Last week, I rode my bike up to the north bridge around sunset hoping to catch some sun-setting loveliness. Unfortunately, all the usually present tinges of rose, mauve and gold seemed to be on strike for the day and I was mostly left with a sad little pallet of non-present pinks and ungolden grays.
Bummer.
But since I was there, and since I had my camera, and since I had no other place I needed to be, I shot a few photos anyway and did the whole black and white thing with them. In the process I found that even though a black and white sunset isn’t nearly as inspiring as one in its fullest splendor, it can still speak to certain spaces inside us.
So I ended up taking pictures of gray clouds. And gray water. And a gray bridge. And to my surprise, when I looked back at those pictures, I discovered that gray possesses its own sort of glory.
So here’s to all the sunsets in our lives that come to us swathed in swirls of gray. Here’s to all the moments that arrive unadorned with color and unburdened with beauty–quiet, soul-stirring, simple moments of gray.
I love these pictures! Black and whites are always so thought-provoking to me. Beautiful!!
Thank you Gayle. Seems to me that black and white pictures are refreshing every once in a while!
Guerrina, not just anyone can say they predate color film and TV! 🙂 I agree with you wholeheartedly about black and white photos in the house; they lend such a timeless air to whatever room they are hung in. Black and white really brings out previously unnoticed details and has a beauty all its own.
I love both the subtle and bold contrasts of black & white photography and remember when my parents gave me a camera and B&W film was all that was available – yes…I predate color film & tv. Of course when color film became available everyone (except Ansel Adams) couldn’t get enough. Over the past 5 years, I have returned to B&W for photos in my home…they seem to draw more attention and just happen to go with almost any decor or color scheme! I particularly love the 3rd picture which really captures the movement of the water. Sometimes I think it’s easy to lose the details in color because we notice the colors such as those of a sunrise/sunset (not a bad thing), but with black and white we actually see the objects (incredible clouds, movement, etc.). Great job, Becky!
Just remember before color film all pictures were black and white. We have gotten spoiled by color. Both are lovely and have meaning.
Ann, most definitely–BOTH forms of photography are lovely. So nice we have the option to choose!
A Nikon – probably the very best instrument for the professional! Looking forward to what YOU can do with black & white and a red filter! 🙂 (Now, I wonder what I did with my old red filter from the ’70’s?) 😉
Fred, well, some of my Canon-loving photographer friends might argue with you but I love my Nikon!
Well Becky, I AM one of your Canon-loving friends! I have used a Canon S-3 “point and shoot” since I joined Flickr (www.flickr.com) years ago, and I love it. I especially like the “feel” of Canon cameras. My son recently lent me his old Nikon DX40, so I could try out a DSLR. Although it doesn’t feel as “friendly” in my hands (yet), I think the difference in the picture quality of the Nikon (over my Canon P&S) is unmistakeable. If I ever get my own DSLR, I would seriously consider the Nikon.
The key to good photography (IMHO) is being able to see what other people don’t see, and capturing that image to share with others. That may be more of a gift than a skill. Either way, you have it, and Lucy has it. (And I wish I had it.)
I guess Lucy and I are a “point and shoot” photo team — she points, and I shoot!
😉
PS – The very first photo I ever took with my S3 was on a beautiful “back road” in Wanchese.
Watching Stand Up for Cancer on television and thinking of your Sarah. How blessed you are.
Kathy, we are blessed, indeed. I have a good friend who is in our last days, dying from cancer, and I feel so thankful all over again that Sarah is so healthy. Thanks for the good reminder!
Covering our sweet Sue in a blanket.. of prayer. Ahh Becky…. your Blanket song really is such a perfect anthem for all that goes on in the cancer world.
Pam, Sue was such a treasure in our lives.
first photo:
one of the baseball teams (can’t remember which one)
has a sausage and maybe three other mascots that do a relay race. well, it looks like that sausage is taking a break in your ocean….
Mrs. Pam, a sausage taking a break in the ocean? Sounds like a children’s book! (Actually this isn’t the ocean, but it’s still a funny concept.)
I love black and white photos. They are like those quiet friends, who maybe aren’t big talkers, but – if you know how to listen to them – are able to give you some unexpected and precious gift. My favourite one? Second photo. Great, great, great.
Olivia, love the comparison with quiet friends and what they offer if you take time to listen. How very true.
Olivia, the quiet friends analogy was brilliant! Yes, with quiet friends you must know how to listen, just as a good photographer (like Becky) has to know how to see the world, and frame it, and make the proper settings – so that she can show us the beauty she saw.
Absolutely LOVELY! Reminds me of the advice that when live throws you lemons, make lemonade! Your writing was as good as the pictures, too! I look forward to the regular display of your God-given talents, Becky! So inspiring!
Glenna, you really have the gift of encouragement–thank you! I was extra grateful today for your words about my writing.
I love black and white photography – it has such a crisp, quiet beauty of its own and you notice sublties in the photo that you would not see when looking at color because you focus on the color, not the subject. I especially like the second and third photos – I feel I could reach out and dip my hand in the water in the third photo. I can hear the water lapping and smell the scent of the sea – and possibly hear a sea gull calling out from above. Oh, how I miss the sea. Thank you for continuing to share you gifts of word and photography.
Bodies of water tend to get into our veins, don’t they Mary? We carry their memory, their sight, their smells and their sounds wherever we go.
Reminds me that the beauty in the grey times of our life only prepares us for the gloryof the light.
Marjie, how very true that is.
Wow! What an observation!
Hey Becky,
Like all of your photos, the bridge photos were wonderful!
It never even OCCURS to me to do photos in black and white with a digital camera. (Duuuh.)
And yet, back in the ’70s, (you know, when I was young-ish) I loved taking photos with black and white film, using a red filter. Try it some time – the results are spectacular – especially with clouds!
I do realize that it is the PHOTOGRAPHER – and not the camera – that makes the difference.
Having said that, would you tell us what kind of camera you use?
Inquiring minds want to know. 😉
Hope y’all have a great weekend.
Fred & Lucy
Fred, thanks for your kind compliments. I have a Nikon D5000 which I’ve had about 18 months now. I still only have the kits lenses and would love to get a prime lens for it eventually but even without that, I so enjoy my camera and love getting lost in picture taking.
The red filter idea sounds cool!