My surprises come usually once I start rolling and photographing.
Kim Weston
One day it was raining hard in Hollywood (Florida). As the result there was a lot
of water on the floor of the loggia of our apartment.
Raindrops continued to drop on the water in the loggia and it looked to me as a
new organism was born there.
I took my camera, zoomed it on water on the floor and took a shot. Then I made
the photo in black and white.
I got a surprise – a living monster.
This week WordPress Photo Challenge is transmogrify. It means:
“To change in appearance or form, especially strangely or grotesquely; transform.”
We know that rain used by many artists and photographers to show force of nature, its beauty, its life force.
The first picture below shows rain from the window of the 25th floor in Hollywood, Florida.
It’s darker outside, there is a lot of water on the floor of the loggia. However, there is nothing strange or grotesque in this picture.
The second picture shows a shot of rain on the floor of the loggia. I made it in black and white to strengthen the impression that all drops of rain created.
Here everything changed completely. There is a picture with many circular and non-circular shapes, there are eyes that look at you and judge you.
Hopefully, all eyes are friendly.
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Cee’s Black & White Photo Challenge: It’s All About Nature
For me nature is usually in many colors and it would be easy to show just one photo.
However, it is different in black and white. So I decided to show several photos. .
I don’t like you anymore!
People are strange!
Let’s play hide and seek!
I am watching you!
Here is an original unedited photo of seaweed on a beach.
It consists from two plants so I cropped the photo. Below are Black & White vs Color.
This post was initially inspired by Cee’s black and white challenge “Table, Chairs, Seating of Any Kind”.
Then I noticed that there is a photo challenge “Benches” and in February photos of benches also must be in B & W.
I already took part before in the challenges “Textures”, “Depth” and “Serenity” but this time I decided to combine everything together.
A huge cake on the table shows depth of a daughter’s love to her mother.
You see tables, chairs, sofas and swing. They are from wood, iron, plastic, leather.
There is a depth of space behind benches of the third photo.
I also find serenity in this photo. The park is empty and beautiful in the early morning.
The fouth photo shows my college friend Ruben on the iron swing in Pocono Manor.
We are friends for 63 years. I am sure there is depth in our friendship.
By the way, in my first and only play Ruben is one of major characters. To read the play click on its title “LOVE AND MOSCOW DERBY”.
I have no idea what Ruben was thinking about when I shot this photo.
It is possible that he was remembering with gratitude the day when he was politely asked to marry his wife. They are together for many years and have four great-grandchildren.
It’s possible that he was simply enjoying gorgeous summer day and serenity of the place.
I published many posts about our life in Pocono Manor. The picture below shot in the historic Pocono Manor Inn. Chairs there covered by fabrics.
Please let me know what image you like most.
Thank you.
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Some time ago Cee had a black and white photo challenge with the topic “Glass”.
I missed the challenge but then I found a vase from a colored glass and made photos of it.
Below is black and white picture of the vase.
#1 VASE (B & W PHOTO) by JF
Then I made a color version of the same photo.
#2 VASE (COLOR VERSION) by JF
Finally, I put the vase on a different spot of the table and made a shot that shows not only the vase but also window (it has glass too) and cars (with glass in their windows).
#3 VASE + GLASS OF WINDOWS by JF
Please let me know what is your favorite of these three photos?
I got my first digital camera in June when I was in Pocono Manor in Pennsylvania. Then we returned to Queens and walked only in Queens and Manhattan.
The header of this post shows a wonderful example of the landscape architecture. Another example is below. I edited both pictures today to give more color and life.
LANDSCAPE by JF
I also want to show you a black and white photo shot in the Flushing Meadow Park in Queens. Hope that you’ll like combination of nature with buildings of the great city.
MEADOW LAKE IN QUEENS by JF
Here are our neighbours.
IT’S MY FIRST PHOTO! by JF
The couple below participated in the Cee’s Photo Challenge “Patience” with a caption “Wait, darling, wait! He is still too close!”
MY LOVE AND I by JF
This deer was ready to take part in several challenges but decided to stay with his friends.
MODEL by JF
Today I noticed that several my followers submitted wonderful photos to Leanne Cole’s “Monochrome Madness – week 24”.
I got my first digital camera less than two months ago and so far I took only colour photos. I am not sure if my camera has mono mode. However, I learned today that it is possible to convert a colour photo to B&W on PC.
Am I mad enough? Sure, I am.
I took a colour photo of our protector at the Carriage House.
This guy protected guests for many years in all seasons. It was extremely difficult and dangerous job. His wonderful little son was kidnapped one night. He lost his right eye. His right side is greatly damaged. However, he stays bravely on his post and we feel safe near him.
Below is his photo converted to B&W on PC. Does it qualify as monochrome photo?
In any event, I hope you’ll like him.
Our protector (B&W) photo by JF
Then I thought that we live in a beautiful wooded area. It is summer now and everything is green. Could it be that the original colour photo is better than the converted one?
Please take a look below and let me know your opinion.
Our protector colour photo by JF
Not long ago I discovered a blog Rajiv Chopra Photography (http://www.rajivchopra.com/-/rajivchopra/). I explored it and then asked Rajiv’s permission to introduce some of his photos to my followers and guests. He kindly agreed and sent me some photos that were not on his blog.
Later I found out that Rajiv has several other blogs:
rajivchopra (http://rajivchopra.me/)
A Gypsy’s Chronicles (http://crookedimagez.me/)
A Gypsy’s Life In Black And White (http://crooked-and-black.com/).
Each of them is interesting and has its own life. I am sure that you will like not only Rajiv’s photos but his very intensive and interesting writings.
It was not easy to choose what particular Rajiv’s photos to show you. I decided to show two photos made in India (Rajiv’s country) and one his photo made in Germany. Here they are:
SATAULI – SKY AND GREEN
A CUP OF TEA
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CHURCH AT ROTTACH EGERN
PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS 