Landscapes in Monochrome
Landscape photographer Ansel Adams’ work in the mid 1900’s was know for its portrayal of sweeping vistas and beautiful mountains. The format he used was monochrome or black and white. At the time, this was one of the few ways to present a photograph. Adams’ work took photography of the day to a higher level. His meticulous work in the dark room and superior composition elevated his images. His body of work was truly an early art form!
Over time, technology “developed” and photo artists gained numerous formats to choose from. Black and white remains popular today: Some view B&W as nostalgic, Others appreciate the drama that can be conveyed with the contrasting light and dark tones.
This blog contains original monochrome photography that was captured on film around 1980. More recent images are also included that were produced using full color digital images.
The sea wind blows almost continuously along the shore in Rockport, Texas. Over the years, the mighty oak trees have bent with the wind. The original image was produced on film in 1990.
This Coastal Texas image shows a nearby sailboat peacefully anchored near shore. The image was captured on film in the mid 1980s.
A mountain lake near Kebler Pass in Colorado is featured here. This image was shot using high resolution digital camera and later converted to monochrome in post processing. The image features a wide tonal range very characteristic of Ansel Adams style. It also contains interesting textures which work well in black and white.
This photo was taken during a a cattle round up near Crested Butte, Colorado. It was captured in digital and converted to Black and White.
The images shown above were taken digitally. The inclusion of people helps the viewer connect with the scene.
The scene above is named “Winter in Paris.” In this photo the trees appear to extend indefinitely and the stark contrast of monochrome adds to the cold feel of the winter environment. It was taken in 1980 using a single lens reflex Canon A1 with Plus-X B&W film.
This is the famous French Cathedral of Notre Dame. The inclusion of the River Seine adds a useful compositional element.
This is a Paris street scene also captured near the River Seine.
The boat scene above is another example of images captured on black and white film. Notice how the various textures stand out with this format.
A silhouette shown above can have a very dramatic look in black and white. This image was taken digitally then converted to monochrome.
The images above were taken along Saint Charles Avenue in New Orleans.
As you can see from the previous examples, black and white can simplify an image so that the composition takes on a more prominent role. After such a long history, it remains a worthy art form! Please view our previous blogs on this link andvisit our website.
