Monochrome – TRAVEL WORDS

Monochrome Madness | Backlight

This week’s Monochrome Madness is being hosted by the lovely Brian from Bushboy’s World (hence why I often refer to him as BB) and his chosen theme is Backlighting.

What is backlighting I hear you say? Essentially it is using a light source that is not directly behind you to create a more dramatic scene. It’s best not to shoot directly into the sun for instance, but having the light coming from in front or to the side of you can work well to highlight shapes and patterns in leaves or flowers, or to create soft light around the subject or to create a dramatic silhouette where the subject matter is a solid black shape.

I often shoot into the sun when I am at the beach because it creates that lovely sun glitter on the water and here I think it accentuates the rolling waves.

And in this instance you get the liquifying effect of water on the sand and the silhouettes of happy dogs chasing along the shoreline.

Shooting the light through leaves can create a transparent effect. I’m not sure this works as well in black and white as it does in colour, but it is something I do frequently when photographing leaves and flowers. A backlit tulip can be stunning.

In winter when the light is low you can often utilise this by shooting directly with the sun behind your subject. Here I waited until the sun was almost below the horizon.

I will end with one of my favourite ‘contre-jour’ photos of the entrance into the courtyard of the Louvre, Paris, France. The figures closer to the light source are more defined, whilst the figures closer to the camera are more solid shapes.

All photos were taken in colour and edited using Photoshop Elements and Nik Silver Efex Pro 2.

Thank you Brian, I hope you enjoyed these!

Red Squares in July

It’s the last day for Becky’s SimplyRed Squares.

A Red Letter Day

I had this photo in mind right from the beginning of the challenge, but decided to use it for the end. A family portrait taken at Christmas 2011 with four of the grandchildren. Now there are eight, but chances of getting them all together is very slim.

Once again thanks to Becky for another interesting challenge – the only rule being that at least one photo must be SQUARE!

Day 31

Monochrome Madness | Music

This week’s Monochrome Madness is being hosted by the lovely Margaret from From Pyrenees to Pennines and her chosen theme is Music. I wondered whether I had any related photos as it is a genre I don’t usually photograph, but I was surprised by what I could find. The first one taken in Victoria Falls in December 2000 was memorable by its location and also the fact that these guys are actually blind.

I seem to be fond of drummers though don’t let my OH hear me say that.

Drummers in Chinese New Year Parade, San Francisco

Drumming the beat at the Brolly Parade, Kirkcudbright Jazz Festival

Brass instruments also at the Kirkcudbright Brolly Parade (also the feature image is from that event)

A music ensemble on Millennium Green, Ludlow during the Arts festival

Music score

A Welsh organ

My singer-songwriter OH playing at the St Just Lafrowda festival in 2023

And there is nothing better than listening to music than dancing to it!

Well, thank you Margaret, that was fun!

Monochrome Madness | Trees

One thing that I noticed whilst living in Shropshire was the way the trees looked, especially in winter. Weirdly shaped limbs reaching for the sky, often looking as though they were leaning over to have a conversation. I called them my Ent trees.

Ents are a species of sentient beings in J. R. R. Tolkien’s fantasy world of Middle-earth who closely resemble trees; their leader is Treebeard of Fangorn forest. Their name is derived from an Old English word for “giant”.

I always thought Shropshire and the Welsh Marches were the inspiration behind Tolkien’s novels.

Join in with Sarah this week if you have some black and white trees to share.

Flashback Friday #11

This post was published on this day in 2014 for Cee’s Black & White Challenge: ‘Found in Nature’. And yes, the photos were influenced greatly by Ansel Adams.

One of the most amazing places that I have been to is Yosemite Valley. The incomparable scenery, soaring cliffs, spectacular views and cascading waterfalls moved me so much that I wrote this piece about my feelings.

(click any image to enlarge and see the details)

Here are a few photos from that natural wonder. I hope they make as much an impression on you as they did on me.

*Mount Watkins Reflection at Mirror Lake*

This post is a contribution to Fandango’s Flashback Friday. Have you got a post you wrote in the past on this particular day? The world might be glad to see it – either for the first time – or again if they’re long-time loyal readers.