This week and this coming weekend, I hope to be experimenting with my new Leica monochrome camera. I’ve traded in every lens and camera I’ve ever owned to buy it.
What I’m most interested in is the different feelings black and white photography stirs in comparison to the digital tsunami in photography.
I find these photos to be emotional in different ways.
I’ve taken this photo 100 times in color with my Canon and Iphone color cameras. I’ve taken very few with a monochrome – a camera that only has a black and white sensor.
One of the things I love about photography is that it always takes me in directions I wasn’t expecting to go. This version of Lulu at the gate is intimate, the camera has captured the range of shadows and the depth of field in front of and behind Lulu.
It is reflective and softer than the very literal digital camera. There is the dark shadow of the Apple tree, the shadow on the lawn in front, Lulu herself at the gate, the barn wall in the sun, and the soft brush in the rear.
Each one stands out from the other, and to me, that is what makes for a good photograph. I’m interested in seeing if others see it in the same way.
This capture captures detail and color and depth of field in a way I’ve not seen before. I have no intention of giving up color photography, the best way to share my life.
But I think this camera can be expanded by the idea of art and photography, just as my Iphone has.
I am exploring the boundaries of black and white. I’m interested to know what my readers think.
You can respond by making a comment on my Facebook Page beneath this post, or you can e-mail me: [email protected].
Thanks. I’m interested in knowing if you like this photo and if it touches you in a particular way, and if so, how. Thanks.
More restful. Feels like a softer, gentler time. Perhaps because I only have black and white pictures of my grandparent’s farm and those evoke comforting feelings.
love the black and white, it forces me to linger and look harder, engages me more in the art of the photo, the color is an exuberant distraction
This time of year the light can be very harsh and your photograph shows this, in the yard beyond Lulu. In the foreground, the tree supplies the safety of her shade and you notice sun patches coming through that you wouldn’t see in a colour photo. I feel very aware of the tree trunk which appears old and solid. And maybe it’s me, but in black and white, Lulu seems a lot smaller. Very interesting to compare and I’ll be fascinated in Winter to see your captures. Congratulations, Jon!
In some ways I am loathe to offer my observations because I am not a photographer even in an amateur sense. What I can talk to are what elements of black and white photographs most strongly move me. It is often simplicity, which creates a focus to what is being seen and captured by the photographer – the reason the button is pushed. Often it is the stark contrast of one element to another – dark/light – strident/soft – volume/emptiness. My strongest emotional responses to black and white photography do not come from a “framed scene” or pictorial reference being seen through a lens. But of course all of this just talks to my own minds eye.
I like the black and white photo
The dark tones of the tree and the stool at the gate make the lightness of the sun-lit trees and foliage a nice contrast. I like seeing the colors, too. Look forward to seeing the photographs taken with your new camera.
Although the nuance of foreground shadow is amazing, things in your Leica photo’s look “hard-edged” to me. The feeder (?) in the background – and its shadow – are almost as clearly defined as Lulu. I do like that, although in shade and dark to start with, the tree trunk and its branches show the twisting and turning of living trees – generally impossible to capture with a camera. Lulu and the scene are appealing, but what I keep looking at is the tree. Just my two cents worth of mustard.
I love to ponder over a good photo and look for the story or emotion behind it. I let the photographer do all the technical stuff to achieve this. This one of Lulu speaks loneliness, like, “Why are you not coming over here to visit with me for awhile, I sure would enjoy some company and maybe a treat while you’re at it.” Admire that you want to grow with your photography. It is endless what can be done, especially with black and white. Thanks for keeping the art form alive.
I think the photo reflects the peace of Bedlam Farm. There is something calming about a b/w photograph for me. Your photo brought back pleasant childhood memories of summers on a little family farm in NH. It lives on as some of the very best memories.
As an artist, I love b/w bc a b/w picture is so helpful in determining value and creating depth and texture when planning for the composition of a drawing or a painting.
I love color over those values to create beautiful drawings and paintings.
You are such a gift!
It’s the depth of field that I find the most amazing. Everything is clear and sharp, from the sunlit patches in the grass in the foreground to the feeder in the background. There is a huge amount of clear detail.
As Barbara says above, the depth of field is incredible. Given that you had a small (large) f -stop set that gave the focus to the depth of field, the detail in the bright sun as well as in the deep shade are absolutely stunning. I would be interested in know what the max f-stop setting is on the Monocrom. In the 1930’s, Ansel Adams was a member of a group named f/64, relating to a maximum f-stop on some cameras. I’m definitely impressed with the Leica’s early performance for you. Jealous that I can’t afford one, too 🙂 Here’s some info on the f/64 group:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Group_f/64
The tree is dark and rather sinister, making the donkey seem vulnerable and lonely in comparison. I love the photo, and there is a sad feeling in it for me.
I liked this photo right away. The first thing I noticed after the tree was Lulu, looking small with the tree looming over her. I feel that she looks hopeful for some attention. Looking at the composition, it feels perfect. The fence posts balance where Lulu stands. The dappled sunlight in the foreground introduces the bright background. Light bounces off leaves, grass, bushes, the side of the barn, and shines through the leaves and branches of the tree. This is a seemingly simple shot of a donkey. But it pulls you in to see everything. The shadows and light are emotional. The old tree is grand and I want to put my hands on its trunk to feel its wisdom. I want to look into Lulu’s eyes and share a moment with her. I want to feel the side of the barn, to see if it is warm. In my mind, this shot is definitely art.
There really is something about black and white photos that makes you linger and take in all the details. This is wonderful, and I’m looking forward to seeing so many more photos with the Leica. Just wishing I could afford one myself!