15 winter etudes in black and white

Hi dear friends. Today’s post is not a longread, quite on the contrary; however, it took me a long time to create this selection of #streetphoto, and most of the time was spent on processing. My studies (again) were about the black-and-white conversion and comparing #colour and #monochrome approach, to see what works better for different cases.

Seven photos, fifteen pictures. All of the photos are mine, taken with 50mm or 16-35mm lens this winter. And yeah, there will be a lot of snow inside, you are warmly welcomed to enjoy this delicasy! As you know, I always appreciate a lot comments about choosing your favourites. Please, do spend a few minutes to share your opinion,-- what worked best for you.


2023-dec-3947w-h1.jpg

Snow works as a universal denominator and equalizer - it erases reality surrounding us, masks many things and simplifies the frame content in a most minimalistic manner. Excessive stuff is thrown out from the frame "by default", leaving in focus very few things you found important. This car wheel is 3/4 covered with snow. Picturesque? Yes! Although usually - gues you will agree with me - it is not the most interesting stuff to look at. The magic of snow minimalism.

Снег работает как универсальный деноминатор - стирает окружающую реальность, маскирует множество вещей и упрощает построение кадра. Лишние вещи отрезаны и выброшены из кадра, остается сфокусироваться на том, что показалось вам интересным. Колесо машины на 3/4 занесенное снегом. Живописно? Да! Хотя обычно, согласитесь, не самая интересная вещь для разглядывания.


2023-dec-3947w-h2.jpg

Snow gives unusual shapes to ordinary things. And we don't need color here to get visual pleasure from looking at whimsical unusual shapes.

Снег придает необычную форму обычным вещам, и здесь нам не нужен цвет, чтобы получить визуальное удовольствие от разглядывания прихотливых форм.


2023-dec-3940w-h2.jpg

Sometimes color even does the opposite: distracts from the main idea.

2023-dec-3940w-h.jpg

Winter cycling can be a serious challenge, as you can see in the frame above.


2023-dec-4543w-h2.jpg

Neon fairy-tale carriage.... as a selfies photo-booth. Which version would you prefer? Here I strongly go after B-W.

2023-dec-4543w-h1.jpg


But the impression changes when we have a beautiful color. Low-contrast, soft pastel light can provide more value to a photo than fancy monochrome patterns and textures.

2023-dec-4789w-h3.jpg

At a skating ring. Snow hills at the front does look attractive...

2023-dec-4789w-h2.jpg

But this is where I definitely prefer color version to the monochrome one.

2023-dec-4789w-h1.jpg


2023-dec-4332w-h1.jpg

Snowy bridge captured under a cloudy grey sky and diffuse light.

2023-dec-4332w-h2.jpg

And a monochrome version. Which one would you prefer? In my opinion, both are in their own right, here I really cant make a pick!


Man and his dog, and some nice eye contact I've caught here?


2024-mar-1637w-h.jpg

I guess this one is about self-explanatory. When you have got grey skies and poor lighting, resulting in dirty and un-appealing colours, objects, landscapes, Monochrome conversion is a way to go. Check, how did this solution work for this certain plot.

2024-mar-1637w-h1.jpg

At this point let me part with you. Hope you enjoyed all the visuals, thanks very much for coming, and see you next time!


location: St.Petersburg, Russia 2023-2024 natural light
camera/lens: Canon 5D / Sigma 50mm Canon 16-35mm raw-conv

sep1201.png

All images taken by me, copyright (c) @qwerrie
My posts at pinmapple.com
Thanks for visiting my blog!


0
0
0.000
25 comments
avatar

My favorite of all of these its the colored one of the girl crossing the bridge. Those colors are lovely.

My eye is drawn to the mud in the last one, so yes, the BnW is more exciting, less bogged down.

The tire doesn't do much for me in any of its versions, but I like the sentiment that you expressed, about how snow draws our attention to things we might otherwise overlook.

Definitely like the BnW of the man with his dog - it's got magic that the colored one doesn't have, I feel his feeling more, perhaps because I look more at him than I do at the dog in the colored one.

Color in the skating scene warms it up. Brrr! for the BnWs.

Cute photo booth, whichever way.

0
0
0.000
avatar

Thanks a lot for leaving your thoughts how do you feel about those.
A fresh look from the outside is very important in such a matter. 🙏
Let me share a !PIZZA - of course a colour version.

0
0
0.000
avatar

Now I remember why I hate snow.... That carriage in black and white is an awesome shot, very nice. The ice skaters the color is by far better, I agree with you there.

The bridge, tough call. Both have their charm. The monochrome with the little girl almost feels like it's from 60 years ago, and the green in the color is great! I see why you had a tough time calling it!

The guy with his dog, that is one spoiled little dog!

Monochrome takes the cake in the last one, the color is just too drab to really catch your eye. Black and white all the way on that one!

Great work, and here I thought I was going to see a TTT!

0
0
0.000
avatar

Great work, and here I thought I was going to see a TTT!

Grazie! Glad you enjoyed the visuals and stopped to share your thoughts, much appreciated. My next post will be exactly as you say, #ttt 😜 Tho I didnt decide yet what to share today. 🐈

0
0
0.000
avatar

I know the feeling! I went with something to match my banner, so it was thrash metal! I'm thinking next week maybe something like the Violent Femmes....

How are you doing?

0
0
0.000
avatar

Today we had a 2-hour snow blizzard, hehe. March is definetely NOT the end of winter in my country... 😳

0
0
0.000
avatar

I'm not a fan of snow! I hope it didn't stick to the ground too much! 😀

0
0
0.000
avatar

The black and white filter really adds a nice touch to the photos. Very cool.

0
0
0.000
avatar

What an excellent "photographic eye" @qwerrie friend!... Congratulations!...

And here's a postcard packed with a lot of visual magic!...

image.png

!discovery 35
!VSC
!PIZZA
!BBH

0
0
0.000
avatar

@jlinaresp has sent VSC to @qwerrie

This post was rewarded with 0.1 VSC to support your work.
Join our photography communityVisual Shots
Check here to view or trade VSC Tokens
Be part of our Curation Trail


@jlinaresp ha enviado VSC a @qwerrie

Éste post fue recompensado con 0.1 VSC para apoyar tu trabajo.
Únete a nuestra comunidad de fotografía Visual Shots
Consulte aquí para ver o intercambiar VSC Tokens
Se parte de nuestro Trail de Curación


Uses: 2/25

0
0
0.000
avatar

@qwerrie! Your Content Is Awesome so I just sent 1 $BBH (Bitcoin Backed Hive) to your account on behalf of @jlinaresp. (2/5)

0
0
0.000
avatar

Grazie! The compliments are proudly accepted. This one, indeed, have an 'open letter' smell and potential. (Tho it is not a very demanded goods nowadays...) ☘️
A hot !PIZZA back. !LUV

0
0
0.000
avatar

Ooh wow
I love how you share the original photos and later changed it to black and white
That’s awesome

0
0
0.000
avatar

My pleasure. 💪 More will follow.

0
0
0.000
avatar

Hi 👋🏼
Your photographs are very beautiful, elegant, I love the composition. Congratulations 🙂

0
0
0.000
avatar

Grazie! I appreciate your compliments a lot. 🐈 Meowww!

0
0
0.000