Removing the Colors of the Forest

A photographic collection of the woods in B&W

Just as we got back to Germany we got to see the leftovers of a harsh winter. A forest with no life to be seen. Or let’s say barely any life. At first sight. My partner named it the “dead forest”. Which was rather accurate.

But being springtime already the landscape is changing rather quickly. Green seedlings are shooting out of the forest floor and buds are popping out of the bald branches. The green is on its way. So are the flowers.

While I started to focus and look for those tiny colorful things on the following hikes I decided to remove all colors on today’s walk. Shooting in monochrome from the beginning should offer me a new perspective on my surrounding.

On my first attempts, I captured a few flowers in the street leading into the forest. They still looked interesting. Even without color. But they looked different as well.

I quickly realized I had to look for different photo objects. While I used to look for colors that we’re sticking out in the woods this didn’t bring me any spectacular photographs anymore. Not while shooting in B&W.

I had to shift my focus. Away from colors. And move onto shapes. Different shapes in front of various backgrounds are what brings out today the better shots.

Taking an abandoned trail up the hill we walked on a bed of leaves. My husband pointed out a “game trail”. He’s still a wildlife guide. Even when outside of Africa. He spots them. The tracks. The signs. The animals.

I’m looking more for vegetation. Having the wide-angle lens on the camera I anyway would not have been able to capture any game if spotted. But this grass doesn’t look too bad.

We’re reaching the highest point of our hike. It's a clearing in the forest. Wild boar might have their playtime here during sunset. But we quickly move on. It's getting chilly.

I’m looking at seeds I’m stepping on. Different shapes I said. These are beechnuts in between dried leaves and pine needles. Some contrast in the forest floor. Not in colors. But in forms.

We’re walking on a trail covered in dried leaves. Some parts are 10 to 20 centimeters thick. Thick layers of rustling leaves of last autumn. My shoes disappear in the forest floor.

In some ditches on the side of the path is still water left. A sign of the rain from the last week.

I captured some more leaves.

And a tree starting to sprout.

This snake we found last year sometime. A big rock looking incredibly real with its painted eye. Artwork in the forest.

As it’s getting colder now we turned around and made our way back down the mountain. But we’re not getting home before taking one last shot. A shot of the forest floor. And some pine cones.

It was definitely interesting. Shooting only in B&W. Being forced to shift my focus in order to get better shots. And I’m challenging you to do the same. On your next walk through nature just shoot in monochrome. Don’t edit the color out of the picture afterward. That’s not the same. Shoot in B&W settings. And let me know how it went!

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Anne Bonfert is a traveler. Photographer. Writer. Teacher. Skydiving instructor. Adventure enthusiast. Nature lover. And fell in love with the African continent.