Black and White or Color...

I have found myself doing more black and white photography again.  In my film days, using the wet darkroom, I did a lot of black and white.  I sort of got out of practice of this wonderful process with the digital age.  Now, using the digital darkroom I have rediscovered this wonderful media.  It truly brings out the shadows and highlights and contrast of an image.  I even find myself thinking while taking a picture, this my very well be an image for black and white.  However, I also find myself working on an image and think, something is wrong!  Lets try it in black and white and see how it looks.  A great example of this is from an image took yesterday in the Calaveras Big Trees on Hwy 4.  This image was taken at the Stanislaus River bridge in the park.  I saw these holes in the rocks below and thought of how the water pounding on them may have caused some of this erosion.  Thinking, as strong as stone is, water can break it down.  Diane, my wife, said that the holes may have been formed by the Indians years ago while they were doing their daily chores.  Possible, but I still saw the weakness of stone when the water pounds against it.  Over many year of course, but still.  You be the judge.  I took this picture, as most of do these day in color.  I love the image, but didn't like the blue cast caused by the shade when the picture was taken.  I took the picture with a slow shutter to create  more movement in the water.  Here is what the color image looked like.  I like it, but like I said, it was lacking punch.

"Water and Stone I"

Using Nik Software, Silver Efex Pro 2, I took this image and converted it to black and white.  Immediately, the image popped and I loved it!  I think you'll see what I mean and think the same thing.

 

"Water and Stone II"

See the difference.  While most people only think color these days, black and white is truly still alive and when presented to the public, I think they see it too.

Off the subject a little.  I took another picture of this same spot using a technique I learned from a wonderful photographer and teacher, Betty Sederquist.  It's sort of ironic, because i found an article by he on the Calaveras Big Trees after taking this picture.  You can find that article at http://www.sierrafoothillmagazine.com/calaver1.html.  Anyways, while on one of her workshop trips I attended, She mentioned the use of movement of the camera in a longer exposure photograph to create interesting effects.  At the same workshop, another excellent photographer, Ryan O'Keven, went one step further and moved the zoom on the lens during the long exposure, creating another interesting effect.  I sometimes try these methods to see what I can get out of it and it worked well with this subject.  Here is an example of this technique using the zoom movement

"Water and Stone an Abstract"

Color in this instance gave a cool and calming effect.  Although this effect can be done in Photoshop, this was done in the camera.  I hope this is an article that benefits some photographers.  I always crave education and love to learn new ways to improve my photography.  Enjoy!  For more information on Betty, visit her site at http://www.sederquist.com.  And for more information on Ryan, visit him at http://www.okeven.com