Creative Photography

[Pblakeney]

I'm mostly rubbish with B&W, both because I think it needs a different eye for composition, but also in getting the levels right in any tweaks. I think often B&W needs playing around with on the contrast front to make shapes & tones more obvious, but WoW also does some lovely soft ones when doing misty woodland scenes. So what do I know?

B&W is a good aid to composition, if your camera can display B&W, as it removes the distraction of colour so you concentrate on shapes and texture. Something like that, I saw it on YT and found that it works even if ultimately using colour. Most effective when being slow and deliberate, not so good for sports. 😂

 

[Pblakeney]

Last post of the day. My mind wandered today while I was out on the bike, as it often does 😉. I had a flashback to a memory from about 20 years ago on a photography forum where a poster was studying photography and his tutor would send him a text at random times. The challenge was to get a shot within 10 minutes without moving more than 10 feet. This was obviously done on film so no timestamp and trust was involved however the point wasn't the end photo, the challenge was having to be creative. A neat idea.
I thought, right why not do it right here, right now; as Fatboy Slim might say. A bit formulaic but still...

 

[Way-Out-West]

I'm mostly rubbish with B&W, both because I think it needs a different eye for composition, but also in getting the levels right in any tweaks. I think often B&W needs playing around with on the contrast front to make shapes & tones more obvious, but WoW also does some lovely soft ones when doing misty woodland scenes. So what do I know?

I feel high contrast B/W works well in many situations (like rjsterry’s), but conversely softer low contrast is preferable (generally) for nature/woodland shots. For these I sometimes add a colour tint so monochrome really.
I’ve been trying some bolder high contrast B/W recently on the coast, but am a bit photography blind at the moment and can’t tell if I like them or not.

 

[Way-Out-West]

Went for a walk with the wife today. Merely confirmed that "nice" is not necessarily photogenic.
Anyway, shooting at midday never is the best for light so I thought I'd try B&W. As I shoot in RAW it is easy to do a comparison so what's the opinion; B&W or colour? Not fussy either way but it is nice to get other's opinions.

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I'm about 50-50 with these (B/W or colour). Personally, I might prefer a square crop on the right hand side as that's the strongest area.

 

[briantrumpet]

I feel high contrast B/W works well in many situations (like rjsterry’s), but conversely softer low contrast is preferable (generally) for nature/woodland shots. For these I sometimes add a colour tint so monochrome really.
I’ve been trying some bolder high contrast B/W recently on the coast, but am a bit photography blind at the moment and can’t tell if I like them or not.
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It's a funny thing, isn't it, when you just can't decide if you like a shot/edit or not. I think I'd want to do a lot of reading about B&W photography on digital cameras if I were going to make more of an effort. I think it probably takes more than just trial and error, and the colour that helps my touristy tat is taken out of the equation.

 

[briantrumpet]

I'm about 50-50 with these (B/W or colour). Personally, I might prefer a square crop on the right hand side as that's the strongest area.

One of my techniques for cropping is if the deleted area has no real interest in itself (often just plain texture) and doesn't balance the composition otherwise, it can go.

 

[briantrumpet]

Not sure on that shot though - the darkness of the evergreen (evergrey) trees does help the composition, I think.

 

[Ian H]

Here are two very different photos, one b&w, the other taken just before dawn and with subdued colours as a result. Both are just phone pics.

 

[briantrumpet]

Here are two very different photos, one b&w, the other taken just before dawn and with subdued colours as a result. Both are just phone pics.
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I'm sure I know where you took that top photo... looks kinda familiar...

 

[Way-Out-West]

It's a funny thing, isn't it, when you just can't decide if you like a shot/edit or not. I think I'd want to do a lot of reading about B&W photography on digital cameras if I were going to make more of an effort. I think it probably takes more than just trial and error, and the colour that helps my touristy tat is taken out of the equation.

It is a weird one, what seemed like a nice shot one day can be a delete the next. I think the general state of things globally has messed with my mind. A good night's sleep (yeah right) might help...

 

[rjsterry]

I suspect you could write an essay on the structures in that. Nice photo, with good use of B&W.

Aa it happens, they're both built over the top of the railway tracks leaving Liverpool Street Station. The road is in between is effectively a bridge.

 

[Pblakeney]

I feel high contrast B/W works well in many situations (like rjsterry’s), but conversely softer low contrast is preferable (generally) for nature/woodland shots. For these I sometimes add a colour tint so monochrome really.
I’ve been trying some bolder high contrast B/W recently on the coast, but am a bit photography blind at the moment and can’t tell if I like them or not.

Could have taken them myself. I think our problem is finding a key point of interest, focal point.
A key question that I once read/heard/watched is "What is it of?" If the answer is "Everything" then it will fail.

 

[Pblakeney]

I'm about 50-50 with these (B/W or colour). Personally, I might prefer a square crop on the right hand side as that's the strongest area.

You are correct, and that is where I focussed. I also liked the tunnel effect on the left side.
See my post above. 😉

 

[Pblakeney]

Here are two very different photos, one b&w, the other taken just before dawn and with subdued colours as a result. Both are just phone pics.

Second one is nice and moody.

 

[Crapaud]

Forum noob!

I'm surprised to find a photography sub-forum with a creative photography thread on a cycling forum, but as my other hobby is just this, I feel compelled to join in.

I'm more into street photography with a dabble in fine art street.

Anyhoo, here's one to be going on with ...