Black and White Photography

The Power of Black and White
By Patrick Simons

In sterile, dictionary language, photography might be defined as, "the process, of recording visual images", or words to that effect. I didn't actually look up the definition, but you get the idea. In any event, rigid definitions don't exist when you're talking about art.

Which is the superior medium, color or black and white, film or digital are subjective questions, without definative answers. What works in one situation may fail miserably in another. Sporting events are one example of a situation when color is superior. Landscapes and portrature can go either way. A black and white landscape can save a picture from being overwhelmed by excessive color. Everything comes down to application and execution.

Why Black and White?

Great novel's have a way of expressing profound ideas in ways that go beyond mere recitation of fact. One need only think of Upton Sinclair's "The Jungle", or Harriet Beecher Stowe's "Uncle Tom's Cabin". Just as great ideas are sometimes most powerfully expressed through fiction, the best black and white photography speaks to deeper truth. Black and white allows the photographer as artist to reveal a world invisible to the naked eye. In black and white, abstract shapes, contrast, and recurring patterns have a psychological impact and dignity often unrealized in color. When the beauty of a common place item comes through in a photograph, the photograph has become art.

Photography began as black and white, or more specifically monochrome. Not all early images were truly black and white. Many had a brownish tint (sepia), and others even had hints of blue when the cyanotype process was employed.

If a relatively young art form can be said to have a 'classical' period, it would probably be that time when monochrome was the only option. The fist photographs to be considered art were all black and white. I suspect this may have let to psychological expectations as to what a classic photograph should look like. Achieving a timeless look has much to do with why many masters of photography continue to work in this medium. From a purely technical standpoint, black and white prints simply last longer. Even the very best color prints degrade over time.

For reason's I cannot explain, some things simply look better in black and white. My personal rule when retaining photographs is......"If in doubt, throw it out". The last thing I do before deleting a picture, is converting it to black and white. Most of them still get thrown out, however, just often enough to keep me doing it, I'm stunned by what I see in black and white. A ho-hum color picture suddenly possesses that indefinable something that makes it a keeper. I've thought long and hard as to why this should be so. I don't have any answers.

I should point out, that most of my work is in color. I love color, and it will probably always be my primary medium. There are times, however, when black and white stands out. If you've ever tried doing serious landscape photography, you know one of the most important considerations is getting the sky right. The best composition in the world won't compensate for a white sky, something that's caused many of my photos have hit the circular file. Setting the exposure meter against the sky can go a long ways towards preventing this problem, but the technique isn't foolproof. On an overcast day metering against the sky can result in other features being too dark.

This is less of a problem with digital photography, especially when shooting in the RAW format, but it can be serious issue with film. Black and white offers a way around this difficulty. If your digital camera has the option of shooting in black and white, by all means use it. Shooting in the black and white mode seems to add a depth and quality lacking when removing color on the computer. An even worse time to set the meter against the sky is midday in summer as that's the time wave lengths of light are at their most constricted. Every outdoor photographer knows the best times are those hours just after sunrise, and just before sunset. Unfortunately, we don't always enjoy the luxury of hanging around until the conditions are perfect.

The next time you're faced with this situation, try black and white with a red filter. Ansel Adams used this technique, and if Ansel did it, it should be good enough for anybody. The red filter turns that whitish midday sky to a dark, lovely grey in black and white. The darker the red filter, the darker the sky. In black and white the sky will look as if it had been a deep dark blue, and no one will be the wiser. Some big, puffy cumulus clouds will make it even better. If you have the opportunity to look at a collection of Ansel Adams photos, pay attention to how he often used clouds to great effect.

Digital photography has taken the black and white medium to unprecedented heights. Today's high end digital camera's and powerful computer software, give the modern photographic artist control the masters of old never dreamed of.

To see some of my black and white work, please visit http://www.highplainsphotosandframes.com

Patrick Simons, photographer, philisopher, seeker and a wanderer.
http://www.highplainsphotosandframes.com/

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Make The Nude Your Own
By Kelly Stevens

As the director of a nude themed art event, I have seen over the years, hundreds of submissions of nudes. I find artworks consistently fall into common categories. While each of these categories has a distinct place in the history of the nude, at the same time, their commonality of these nude themes can detract from establishing an artist's uniqueness.
The following is a list of common nude themes seen repeatedly in art portrayals of the nude human form. After considering each of these themes, also consider how you might create nude art "outside the box" to highlight your own unique art through the beauty of the nude.

1. Nude and Mythology. Nudes of antiquity dating back to the time of ancient Greece and Rome have portrayed the nude with mythological gods, goddesses and legends. Particularly common themes include nudes of Prometheus, nymphs and fawns, Venus, etc. Similar to the worship of mythological figures and their perfection, this format allows the nude to be worshipped in its perfection as well. Also included in this genre include angelic nudes. Mythological portrayals of nude figures with beautiful wings seem to be a natural inspiration for many artists.

2. Adam and Eve Nudes. Eve with the snake; Eve with an apple; Adam with an apple, Eve and Adam in the Garden; all of these themes are ubiquitous with numerous submissions annually portraying the nude, or nakedness, in relationship to the Original Sin. Being unique within this theme is a particular challenge for an artist.

3. Classic Posing Nudes. We have all seen these classic forms of a nude figure reclining on a chaise or sitting in a fixed posture. In these nudes, the primary focus is on the pose itself and how it accentuates the features of the nude human form. Less focus is placed on the model themselves and more on the actual positioning of the body.

4. Nude Contrasts. Whether it is guns, leather, machines or chains, contrasting the soft, beautiful nude form with hard, rough images is a natural focus of many nude artists. By contrasting the two together, the nude is elevated in its natural elements of shape, beauty and perfection. This method is commonly used by artists to deconstruct their perception of the perfect nude ideal.

5. Nude and Nature. A female nude along the soft dunes of a sandy beach; a male nude juxtaposed in a setting of brush and craggy trees; exposed human forms sprawled along jagged rocks; to an extent this is also a contrast of images, but also a theme that accentuates the natural state of the nude body. Nature and the nude share a "nakedness" and a beauty of creation that has made this theme universally common.
6. The Nude Sketch. Simple and often two dimensional, the nude sketch is a basic, beautiful portrayal of the nude. In addition, the nude sketch is timeless and routinely appeals to many. When you are at friends homes, you may actually notice how common the nude sketch is as well as its popularity. These are consistently easy pieces of art to sell when priced correctly.

7. Black and White Nude Photography. Black and white nude photography is also a popular choice among art viewers and often has a great chance of being sold. Black and white photography in particular is flattering to the human nude form and can be manipulated to hide flaws and present the nude in the best light. Proper lighting is critical when dealing with black and white photography, and settings can be used to emphasize exotic or other features an artist wants to portray. As digital photography continues to advance, these themes of the nude will undoubtedly remain common.

8. Nude Portraits. Finally, everyone is accustomed to seeing a nude portrait displayed. In its own right, these portraits can either portray a specific individual, or painted or sculpted anonymously allowing the viewer to envision themselves in the portrait. This concept of anonymity can pertain to other nude themes as well.

As an artist, the human body offers a beautiful subject to express your artistic talents as well as your inner emotions, thoughts and perceptions of the world. The nude has represented this for artists since the beginning of time. But in choosing how you want to portray the nude, consider breaking new ground outside the common themes that are repeatedly seen at events, art shows and galleries.
Consider varying your textures, your lighting, your environment in relationship to the theme of your work. Decide what meaning the nude has to you as an artist and as a person; then express these meanings in your own unique way. By choosing alternative themes rather than the common, you will have greater success at demonstrating your specific talents to a larger audience. Allow your personality to speak to others through your own special theme of nude art.

Kelly Stevens is director of NUDE NITE, the largest NUDE art event in the Southeast. NUDE NITE is an annual multi-media event celebrating the art of the nude. In its 11th year, the 3-nite event plays host to hundreds of the best nude artworks in the country attracting over 3000 people each year. Top performers and live painting exhibitions and installations enhance the event making it an art experience not to be missed. Visit http://www.nudeniteorlando.com, THE resource for NUDE ART.
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