Monochrome Settings and a Rainbow (March 2023)

The second prompt to boost photographic creativity in March was changing the camera settings. There are modes on the camera that I have never used including the ‘grainy monochrome’ mode and I decided to give this a test run on the Southwell Trail. 

Normally I set the camera to capture a RAW file, but the grainy monochrome mode is processed within the camera as JPEG file with the strength of the filter controlled with the camera dial. Overall, I would describe it as a ‘fun’ option and would suggest that a more refined result could be achieved from a RAW file processed in photo software.  

These were some of the results straight from the camera:

Rather typically as I was concentrating on B&W, a colourful rainbow appeared, demanding a quick switch back to the normal settings. At the same time it reinforced what I already know about landscape photography: creative modes are no substitute for simply going out with the camera and capturing what is there. Nature itself provides the variety…not a filter!

Combs Lane in Mono (October 2021)

Occasionally the photographic conditions shout black and white harking back to days of photographic film. Although it was a long time ago for me, I can still see how colours translate into monochrome and how contrast can to be enhanced with filters. 

For example, deep blue skies with fluffy clouds are great for black and white photography. In the film days a classic red filter might have been used to gain extra contrast, turning the blue sky towards black, making the white clouds stand out, adding to the overall drama of a scene. 

In today’s digital environment it is down to the software to simulate this impact, either in the camera itself, or with external applications - there are many options. Of course, the black and white purists would say this is not the same as using film and I would tend to agree, but I doubt I will ever return to chemical processing. 

When I saw the following scenes along Combs Lane, I immediately thought black and white making the conversion later in Adobe Photoshop using a red filter mix:

River Trent in Mono (May 2020)

I mentioned in my last post that I have set a short term goal of producing black and white images from local scenes. This is designed to kickstart some photographic creativity now the virus lockdown restrictions are easing and the initial 'glad to be out' feeling has turned to the 'what next for the photography' question. 

To scope the black and white idea a little further I did a test series using images from walks along the River Trent. These photographs were taken as a secondary activity to the walking and some 'plein air' sketching and painting. As a result, I might not have used them at all but was pleasantly surprised by the black and white conversions:

Robin Hood Way Revisited - Photography Week 18 (2017)

During photography week 13 I posted a set of images from section 16 of the Robin Hood Way, Haughton to Whitewater Bridge (1). This was part of an ongoing project to document aspects of the Newark and Sherwood landscape using the Robin Hood Way as a guide to new locations and points of interest.

As we move more into the spring I was interested in revisiting some of the compositions from March. I was also interested in walking more of this particular path having only got a third of the way earlier in the year.

As it transpired, the deep blue skies and the abundance of green didn't translate as I had hoped. It was great to look at and fine walk but the results did not really move the project forward. When processing the images I looked at a number of options including black and white and ended up with a toned monochrome finish - similar to one of the images from the March set. I then carried this finish onto other photographs taken during the walk and these are some of the results:

Additional note: On reflection I am not totally sure what I think of the results and the mono finish but testing out different images and approaches is all part of trying to progress a photographic project. I was tempted not to post these but I have rarely excluded sets of images from the photo-blog. The blog has never been about showcasing images as there are plenty of other places to do this.

(1) Robin Hood Way. 4th Edition. Robin Hood Way Association. Revised 2012