18 August 2014
Lens:

1. Hallway and Reflections, iPhone 4s; Copyright © 2014 Sally W. Donatello All Rights Reserved/Lens and Pens by Sally

2. Hallway and Reflections, iPhone 4s; Copyright © 2014 Sally W. Donatello All Rights Reserved/Lens and Pens by Sally

3. Hallway and Reflections, iPhone 4s; Copyright © 2014 Sally W. Donatello All Rights Reserved/Lens and Pens by Sally

4. Staircase and Reflections, iPhone 4s; Copyright © 2014 Sally W. Donatello All Rights Reserved/Lens and Pens by Sally
Let me know which you prefer and why.
Pens:
Notes on Monochromatic Phrases
Part I:
Words scrape the surface. Or excavate tunnels under my breath.
Single lines connect, curve and spread themselves thin. Angles push light on crystalline-covered planes, Illusions prevail with dancing circles and simmering silver rays.
Contrasting tones mingle. Questions rise higher than linger.
Answers move across shadows and disappear or settle with a vengeance. Their stories float over the passage of place, And what is seen is a descendant from what was.
Part Two:
The silence of sight, Carries substance and weight, Fragments seize our perceptions, Drizzle contrasts and tones with meaningful reflections.
Blacks, whites, grays, silvers, The achromatic transforms. Shadows angle into view, Showing values of light and dark.
A hueless prism disperses tension, Creating drama and respect.
Conflict encourages confluence, contradiction, purity. Reflections cast beams of infinity’s hopes, And emit monochromatic phrases.
I wrote “Notes on Monochromatic Phrases” as an ode to this week’s Black-and-White Photo Challenge. Hope that you enjoyed my poem.
Tip of the Week: I just discovered the Monochrome Awards (click here), an International Black and White Photography website. Winners of the main categories compete for Monochrome Photographer of the Year (Professional) and Monochrome Discovery of the Year (Amateur). Categories for Professional are: Abstract, Advertising, Architecture, Fashion, Fine Art, Landscapes, Nude, People, Photojournalism, Photomanipulation, Portrait, and Wildlife. Categories for Amateur are the same. Join their mailing list or enter the contest. Or simple view the marvelous works. Here is he work of one of the judges: Ted Preuss. Viewing the judges’ work is worth the visit to the site.
View other entries for this week’s challenge: Black and White
http://debooworks.wordpress.com/2014/08/18/cease-fire/
http://streetsofsfphotos.wordpress.com/2014/08/18/street-lamp/
http://completelydisappear.wordpress.com/2014/08/18/the-bridal-art/
http://ohmsweetohm.me/2014/08/18/sallys-black-and-white-challenge-345/
http://piecesofstarlight.wordpress.com/2014/08/18/phoneography-black-and-white-views-of-point-rayes/
http://patchworkponderings.wordpress.com/2014/08/18/phoneography-black-and-white/
http://nwframeofmind.com/2014/08/18/iphoneography-monday-8-18-14/
http://debooworks.wordpress.com/2014/08/20/twins/
http://zimmerbitch.wordpress.com/2014/08/21/steel-grease-the-new-project-in-our-garage/
Note:
If you’d like to join the Photo Challenge, please click here for details. If you have any questions, please contact me. Below is a reminder of the monthly schedule with themes for upcoming Photo Challenges:
1st Monday: Nature.
2nd Monday: Macro.
3rd Monday: Black and White.
4th Monday Challenger’s Choice (Pick One: Abstraction, Animals, Architecture, Food Photography, Night Photography, Objects, Portraiture, Still Life, Street Photography, and Travel).
5th Monday: Editing and Processing with Various Apps Using Themes from the Fourth Week.
Thanks for passing on your tip about the Monochrome Awards. In the old days we used black and white film, thereby ensuring monochrome from the outset and influencing the conception of the image, but I suspect now almost every monochrome image that gets made is a conversion from color.
Some DSLR will allow for a black-and-whie setting. That is even true for some Smartphones. In reality (as you suspect) the majority are conversions. Apparently, the color image has more detail (color has more color data points: that’s not a technical explanation), and thus the conversion is sharper. So the conversion is a better image for digital, especially for a Smartphone.
Great photos! Great poetry! Beautiful notes on monochrome phrases!!!
I’m humbled. Thanks so much.
I’m working on iPhone photography and editing with various APPs. It’s kinda fun what you can do with the camera.
Lulu, it’s a constant experiment. Hope that you will join our photo community for the challenge. Tomorrow is Challenger’s Choice. See the bottom of my post for the categories. Or under the Note section at the bottom of the post, click the “here” and read about the challenge. Keep on having fun.
Hi,
Nice shots and contrasts.
My favorite is the first. Reminds me of an older post of mine http://hersko1.wordpress.com/2014/05/31/weekly-photo-challenge-split-second-story/
Jean, lovely to have your visit and comment. Thanks.
Your b/w is so strong. Great patterns. Rich in “color” and contrast.
Jann, your comment fills me with a smile. Thanks.
I did indeed enjoy your ode. As I did enjoy your photos in this post. As always I love the variety of ways you see and capture even similar subjects. I really like the first one of the photos for the human touch as I love the second one for its play with lines, shadows and light – which is also true for the last two images.
Otto, so glad to hear from you. I appreciate your comment. See you soon. Thanks.
Hi Sally. These are great shots – can’t choose a favourite. B&w is wonderful for architecture; really captures the drama of the play between light and structure. Here’s my effort for the week: http://zimmerbitch.wordpress.com/2014/08/21/steel-grease-the-new-project-in-our-garage/
I agree that architecture lends itself to the contrasts and tones evoked in the architect’s vision. Thanks so much.
You’ve reminded me of something an architecture student friend said years ago. He was particularly exasperated at public reaction to some new building and said somewhat wistfully, “people would appreciate it so much more if we lived in black and white!”
That’s a statement to ponder. Thanks.
Hi Sally, thanks for you kind comment on my blog. I have a photo that I would like to submit but being a newb at this I have a few questions. The photo can be from either an iphone or non-slr camera correct? A fujifilm finepix camera is non-slr right? And it’s ok to edit the photo from color into b&w? As for the badge, I just place what you provided into my post without it linking anywhere? Then to submit it, I just let you know in the comment here that my post is published, and you’ll go check it out? I’m sure you’re rolling your eyes but appreciate the help 🙂
Delighted that you want to join the fun. The photo challenge is meant for non-camera digital devices (that is, non-SLR devices). Examples would be Smartphones, iPads, iPods, scanners, and other such devices. I’ve tried several times to change the title. It’s a hard task. Mobile photography is the key, but many people are not sure what they implies. Yes, do send me a link in my comment section that you have posted your image. Some people submit on Mondays, others such as Livvy at “All Kinds of Everything” submitted hers today or others will even through the end of the week. Yes, as you know with these kinds of devices most have to be converted to black and white. Some devices have a setting for it. Two steps more: place the badge on your post and my link somewhere on each post, so that others who want to view entries or join will have my URL. Will await your entry at your convenience.
Ah…non-camera digital devices…lol. Ok, then maybe my camera doesn’t exactly qualify and I’m still confused about slr & non-slr, but glad you’re still willing to look. Next time will use my iphone4 🙂
I like photo #4…it’s like looking at an ink blot insomuch that at a quick glance it can kinda look like a few other objects than what it really is and really makes you look at it.
My entry is here: http://pawcificpurrsea.wordpress.com/2014/08/21/phoneography-and-non-slr-digital-photo-challenge-black-and-white-architecture-and-reflections/
SLR refers to the lens used in the camera. Smartphone and other such digital devices do not have SLR lens. Delighted that you’ve joined the fun.
Love them all Sally! Love black and white week! Here’s mine for this week. http://allkindsaeverything.wordpress.com/2014/08/20/phoneography-and-non-slr-challenge-black-and-white-3/
Livvy, I agree; it’s such a fun challenge. See you soon. Thanks so much.
The first photo is very captivating…makes you want to lean right in and see what is happening.
Laurie, this building is such a treat to wander. The architecture lends to beams of light spreading themselves in the most absurd places. Thanks so much.
Very nice shadow play. I like the “Halfway Reflections” as they draw my eyes in to something mysterious.
Maria, thanks so much.
‘Their stories float over the passage of place, And what is seen is a descendant from what was.’ These lines resonated with me; so perfect with your images.
I appreciate your response to my poem. Thanks so much.
I like the first one, Sally. It looks like a still from a movie 🙂
Your comment brings a smile to my day. Thanks.
I love he shot with the figures mostly I think because it makes you wonder what is going on. Malc
Malc, lovely to hear from you. Thanks so much for your comment.
I really liked your last photo. Abstract feeling with those lines everywhere. I have gone for something more rounded this week, with lines in the background.
I prefer without a doubt the first with the people in the back! Thanks.
Amanda, my pleasure.
? Amanda ?
Oops…
aloha Sally. all of these are excellent. this is one time i can not place an ordering on them. i like each for different reasons and several for the same reasons. the figures catch a fleeting moment relative to human life of course. and the others to light. you have an excellent black and white eye (imo). and these are all composed well. way fun.
it’s clear from your poem that you give a lot of thought to light and the elements of art as well as composition. i like that too. aloha. rick.
Rick. I’m touched my your comment. See you soon. Thanks.
Beautiful black and white choices, Sally! They all put me in a back to school mood but I really like the implied stories in #1. I wonder what the students are getting ready to do and learn. 🙂
Lisa, yes, campus is slowly coming alive again. It’s wondrous and overwhelms our town for a week or so. Then they seem to be absorbed. I love living in a university town. It’s stupendous. See you soon. Thanks.
Sally you always take great pictures 🙂 My favorite would be the second image because of that light and reflexions 🙂
Cristina, lovely to hear from you. Thanks so much.
Yea Poetry! So Glad you were able to get the layout into WordPress the way you wanted to create the visual quality to the poem.
Photos: Perfect time of day for all the shadow each one is memerable. I vote for the mystery of 4.
Happy Monday,
Carol
Carol, yes, it took a few poems that I’ve posted to finally sort out how to get it close (not really what I wanted) to my wishes (layout). I appreciate your comments. Thanks so much.
I really like your second photo. I am a sucker for shadows and the high contrast, graphic look that they define with sunlight.
Here is my entry for this week’s challenge: http://wp.me/p24idL-2m9
Allan, thanks so much.
All of them are wonderful! It’s interesting to see how we are attracted to a particular one. I like #1 the most because it tells me a story in a loud voice ;-). Thanks for sharing them! Helen
Helen, I agree that our individual eye is steered by our internal core and experiences. I adore that the proverbial “we” sees in divergent and similar ways. Thanks so much for your comment and visit.
Incredible captures through iPhone. Very inspiring, Sally! Especially the third one. I’ll have mine ready soon.
Amy, I’m delighted that you’ll join the fun. See you soon. Thanks so much.
Happy phoneography Monday, Sally. I love your #3 with the lines of the tiles on the walls, on the windows in the background and the reflection of lines on the floor, great visual for me. I’m so glad you’re sharing your writing with us too! Inspirational!!
I’m finding these little breaks to sit down and work on some photos as great creativity breaks during my prep for moving. This is the final week in the old place before our move on Friday. Thanks for the challenge today. http://angelinem.wordpress.com/2014/08/18/phoneography-challenge-in-black-and-white-riding-a-wild-horse/
Angeline, I know that you live in “my second home,” Northern California. Where are you going? I’ll send some sunshine your way for clear skies in all the senses of that phrase. I appreciate your comment; it brought a special wave of calm to me all the way across this vast land of ours. Thanks so much.
We currently live in the Central Valley and moving 30 miles east into San Francisco’s East Bay. I’m excited to be living just 40 miles from San Francisco now! A quick ride on BART into the City of my dreams.
Sounds divine. Cannot wait to see your visual interpretations of your new location.
I love your B&W work Sally. If I had to pick it would be the second image. Love the shadows.
Edith, some day I will pull some time from “life,” and enter your Monochrome Madness Challenge. You’re doing a terrific job with it. I appreciate your comment. Thanks.
Good morning from Philadelphia, Sally. As always, I enjoy all your photos, but the second one catches my attention the most for some reason, just the combination of lines, angles, and B&W, I guess. Sometimes preferences are just a feeling or emotion.
Thanks for being not only a gracious hostess for this weekly challenge but a talented photographer and writer and a conduit to more information about photography.
Have a marvel-filled week.
janet
Janet, you are practically on my doorstep. Your comment brings additional sunlight to my morning. Thanks so much.
I know I’m close, Sally. Can’t you see me waving? 🙂 I brought our younger daughter back to PAFA and am staying today and tomorrow, catching up with one online friend who lives nearby. Megan saw a sign for Longwood Garden on the way in and I thought of you immediately. I have to get there one of these visits.
Some spring day we should meet there. Enjoy a city that I adore. See you soon.
Sally, I’d love to meet there in spring. It’s a date (a nebulous one, but a date, nonetheless.) I’ll enjoy my days in the city.
That would be a delightful treat.