648th Show & Tell Competition: (Un)conventional Black and White

[ddecroix]

Hi All,
obviously it's a challenge in itself to find a theme as original as possible, and given the history of S&T, I had no hope of finding a theme that had never been submitted before.
However, we haven't had a Black and White theme for a long time, and I thought it would be interesting to reflect on why we choose either to snap in B&W or convert to B&W in post-processing.
There has been years of debate on colour vs B&W, and there are some conventional reasons to use B&W, like to stress structure or shapes, but also some cases where choosing to use B&W can go against usual logic.
So if you're keen to add a few words about your thought process when using B&W for your capture, that would be great.
Hope you will enjoy the topic.

Some examples

I have thought the skies in many places in Asia not rendering great in colour, and that's probably the main reason I have selected B&W for this one.


These flowers have a beautiful pink center but here the impact from the contrast in B&W convinced me to keep it.


Here is a more classical example of B&W use, being an historical site I thought that B&W would suit better.

Submissions will be closed on Thursday the 27th of October 2022 at 22:42:26 UTC

Posting Photos for a Contest
1. Photos must be hosted on pbase.com
2. Maximum of 3 photos per contest.
3. Photos must be embedded in your post. See the following link for how to do this http://forum.pbase.com/viewtopic.php?t=18022
4. Post only medium versions of your picture using the PB-Image button
5. The host is not eligible for their own contest.
6. Any picture you've taken is eligible, regardless of date taken and camera, as long as it hasn't already won another contest.
7. You can do all the post processing you want.

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7. Include these rules in the body of your contest.

Competition History available at https://forum.pbase.com/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=42757

[jarekm]

A hard choice: https://pbase.com/jarekm/mono&page=all

I've picked a triptych of the Melbourne Premier Tower building, its architecture is said to be influenced by "...Beyoncé music video that captures the curves of the human form".

I think the building silhouette is well-suited to be presented with monochrome images as the colour, the sky etc. do not distract from the building's unusual shape.

[luxun54]

A reprise of the famous Grand Central Station shafts-of-light photo: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File ... nlight.jpg



In the color version, the mid-tones get a bit muddy: https://pbase.com/luxun54/image/109542046
I find the tonal variations much more pleasing and nuanced in B&W.



The color version of this one is also nice, the tones are softer: https://pbase.com/luxun54/image/163783958
In B&W, there is crisp contrast between the white ice and the black sand, and the tonal differences on the water are more striking to me.

[hughjones]

Black Tie Affair: I like how the treatment brings out the detail/tones and conveys the regal-like nature of the animal.


Vera: An accidental shot. Simple light bulb shining on a simple arrangement. Very minimalist. Conveys so many emotions.


And Time Quickly Passed: An accident in darkroom processing gives the effect of flowing time. Makes me think of "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy" by Douglas Adams.

[amoxtli]

City Lights: An installation at the Los Angeles Museum of Art made of old street lights.



Mausoleum, Jardin Pantheon Cemetery, Tijuana



Walt Disney Concert Hall, Los Angeles - It was the leaf that made me take this shot.

[gillk]

Gill

[lambsfeathers]

[grompem]

green filter
I use filters in black and white to create graphic effects...


same image, but with the blue filter.... it really changes the picture. you can't do this in color....


this only works in B&W, emphasizing the light dark stripes on the tray and the swirls on the coffee

[peterschmidtab]

The oaks are nearly colorless without leaves but the buildings and homes in the background are brightly colored. Shifting to B & W emphasizes the oaks.


Shifting to B&W provides an ethereal blending of subject and background emphasizing Rory's face.


B&W creates interest by making it difficult to separate branches from reflections.

[mdejong]

Going for a Alfred Hitchcock mood on this one in black and white (think the birds) ....



Going for a 70's or 80's album cover vibe ....



Giving it the Ansel Adams treatment ....

[cits_4_pets]

contrast make textures and shapes show up better

makes for a mysterious image

in color the eye was attracted more to the arm and hand

[robinlew]

[jolka]