What I've found is that Digital Photography affords me the luxury of post production. Thanks to the marvel of Photoshop, Lightroom, and Bridge, I can now shoot as I always have, but when a special image pops out that deserves to be black and white, I now no longer have to rue the missed opprotunity.
I love the way people look in black and white. The gentle shades and tones can really bring a persons focus out in a way that colors might dramatically change. This shot was taken during a Stand Easy Concert and to me, it shows better then any other image I captured that night, just how passionate this guest singer was about the music.
As smooth and gradual as that one is, sometimes I prefer to showcase the strength of the lines and details in the photo of the person. I find this is especially true with action/fire shots. The uniform, the helmet, the tools, they all provide such sharp symmetry and details.
It's not limited to just people though, Animals and Flowers can also really take on a whole different look in black and white. This flower shot is almost alien in its sweeping lines.
And this K9 Search and Rescue dog's fur takes on such detail that blends together in color.
It seems sort of cliché, but some of the ones that leap out at me the most are of course, LAPD Black and whites.
The contrast inherent in the paint schemes, plus the Officers standing beside the vehicle in the second one just struck me as bland in color, but really seemed to leap out in black and white. The second one especially is a perfect example of a shot that just screamed at me to be black and white just like this next one did. The detail and reflection were something I just didn't see at all when I shot it. I was just trying for a quick snapshot of the sticker for a modeler who emailed me. It wasn't until I loaded it in lightroom that I finally saw what I didn't see in person
These two images of the Haunted Mansion and a display inside of the Pirates of the Carribean are some of my all time favorite black and white photos in my collection. It was such a perfect and beautiful day when Lisa and I were there. In color, the haunted mansion looked no different then a Dominos pizza place on the corner to be blunt. I sat and stared at this image, knowing it wasn't what I saw and it wasn't what I felt when confronted with the Disney Magic in person. I knew there was a photo there, I KNEW there was something special in front of me. I think the results speak for themselves with both images that there truly was something there and something special that only black and white could express.
Also at POTC, I did a lot of water work shots just because the park is filled with so many waterfalls, fountains and such. As great as color is, it was only when I removed the color from this fountain that the softness and the detail popped out in a dramatic way. The swirls and the movement became more important then just the colors of the rocks and the water.
This next shot is of the holiday decorations they had up around the park. When converted to an IR filter, the starkness and contrast really stands out giving it a pop that the white on a hazy sky background didn't have. It's almost twlight zone-ish.
And finally, a serendipity shot. I really don't remember what the hell I was shooting, or even why when I took this. I won't lie. For all I know, I could have just hit the button by accident. When I looked at the image later though, I fell in love with it. Standing in line at the haunted mansion, they have this intricate pattern on the ground, that with the other elements in the photo just really popped out at me. It's always like opening a birthday present when I edit pics, I just never really know what to expect or what I'll find!
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