lens-artists: exploring color – b&w

This week Patti invites photographers to explore a couple of questions in regards to black and white vs color images: 1) When is it best to use one vs the other? 2) What’s the benefit of each one?

First I have to admit that even though I have read various articles about what types of photographs are ideal for black and white, I generally move in and out of an experimental flow of emotional responses.

For example the first image was edited in Capture One from a raw file to a jpg. The black and white image was edited in Silver Efex Pro2. The last was edited in Color Efex Pro 4 which, for me, invokes a stimulus response of soft and gentle.

As I’ve been experiencing difficulties using Photoshop and Capture One due to upgrades, I made the very difficult decision to cancel both subscriptions. Anyone have any recommendations for editing programs that will work with an ISO 13.7.3?

Thank you for visiting.

lens-artists: above

Ritva (Ritva Sillanmäki Photography) has invited lens-artist to “… Shoot From Above this week! Let’s get creative with a top-down perspective. Let’s have fun”.

Bird’s-eye View

When photographing a subject from above, it is known as a “bird’s-eye view”. This could be taken from up in the sky, such as when flying in a plane, or could simply be taken by standing on a ladder, slightly above your subject. Photographing from this point of view can make viewers feel as though they are superior to the subject – such as a stern father looking down on his misbehaving child – or protective over the subject. If the subject is an inanimate object, it can sometimes make the viewer feel as though there is a separation between them and the subject. (cited: The New York Film Academy)

celebrating your win…

Within the stillness of those far away ….

far away from the roaring fires ….

far away from the tears of loss …

far away from an uncertain future …

far away from life in ashes …

far away from grief and loss …

Within the pondering of the why …

an absence of compassion?

unaffected by the loss of others?

time to point criticizing fingers?

tossing their millions here: millions there?

to party onwards?

celebrating their win?

while others grieve their loss

within the deafening roaring fires?

lens artists: last chance

This week’s lens-artists invitation is to share images created in 2024 that either did not meet the criteria for a theme or were created after a specific theme was published.

I can’t recall if there has been a challenge offered this year to photograph using “illumination from behind.”

I enjoy photographing into October’s early morning sun as it seems to give life to the texture and colors of autumn leaves. These two images taken on October 27th were the last two created for the year with a Sony RX 100 3. While both images have a soft blur that initially was a bit of a disappointment, I do enjoy the bokeh and intense yellows and greens,

Within this image I enjoy the soft highlights along the edges of the leaves in the upper right corner.

Within this image, I like how the sun has given a golden glow to the leaves on the stem that moves from the middle of the image to the lower right.

May this year transition to a new year with a global movement towards compassion for all life.