NATURE PHOTOGRAPHY

In Awe With Nature in Black and White

Monochrome photography while nature is blooming

It’s springtime and I’m out in the fields removing the colors from my images. Sounds strange, right? Maybe it is. But there is a reason behind it.

A new photography prompt. I’ve started a challenge a few weeks ago. Together with Shruthi Sundaram, I’m taking pictures of different topics every week. We share them, give feedback, and write about our experiences.

For the latest week, I was told to shoot in black and white. Alright, again something a little out of my comfort zone since I’m a lover of vibrant colors and blooming beauties but not a reason to give up.

I stepped out of my trailer with the camera in my hand. I don’t like taking pictures in colors and then converting them afterward into monochrome. It’s not the same. It won’t give you the same results and you’ll be missing out on the experience.

Before I took the first image, I changed the settings to monochrome and switched on the screen. If I would be looking through the viewfinder, I would still be seeing everything in color.

But only by looking through the screen, and seeing the landscape in front of me in black and white, I would be able to spot shapes that stand out from the rest.

Because that is what black and white photography is about. It’s about shapes, contrasts, light, and darkness. And those are the things I was looking for.

Dried leaves on a tree branch.

A pine cone in the softness of a meadow.

A tiny flower at the side of the road.

Blooming pear trees overlooking the country road.

I was also zooming into things. Like these blossoms. To see the black seeds inside these white blossoms.

I turned to the side and saw some broken branches on the ground. Again, what I saw looking through the camera weren’t the lush green blades of grass.

I saw soft ground with sticks standing out in their size and shape.

I also captured the scene with the tractor in the fields next to this empty country road.

Not much going on here. But many different shapes and contrasts.

The birds that were following the working tractor. And the two machines standing next to each other at the edge of the field.

I saw more blossoms and decided to look up.

But that was enough of the fruit trees. I turned back into the field and saw the tall standing blades of grass in front of the bright background. I decided to take two photographs of the same blades of grass. From different angles. With different backgrounds.

This sprouting branch was also standing out to me in black and white.

It’s the shapes.

And I looked up once again.

If I would have taken this image in color it would have been pretty bland. The empty branches would have appeared more black than green and rather barren. The sky was too bright from underneath and surely not blue.

But in black and white photography, the branches stand out so much against the bright sky. Colors aren’t needed. Not for this shot.

Even looking at the forest ahead I saw beauty in the scene without adding color.

I decided to turn around again and saw these sharp blades of grass. They stood out so nicely against the bright background.

Fallen trees. Somewhat sad. Somewhat nostalgic. My feelings go crazy. But I like the mood of the scene. It’s different. Less vibrant than my usual photographs.

I looked down at the forest floor and saw lots of pine cones. And one piece of wood. Standing out from the rest like nothing else.

Contrasts.

Shapes.

I also bent down over the anthill and I did not manage to take this image without having countless tiny ants on my shoes and pants. But it did not bring me the outcome I had hoped for. Too boring. Not enough contrasting shapes.

So I looked back at the field and decided to capture a bundle of flowers with the tractor crossing the field in the background.

Pine cones. Tree branches. And more contrasting shapes.

I was getting to the end of my walk and when I looked at the next image back home I couldn’t remember why I took it.

Until I saw it.

The insect.

Well camouflaged in black and white.

This time I got too many shapes and contrasts.

Did you find it?

The next image is the give-away hint. I was in the field where butterflies were dancing. It wasn’t difficult at all to get one of these delicate creatures onto the camera.

And they do stand out in monochrome as well.

Thank you Shruthi for sending me out on this mission. I had lots of joy. I also appreciate your feedback. I was told to get out of my comfort zone, next time. Meaning NOT to photograph in nature.

The problem is just, well, I live in nature. And when I say that I mean I have to walk at least 5 kilometers until I get to a town or settlement. On my walks in the surrounding so far I haven’t encountered any humans except for myself in a mirror.

But I will do it. As soon as I get the chance, I’ll try to photograph some urban landscapes.

“We are making photographs to understand what our lives mean to us.” — Ralph Hattersley

This has been one of many prompts I have taken part in. I have started a few on my own over the past few months and people keep on responding to them. I love it.

The community out here. The people. The different cultures. The love.

So this is my way of giving back and giving credit to the people who’ve responded to my latest prompts. Sit back, read and enjoy:

Ellie Jacobson with “A Cat Living Life Along the Shadows” responds to my shadow prompt.

Ian Hanson with “Reflecting on Reflections, Automobile Mirror Edition” responds to my side-view-mirror prompt.

K. Barrett with “Nature in The Mirror” responds to my mirror prompt.

Ian Hanson with “Journeying from Far to Near” responds to my perspective prompt.

LucianoSphere with “A surprise while shooting photographs in the street” responds to my street photography prompt.

Shruthi Sundaram with “Getting Awed By Multiple Perspectives” to my photography challenge.

Shruthi Sundaram with “The Eclectic Nature of Indian Streets” to the street photography prompt

And for you my loyal reader, in case you’re a writer as well and are in need of some inspiration for your next draft, you’re welcome to respond to any of these prompts. My photography and writing challenges have no deadlines.

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