Friday, November 21, 2014

Around the World in Black and White

There is a certain simplicity but also dramatic vibe in black and white imagery. Maybe it's the lack of color, maybe it's the fact that these type of images are more open to interpretation then others. There so much you can do with light and shadow, that just wouldn't work in a color image.

So for today, we are visiting some places around the world, and taking a different look at them through these black and white images.

click on the images for a bigger view

1. The Old Bridge, Mostar

The Old Bridge in Mostar is a common photo subject for tourists and locals here in Mostar. Taking a look at the familiar scene in black and white somehow transforms you back into the past, as if the sight is from another era.


2. Fisherman's Bastion, Budapest

The Fisherman's Bastion, which we visited extensively in our Budapest travel series, has lots of hidden paths and lookout spots. Revisiting this shot in black and white, brings out the shadows of those corridors more, and leads the eye straight to the three big towers, over looking the city.



3. The Rama Lake Valley, Prozor

I think that this next shot clearly demonstrates that black and white photography works well for landscapes. The shadows of the hills and mountains play with each other, and build upon each other, creating waves of grey, black and white. If you want to convert your own color landscape images to black and white landscapes visit my tutorial I did on this subject.


4. Roofs in the Village, Krucevici

This is small village in south Herzegovina. Autumn is coming to an end slowly, and the roofs are covered with dying leaves. It's truly the end of the season.


5. Sultan Ahmed Mosque, Istanbul

Stones of the past are contrasted with the moody sky of today, as we take a look at the back entrance to the Sultan Ahmed Mosque in Istanbul Turkey. In our travel series to Istanbul, we have seen many colorful sight of this, truly unique city on the Bosporus, but a conversion of the scene into black and white also brings out the history behind every wall.


6. The Gates to the Tower, Pocitelj

I think this next image shows, how this was perhaps the only editing choice I could have made with it. The black and white is somehow part of the scene, and doesn't separate from it. The stony path leads all the way to the tower, that is looking down on the old town Pocitelj. One of the many toursit spots in south Bosnia and Herzegovina.



Do you like black and white photography, and do you like converting your own images into black and white/monochrome?




I'm closing this work week of with a song Agnes Obel "Riverside" (and a black and white music video, so it fits). Take a listen, I think you will like it. It's very relaxing.



36 comments:

  1. This is the 2nd time trying to leave a comment. GRRR!! I this all these shots (bar one) look great in B & W. I didn't think the close up of the leaves in the roof works well. The building and stone work are excellent subjects for B&W. I like it very much although I have not tried much but would like to.

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    1. Thanks for trying again with the comment. Glad you enjoyed these. The roof one is very textured, but I like it because it makes you look closer to see what is there. But thanks for your input!

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  2. Yes I love b/w just don't do it enough but on my blog today I have done a couple. I love the 3D effect of your images which is truly beautiful photography.

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  3. You know I missed the video the first time but it is very relaxing. Now I have changed 2 of my random shots into B & W and just published them on Google + I would appreciate if you see them to let me know if they are any good (only honest comments or suggestions please) they were in colour. HOw could I improve them, if they are worth improving.

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    1. OK. I will check them out on your Google+ profile. If anything you have my Black and White Conversion tutorial here with step by step instructions and as reference.

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  4. The last image is my favourite!! Just the grass on top of the arch, and the mystery of the road...

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  5. hello Mersad, again a nice post you resent us!
    I began to experiment with black and white converting on my blog on 22/10/2014 (I never did it before). I liked it very much. I just ended a serie of 11 post and it was a great experience to me.
    It's a fact that you see your pictures in a different way.
    Ôooooo, I do love that song of Agnes Obel! It's one of my favourites!
    Have a nice weekend, Hilde

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  6. The last is a real beauty and worth a print.

    It's always down to taste but I struggle with landscapes in B&W unless I dodge out great lumps. They can look a bit bitty as they can in colour.

    The Gate to the Tower and the one you did of your sister laughing in B&W are images I will remember. The latter one could have done with a bit more selective contrast if I remember. Bits of her tended to flow into the background.

    I am going to do more monochrome as the RAW converter is great for it. I just wish I could see which bits are important and which bits are there just to enhance.

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    1. I agree. Black and White Photography (but really that's the case with all photography) is ALL to taste. I don't recall that "flow into the background" being an issue with that particular shot you mention though. Here it is again.

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    2. I know your replies pop up everywhere. It's my fault. I will answer as follows. I replied somewhere else

      Mersad, I know this was taken without reflectors. I still think it is a great shot. I wasn't being nasty. Her face just lacks definition. Darken the background and it would be perfect. As you know I am not a picture editor.

      I have e-mails from people that admire their own work, I have even more from producers that don't want to pay for mine. None at all from knowledgeable people that think I'm the best since David Bailey and say Adrian we will pay £2k a day.

      I do like the shot. She is a lovely subject. If she doesn't then she should think of modelling. She looks natural. Can she lean against a dirty stone or take direction or stand in a freezing bit of river. Probably not. It takes me ten minutes which I can't afford but have to, to get, so called, professional models chatting and then snap them. Half the time they are charging more than I am.
      I never aspire higher than second camera but it is interesting to see proper film studios at work outside.
      This year I took the promotional stills for an ITV programme. I found two German lasses. They were naturals but when the director shouted they ran away. I gave him hell and got them back but they were never as good as the first video shot. I told them not to sign the release forms. They felt bullied.

      I remember now. What was the joke?

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  7. I like your attitude about experimenting as well as your photos. Each one you posted is special in its own way.

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  8. All the photos are perfectly lovely, Mersad! The subdued colors of shades of grey works more on our imagination. Though I couldn’t understand what the fourth image was about without your explanation, my favorites are the third and the sixth ones which made me feel wandering into another world.

    Yoko

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  9. the rocky terrain is fantastic for b&w! very powerful.

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  10. I like some black and white and the arch and the mountains are my favorites today. i did not think i would liek a mountain view in black and white but this ones is stunning...

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  11. There is a drama about the B&W shots and these are terrific, as always!! Have a great weekend, Mersad!!

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  12. Beautiful long shot of the mountains! =0)

    Floral Friday

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  13. Awesome photos! I especially like #6 -- the lines and texture. I've been experimenting with converting color to B&W photos. So far my photos that don't look too busy work the best in B&W. I like how I can see so much more in a scene in B&W.

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  14. Ich mag grundsätzlich nur farbige Bilder, aber die sind so auch sehr schön. Ich liebe dieses Mostar-Bild. Liebe Grüße

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  15. Your photography is exquisite!


    I love BW photography and have been doing more and more of it. Seems to draw me in with a zen like feel when I am taking the photo or viewing other photographers.

    Happy Weekend to you,
    artmusedog and carol
    www.acreativeharbor.com

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  16. I DO like B&W photography but I think it's actually harder to do successfully than colour is. You are blessed with lots of ancient places that work well in B&W. PLUS you are a very good photographer.

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  17. All these places you have shown us would be beautiful in black and white or color..You have visited such wonderful places and I so appreciate that you share them with us. I do more color than I do black and white but often I will get a feel that I would like a particular shot better in black and white...

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    1. I also do more color photography then black and white, but it's nice to switch it up from time to time.

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  18. Gorgeous photos! So dramatic and even almost vintage-y, especially the picture of Mostar. So jealous that you've been to Istanbul - checking out your series right now!

    -Raza from www.thetravelixir.com

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    1. Thanks Raza. I hope you will enjoy the Istanbul series.

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  19. Absolut beeindruckende Fotos! Wunderschön!

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  20. Black and white is a favorite of mine. These are gorgeous images!

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  21. Hi Mersad,
    All photos are lovely.
    My dad lots of work in B&W.
    I particularly love the Rama Valley.
    Peace :)

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  22. Wonderful b&w photography. Like you said about your first photo, b&w can take you back in time. I convert a lot of my images to b&w... some I prefer in color, some in b&w. For me, it just depends on the image.

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    1. Yes, it really depends on the image. Thanks for visiting.

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  23. Mersad, Your image of the bridge is perhaps my favorite. My new Nikon has a "effect" setting that take B&Ws...interesting, but I'm still a color guy! Tom The Backroads Traveller

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  24. Beautiful tour around the world in Black and White.

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  25. Wonderful work Mersad, all beautiful

    Ciao
    Stefano

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  26. Your images translate so beautifully in B&W. I don't know what it is about B&W photography but it brings an element to the scene that color just simply cannot. Oh, I'm a HUGE fan of the colors of this world (hence the name of my blog) :-) but I think B&W is very special. Thank you for this interesting post! I have some B&W images that my daughter took about seven years ago that I will be sharing within the next few weeks.

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  27. I've always liked b&w photography. Perhaps it is the focus on light and shadow, composition, and line, but I'm not sure. You have several stunning b&w photos here, especially #1 and 6 are outstanding. Keep up the good work.

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  28. Nice work! My favorite is The Gates to the Tower.

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