are some wonderful textures on that post. Nice contrast and nice tones. Nicely done.

 

[limr33 3]

I've always been drawn to B&W. As mentioned, certain subjects lend themselves better to it. Images that feature a lot of lines, patterns, angles, geometry...they seem to work better in black and white. And of course light is important in every image, but I find that light becomes even more important in black and white. I feel it can be the actual subject more often than it can in color pictures. I think I just gravitate towards those kinds of pictures anyway, which is probably why I've gravitated towards black and white more than towards color.

So this could be a phase that you are going through as you are learning different ways of seeing or developing a...dare I say, "style"? ... or it might be the beginning of a beautiful friendship

 

[timor]

Okay, for about the last month, I have found myself converting more and more photos to black and white. Is this just a phase or is this something that I'm totally addicted with no cure to be found?

I hope for full transition to b&w together with switching to b&w film to not just "convert" but to think and create straight in b&w.

 

[KariAnn]

I love B&W conversions so much that I bought an old Nikon film camera, so I could shoot B&W film in order to learn more about what the real thing looks like.