Flame On!

Flame On

Participation in Monochromia has encouraged me to seek out subjects that will convert beautifully to B&W (as opposed to in the past when I would convert mostly when the color didn’t turn out quite right. Hey … Just being honest here). Anyway, there was much about this gas lantern that drew my eye, in particular, the flame. Yet no matter how I processed the image, I just wasn’t able to get that lovely orange glow to stand out sans color. While somewhat disappointed with that, it wasn’t until I got home that I realized that I’d caught the reflection of a flag hanging in front of an adjacent building. What a nice happy accident!

Okay all you photographers out there: how would you have emphasized that flame?

If you’d like, check out Life on the Bike to see other images from my brief visit to Charlottesville, VA last week.

Fenceline

Black And White Photography, Laurie, Photography

It’s not uncommon to hear people describe B&W images as dramatic, moody, even ominous. Yet the day was bright, the sky a deep blue, and the grass so green under the shining sun, and my goal was to reflect that in this image. How’d I do?

Just Drivin’ By … in Black & White

Black And White Photography, Laurie, Photography

Each time I drive up the dirt road to visit my friend Cherie, I look at this barn. I can’t tell you how often I’ve taken a shot and just how often it didn’t work. This time, though, the light was right. Check out the color version on Life on the Bike and Other Fab Things and let me know what you think.

I Swear …

Black And White Photography, Laurie, Photography

… this is not an ad!

I Swear…..

I’d just returned home from my trip to Kentucky, and had spent the previous 3 hours riding in the rain. The light, and the shadows, and the raindrops on the windshield, stopped me in my (very wet, dripping )tracks. My bike was dripping, too, but it had brought me home safely and that, my friends, is all that really matters.

Come on over to Life on the Bike and Other Fab Things to see more images from my adventures on, and off, the bike. Please check out the blogs of my fellow contributors to Monochromia, too!

The Salt Pond

Black And White Photography, Laurie, Photography

The Salt Pond

Vacation and another early morning walk, this time along the Salt Pond.

Seriously! How could a person not feel more peaceful just by gazing upon this reflection? I try to remember this lovely scene as I balance the demands of life and while I may not always balance them as perfectly as this reflection, I do know that life is good and I am fortunate. I hope the same for you.

Please visit Life on the Bike and Other Fab Things and the blogs of the other fine contributors to Monochromia.

Morning in the Woods

Black And White Photography, Laurie, Photography

Depsite the rain and cloudy skies that I encountered while riding through the hills and hollers of Kentucky, I was none the less, struck by the beauty of the area. Walking into the mist during an early morning hike in Breaks Interstate Park, I was surrounded by the quiet sounds of morning in the woods. The light coming through the trees let me know that the canyon was not too far off, but once I arrived, I had to use my imagination as to what lay before me. No disappointment though … just peace.

The return to work, and life in general, has so far been a barrier to sharing the tales of my recent travels. I will get it done, however, and I’ll hope you’ll come on over to Life on the Bike and Other Fab Things to ride those roads with me.

Be sure to check out the blogs of the other Monochromia contributors, too!

Infinity

Black And White Photography, Laurie, Photography

Infinity

Some would say that overcast and rainy days are not fitting for vacations on the Chesapeake Bay. On the contrary, these types of days encourage quiet walks and talks with friends (and loud, joyful laughing, too), cookouts on the beach, and if you’re me, even a bit of play in the water.

I’d also get up every morning and spend an hour or so with the camera. Something kept me coming back to this dock and this perspective.

The dock, and the world, just seemed to go on forever.

Making Music

Black And White Photography, Laurie, Photography

Several evenings a week in my small city, it’s possible to find folks picking up their instruments and creating beautiful music. This past Friday, I had the chance to capture the sight, if not the sound, of that music. The hands fascinate me, the way they move, almost effortlessly, over the instrument.

If you’d like to see some more images from that evening, please check out Local Music at my original blog Life on the Bike.

And please visit the blogs of the other photographers on Monochromia. They make some pretty great music with their cameras!

Belgian Beer and Mussels

Black And White Photography, Laurie, Photography

What a treat it was to be invited to spend an evening with good friends, sharing fresh mussels and delicious belgian beer! Yum!! There are not many better ways to end the work day.

To be honest, I’ve often converted to B&W when the color and lighting of an image just weren’t right. Involvement with Monochromia has encouraged me to think sans color when I am out and about with my camera, and to actively search for images that will celebrate B&W photography. I had a feeling that mussels and beer might provide good subjects. What do you think?

It seems that people often think of B&W photography as mostly dramatic, moody, and serious, so today I wanted to show the fun. Those who know me will not be surprised by that!

Thanks so much for checking out Monochromia and if you’d like to come along for the ride sometime, visit me at Life on the Bike. Be sure to visit the blogs of the other photographer / contributors as well.

Light and Shadow

Black And White Photography, Laurie, Photography

My WordPress journey began as a chronicle of my life and travels on the bike. The bigger, planned trips, and the smaller, more spontaneous ones. As I ride along, I never know when something is going to catch my eye, and inspire me to pull over.

Sometimes I work hard to capture what I see and sometimes I get lucky and the first shot just works. Other than conversion to B&W, this image is exactly as it was when it came out of the camera.

Let me know what you think and come visit me sometime at Life on The Bike.