I wish I had the discipline to shoot in black and white – at least for a time. However, since I don’t, and I did want to support Sonel’s new Black and White Challenge (Week 1: Nature), a move from the lush exuberance of the tropics seemed to be in order. And then I remembered the photos I took of a storm roaring toward the Noosa River (on the Sunshine Coast, back in Oz), the day I bought my first digital camera. They might translate into monotone, I thought. See what you think.
The Wanderlust Gene 
Seems like a lot of originally full-color frames translate well to b&w when you desaturate. A foreboding storm just screams out for a b&w treatment. Nicely done, rookie. 🙂
It’s interesting – badly damaged images respond well to a black and white or sepia ‘special effects’ treatment! I’d not thought of desaturating, but I suppose I’ve done that by choosing a very simple colour pallet to convert to monotone. Glad of your approval, Tom 🙂
No’s 2 & 4 translate very well and appear very moody. You can see the storm approaching easily. The other two less so for me. Excellent pictures.
You’re right – you need to see the contrast in the clouds – those green ones didn’t translate! Thanks for the feedback David. 🙂
I can see our Monsoon coming in – those pictures are really at their best in bl/wh – well done.
You’re right – but the trick as I’m just learning now, is in the contrasts! When those greenish clouds roll in, with no contrast, the eerie light doesn’t translate, though I suspect if you were shooting in black and white film much of it would. Are you back in Kerala? We’re having terrific storms here – wind warnings all around the island again today.
I can see something’s brewing in pictures 2 and 4. Heavy clouds.
Thanks for your feedback – it’s helping me learn, which is always such a blast. 🙂
They certainly work well. I’m like you — never consider shooting in b/w — though have seen the advantages of doing so.
I’m with the others, 2 & 4 look good. I not a fan of black and white.
I love what you did with the photo’s WG! They are stunning indeed! Great contrasts with the storm clouds coming in and on the last one you can even see a bird trying to get away from it. I love it and thanks so much for participating. You are a great sport indeed! 😀 *hugs*
I’m doing the same thing, Meredith. B & W’s not for me but I often admire images in it, so gotta give it a go. 🙂
Great entries for the challenge, Meredith. Now you’ve given me an idea too. 🙂
I love these black and white captures…
Really like the last one. Using B&W is slowly growing on me. There are some photos that just seem better that way, but I really do love color.
Dear Meredith,
Sure works for me! You have captured beautifully the power of the storm as it gathers in B&W.
I like the perspective of #2, the trees and weaves of #3, and the cloud of #4. Beautiful post, Meredith!
I do love stormy skies
Yes I like them, the one you have for your header is fab, very brooding!
OH yes – very moody! Perfect for Sonel’s new photo challenge 🙂
These are incredibly striking, Wanderlust, and work so well in monochrome. Hats off to you. Really top post.
I love the way B&W brings out the highlights… and low lights 🙂
Well done.
I think they look great in B&W!
I think a storm is perfectly suited for B&W. If you’re trying to portray ominous skies, the last thing needed is a blue patch of sky, no matter how small. The gray skies and water, the occasional white cap, all really set the tone.
Reblogged this on techbeautyblog.
I like to do sepia more than black and white, but they both show more detail than colour. I think the clouds do stand out more in the black and white.
I think they work perfectly well. Perhaps no. 3 would look better with a bit more contrast, but I still like it as much as 2 and 4. The header image is my favourite though.
What an interesting coastline you have here. You can always shoot in color and change it to B&W in post processing. That way you have both. 🙂
Somber overcast moments captured to perfection.
Skies and beaches seem to make excellent choices for Black and White.
Very nice entries for Sonel’s challenge. ~~~~ : – )
I’ve forgotten what real storms are like since I moved away from Queensland. Are you a Queenslander?
Ah, yes, Queensland storms! I’m a Queenslander by adoption, I suppose you’d say – my mother was a Queenslander (who, after half a lifetime away, returned), and I lived there with them for the last ten years of their lives and will return there in a few weeks … 🙂
I’ve not yet been half a lifetime away, but when I have, I might return. But not to Brisbane – it’s bigger than Texas these days. I wish you a sweet homecoming!
Brissy was always a foreign town to me and yes, these days it’s a place to get lost in – though I did enjoy popping down (from the Sunshine Coast) to go to the theatre or to see friends. Mum always intended to return and in fact made it a condition of her consent to marry Dad – when they retired they had to go back to Qld, she said, and they did!
Cool! I guess she didn’t have the wanderlust gene, then. 😆
Oh yes, she had it, Trish – though she started later in life than me – it was Papa who didn’t have it – skipped a generation there, his mother had it in the biggest way 🙂
I suspect most of use see b/w as nostalgic. Do you remember when the Sunday Times bought out a Colour Magazine! It was so exciting and from then on b/w was associated with serious stuff. A storm is serious, b/w adding to its menace. I think it works.
Wonder what a bowl of strawberries would look like in b/w?
I agree with you about monotone adding, or heightening drama, but you might be surprised about the strawberries. I enjoyed the effect of coloured lights in black and white, and have simply adored the effects I’ve been achieving with monotone on flowers. Give it a go and see what happens … the textures of the strawberries will be very interesting to see. I don’t have access to strawberries here (well I do, but they’re soooooo expensive and soooooo hard and sour I can’t possibly justify buying a punnet for our experiment!) , but if you’re in summer time I’ll be most interested to see the results 🙂