August 11, 2012

Project 52, Week 33, Monochrome (One Dominant Color) or Black/White

This week's project is about creating a photograph that is predominately one color or experiment with black and white photos.  This sounds easy, but I have a feeling it won't be. 

You can take a picture of a wall if you must, but try to compose a photo with different tones of the same color.  Some examples: a bowl of fruit or vegetables - the same kind of fruit (apples, oranges, bananas, potatoes, etc) are the same color, but of varying hues. A beach (not the water part - just the beach, a desert, a lawn.  A white dog on a white couch.  A pile of stones.  A tree trunk.

Things to consider:
  • Remember the other composition guidelines.
  • Composition of a monochromatic photograph is about tones and shadows, and textures which create shadows and tones.
  • We see in color and not all subjects make good black and white photographs.
  • Shoot in color, then convert to black and white in post-editing.  Unless you're using black and white film or you have a camera that you can set to black and white.
  • Check out the links below for inspiration.

Suggested Readings and Photographic Examples:

Monochrome
  1. Monochromatic Color at Basic Camera Photography; 5 good tips
  2. 32 Beautiful Examples of One Color Dominate Photography by Bill Jones at the Photo Argus
  3. 45 Examples of Monochromatic Color Dominance in Photography at Tripwire Magazine
  4. 5 Ways To Use Color in Your Photography by Mike Small at Shutter Mike Photography; Section 1 is about Monochromatic photography but it's only 1 paragraph so you may want to read the rest of it.
  5. Monochromatic Color by Amber Smith at TrekEarth; 70 monochromatic photos from around the world
  6. Life in Different Colors at Creative Overflow; just photos

Black and White
  1. 5 Black and White Photography Tips by Darren Rouse at Digital Photography School; short illustrated article
  2. Mastering the Art of Black and White Photography/ by Andrew Gibson at photo tuts+; longish article with many photos and links to black and white photographers
  3. The Ansel Adams Gallery - Ansel Adams' photography
  4. Monochrome Photography by Peter Hogan; black and white photos
  5. Black and White Photography by Alister Bern at NatureScapes.com; a rather comprehensive well illustrated article
  6. How Color Influences Black & White Photography by Mark Wallace at Adorama TV; 22 minute YouTube video
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