Black and White photography pt 2
honing the eye and sculpting with light

Our first assignment was to look for graphic lines and see how they translate to black and white in different situations. How does the light, the angle you take and the arrangement within the frame influence the impact of your shot? Exoploring this in black and white is a way to hone your eye, to learn to see what works and what doesn't.

I went to the bridge and took shots of the grey blocks of concrete in the water, from different sides and angles, both before, during and after a boat passed by. The way the light hits the concrete and reflects the movement of the water is clearly visible in these shots.

Some days later I was sitting at my table when I noticed the way the light coming in from the window was reflected and distorted by a glass of water and some bottles. By converting these images to black and white the details of these reflections are more clearly discernible, and the images become more captivating. 

The depth of field can be used to vary the main focus in the shot, thereby dramatically altering the impact of the image. In the second image the DoF makes the beveled letters on the small bottle almost pop out of the glass.

I also like the way the label on the wine bottle in the third shot is sharp and crisp, while the rest of the image is out of focus. and the way the horizontal stain of spilled wine is clearly visible on the table in the fourth shot. 

In black and white photography you can effectively use the light to sculpt and shape your subject matter. The light can accentuate contours and the shadows can enhance the effect of the light and make (parts of) a subject pop out.

Here are some shots of my dad. In the first shot I used the light coming in through the window to illuminate his bent head and back, thereby separating his silhouette from the background. The light goes all around the top of his head and his forehead, so the eye is drawn down towards the bottom right of the image, following his gaze.

In the next two shots I used the light to shape his hands. In the first one the light accentuates the back of his right hand, which is in focus, and then follows the folds of his sweater down towards his left hand, which is out of focus. The diagonal line of his left arm is accentuated by the black triangle of negative space which also frames him. The effect is tranquil and well balanced.

In the second shot there is a lot more tension. Again both his hands are illuminated, but this time they are both clenched in fists. His position is different, less peaceful, which is enhanced by the light that falls on the armrest. The dark shadow along the armrest forms a gap between the right arm and the rest of his body, thereby dividing it nto two separate parts that don't meet within the frame.