Monochrome

When photography was born, only monochrome pictures were possible. When it grew up, full colour blossomed.

There's something satisfying about working a subject for black and white. Eliminating the distraction of colour sometimes reveals form, line and texture more clearly. Certain vegetables are worth studying in monochrome. These were on the pavement stalls outside my local greengrocer's shop, smoothly lit by an overcast sky. I had wanted to photograph aubergines but they were hiding indoors, reflecting several overhead strip lights in a less than pleasing manner.

Hipstamatic: John S, Claunch 72 Monochrome. Diptic.

Comments

[celia]

Peter, I'm so impressed with these, because I know the limitations of Hipstamatic! I love the detail in the spinach leaf especially. As you know, I spent last week shooting with the John S and Claunch combination, and I found I learnt an enormous amount about light in the course of the week. I learnt to look for shadows which I think our eyes naturally compensate for when we look at things, but which show up very starkly in B+W photos.

[celia]

PS. I shall take your advice and try taking photos of vegetables with this combination and see how I go. Thanks..

[Peter Bryenton]

@Celia: thanks. I e-mailed you.

[J Cosmo Newbery]

Love B&W, you have to compose well and not rely on colour distracting the viewer. Nicely done.

[Peter Bryenton]

@Celia: thank you.

@JCN: Thanks; I've e-mailed you.