BW Photo Highlights 2018

BW Photo Highlights 2018

Dandelion seed head BW Photo Highlights 2018#1  Dandelion Seed Head  #62460bw   Purchase

Following up on my Photo Highlights 2018 post I’m presenting BW Photo Highlights 2018. It’s always a difficult task to select around ten of my favorite images from the past year. This year I wanted to include some black and white photos in the main group. However they looked somewhat out of place among the other color images, and I felt they need to in their own separate group.

As in Photo Highlights 2018 please feel free to vote or comment on your favorite photos in the comments section, I’d love to hear from you. Also, if you enjoyed these images please share this post with friends family and coworkers. Finally, all of the photos are available as fine art prints and commercial licensing, just click on any to see purchasing options. I hope all of you have a new year filled with peace, prosperity, and joy!

Lake Superior Whitefish Point, Michigan#2   Lake Superior at Whitefish Point Michigan  #63780bw  Purchase

Lake Superior twilight Whitefish Point, Michigan#3  Lake Superior at Whitefish Point Michigan  #63803bw  Purchase

Lake Superior seen from beach at Whitefish Point Upper Peninsula Michigan#4  Lake Superior at Whitefish Point Michigan  #63784bw  Purchase

Fort Casey State Park, battery bunkers.#5 Battery Valleau, Fort Casey State Park, Whidbey Island, Washington  #62126bw  Purchase

Bunker stairs Fort Casey State Park, Washington.#6 Fort Casey State Park, Whidbey Island, Washington  #62120bw  Purchase

Lady Fern#7 Lady Fern (Athyrium filix-femina) Faux Polaroid  #62428bwp  Purchase

Lady Fern BW Photo Highlights 2018#8 Lady Fern (Athyrium filix-femina) Faux Polaroid  #62463bwp  Purchase

Elakala Falls, Blackwater Falls State Park #9 Elakala Falls, West Virginia  #63340bw  Purchase

Upper Tahquamenon Falls Michigan#10 Tahquamenon Falls Michigan  #63825bw  Purchase

Elliot Falls Pictured Rocks Michigan.#11  Elliot Falls Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore Michigan  #63933bw  Purchase

Lady Fern

Black and White Nature Study

Black and White Nature Study

Lady Fern Black and White Nature StudyLady Fern #62430bw   Purchase

This past month I’ve been working on a black and white nature study, which so far includes ferns and wildflowers. These are subjects I’ve always enjoyed photographing. Getting in close reveals wonderful patterns and details that aren’t always apparent in a quick glance. In the coming months I hope to add more images of a variety of natural objects to this group.

Spring is a great time of the year for photographing plants and flowers. For the most part the flowers fronds and leaves are fresh and undamaged by the elements. Although it is not apparent in these images, the colors are also very vibrant.

Dandelion seed head Black and White Nature StudyDandelion Seed Head  #62460bw   Purchase

In this series I’ve processed the images in two fashions. The first is my standard method of applying a duotone to the image. This gives it a look and feel somewhat like selenium toning a traditional silver gelatin print. Having worked extensively with traditional film based materials I work to carry that look into my digital processing.

Digital Polaroid Type 55

The second method of processing seen in some of the images is a faux Polaroid/Antique look. When I was photographing with a large format view camera one of my favorite films was Polaroid Type 55.  Sadly this film is no longer in production. However, die-hard fans can find some outdated packages on Ebay, sold at a very high price.

Lady Fern Black and White Nature StudyLady Fern #62463bwp   Purchase

Lady Fern Lady Fern Black and White Nature StudyLady Fern #62461bwp   Purchase

Since most people may not be familiar with this product a brief description is in order. Polaroid Type 55 film contains both a standard print and negative in the same peel apart package. Photographing with this film also requires a specially designed holder. The holder facilitates both exposure in the camera and developing the print negative. A darkroom is not needed for  processing. However, you must treat the negative in a fixer solution afterwards.

Aside from the convenience of instant developing without a darkroom, photographers loved the printing qualities of the negative, and the always unique border the negative has. It is this negative pattern that I am digitally incorporating into these new images. The second part of processing these new images is to use a textured overlay and a warm sepia tone.

Bunchberry and Oak Fern Black and White Nature StudyBunchberries#62467bw   Purchase

All of this comes together in a style which I plan to incorporate and expand on in future images. I hope you enjoy them, and of course feel free to leave comment, or purchase prints!

Lady Fern Black and White Nature StudyLady Fern  #62431bwp   Purchase

Lady Fern Black and White Nature StudyLady Fern  #62432bw   Purchase

Oak Fern Black and White Nature StudyOak Fern  #62452bwp   Purchase

Black and White Nature Study