Guest Post: David Jensen

I am David Jensen and my love of black and white photography goes back to the day I bought my Nikon FM at the recommendation of a co-worker. He also took me under his wing and helped me understand the basics of the camera and of composition. After that I was on my own to explore this new way of seeing the world around me. I find that, for many images, removing the color allows for a less distracted viewing of the subject. It also aids in seeing the line, shape and texture of the subject, intent becomes more clear.

Originally from Rochester, Minnesota, I have moved around a bit and now reside in Duluth, Minnesota. Living in northern Minnesota exposes me to a rich variety of subject matter for photography, but I often find myself attracted to seeing the abstract in the natural and in the human made world. The abstract is something I began exploring more in depth after return to school late in life to study filmmaking and photography.
Drawing inspiration from the book, “The Tao of Photography, Seeing Beyond Seeing” I now find myself being much more aware of my surroundings as I wander with a camera.

David Jensen
Northern Visions Media

Fallen

Black And White Photography, Joseph, Photography

Nikon D610 and Nikkor 24-85mm AF-S G VR lens – 1/250 @ f/5.6 – ISO 400

“Fallen Fireman”

Rest now my fallen brother
Lay soft your suffering back
Rest well and forever
Your memory shall not lack
Rest your tired hands
Wipe clean your weary brow
Rest with St. Florian
Your spirit now endowed
Rest here your breaking heart
We know you gave your all
Rest easy, you’ve done your part
You’ve answered your last call
Rest knowing that in god we sought
Oh lord, watch over another who just fell
Rest assured your troubled thought
As we ring the final bell.

Author: Unknown

Venetian Gothic

Black And White Photography, Emilio, Photography

Please click on the image above to see a high res version

Whenever I had a paper due in school I would plagiarize from the World Book Encyclopedia. Not much has changed except Wikipedia has replace the World Book. So let me just dive in as if I actually know what I’m talking about.

Venetian Gothic is a term given to an architectural style that originated in 14th century Venice with the confluence (I would have substituted a plain, ordinary, everyday word here because no one I know talks like that. Confluence? What the…?) of Byzantine styles from Constantinople, Arab, and early Gothic forms from mainland Italy. The most iconic Venetian Gothic structure, the Doge’s Palace, includes traits of Gothic, Moorish, and Renaissance architectural styles.

None of the above has anything to do with the image above, as the image above is a photo taken a few weeks ago in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA. The new world! We in the new world have a habit of duplicating and replicating and basically just plagiarizing every other culture in the world. But it’s not our fault. See, as a nation, we are made up of a lot of different ethnic type people from every other culture in the world. So it’s understandable! At least to me.

Maybe I should run for congress.

While I decide what my platform will be, please visit Photos By Emilio. We have images in every color to suit every mood!

Vista Cruising

Black And White Photography, Patti, Photography





   This car is a reasonably familiar sight to me but always, 
   it takes me by surprise.  A stealth car, it cruises by in
   silence as though on a visit from the past and still I am
   yet to catch a glimpse of the driver. 

   Under the glare of the mid morning sun I caught the 
   cruiser in action, not at all sure of what I might get, 
   in the full road rays of a quiet New York City moment.

Old Faithful

Black And White Photography, Photography

Nikon D90, 18-200 mm f/3.5-5.6 lens at 42mm, 1/500sec @ f/5.6, ISO 160

Old Faithful Geyser is the most popular attraction in Wyoming’s Yellowstone National Park. Traveling through the park this summer, my husband and I did our part to contribute to that statistic.

Pulling into the parking lot by the visitor center, we were astounded that we could actually see the geyser. Well, by that, I mean we could see the viewing area. A boardwalk with benches sits 300 feet from the geyser, and as the time approaches for the next eruption, the benches quickly fill. In the visitor center, we learned we had about an hour to spare, so we grabbed some lunch and then decided to find a place further back on the porch where I could more easily capture the eruption in all its glory.

This photo, one of many I took, is Old Faithful as it reached its highest point. The deep blue sky provided a beautiful backdrop for the white of the spouting water, but the multitude of colored t-shirts detracted from the beauty of this natural wonder. To my eye, black and white was the better choice.

Old Faithful erupts every 35 to 120 minutes for 1 1/2 to 5 minutes.
Its maximum height ranges from 90 to 184 feet.

Visit VisualVenturing.com for more of my work.

The Wounded

Black And White Photography, Joerg, Photography

This picture was taken during German Army training march,
where the soldiers are faced with different and randomized types of combat situations.
The situation here was this, grenade impact (terrible loud), finding a wounded person,
giving first aid, controlled by two military physicians, who had to score the work.
So it looks more cruel than it was, I took the picture in the moment
she (medical staff sergeant) was acting to collapse.

More of my images can be seen at – The Things As They Are In Pictures

August Come Back

Black And White Photography, Photography

August Come Back

SS 1/1000 f 5.6 ISO 200

It’s October, and I love fall, the cooler temperatures, the foliage, the smell in the air, the clouds – all of it…but, I long, from now until March, for the longer days and sunshine. Do you? Or, do you embrace the shorter, darker days?

To see this beautiful creature in her natural, colorful state visit my personal blog: Robyn Graham Photography. Which do you like the better?

Side Light

Black And White Photography, Joseph, Photography

Nikon D610 and Nikkor 180mm f/2.8 IF-ED AF-D lens – 1/800 @ f/4.0

I have always liked photographing side lit objects for the increased texture and exaggerated shadows.

To see more of my images in color visit The Visual Chronicle

Catching Air

Black And White Photography, Photography

Late day sun provides perfect lighting as a skateboarder, at the Venice Beach skatepark, catches one final air before the sun sets.

See more skateboarding shots on my blog http://samobiker.com/skateboarding/

The Workshop

Black And White Photography, Emilio, Photography

Please click on image above for the high res version

“But the kitchen will not come into its own again until it ceases to be a status symbol and becomes again a workshop. It may be pastel. It may be ginghamed as to curtains and shining with copper like a picture in a woman’s magazine. But you and I will know it chiefly by its fragrances and its clutter…. There will be something sweet-smelling twirling in a bowl and something savory baking in the oven. Cabinet doors will gape ajar and colored surfaces are likely to be littered with salt and pepper and flour and herbs and cheesecloth and pot holders and long-handled forks. It won’t be neat. It won’t even look efficient. but when you enter it you will feel the pulse of life throbbing from every corner.”
― Phyllis McGinley

If you like the above- and maybe even if you don’t- please visit Photos By Emilio when you’re bored at work! Also, try my gallery of images. A work in progress.