Interior Geometry

Looking down into traditional Loire flat-bottomed boat interior, wooden planks and rope, Montjean-sur-Loire

A simple shift of perspective — looking straight down into the hull — turns weathered planks and coiled rope into an abstract composition. The parallel lines of the timber draw the eye inward, while the rope provides a counterpoint of curve and texture. Monochrome is the natural choice: there is no colour to distract from the pattern, and the tonal contrast between sun-bleached wood and shadow does all the work.

From the article Montjean-sur-Loire — The Wrong Road, the Right Place on IJM Photography. Canon EOS 6D Mark II | 16–35mm.

Noia

Black And White Photography, Ian, Photography

Portrait of Noia, Canon 6D Mark II, 85mm. Check out IJM Photography for more.

Portrait of Noia — Canon 6D Mark II with 85mm. The 85mm focal length at portrait distances gives natural compression that is flattering without distorting, and the rendering at a wide aperture separates the subject cleanly from the background. Monochrome reduces the portrait to light, form, and expression: the most direct form of a portrait. See the full article: Noia on IJM Photography.

Guest Post – Ian Myers

Black And White Photography, Ian, Photography

Please welcome our newest guest contributor – Ian Myers

This is a photograph of the Château de la Preuille taken in 2022 on the Canon 6D Mark II, using an ND filter for the long exposure of the sky. The château was once a supplier of Muscadet white wine to Président Mieterrand. But now the wine business and château are two different entities. The château is now available for hire as an events venue and offers accommodation in the historic towers.

About Ian

A musician, a photographer, a writer, a lover of good food, with a particular weakness for a nice cup of tea and a piece of cake. Originally from the UK, but I drifted, and have been living in France for the last 30 years. The first 20 are the hardest, and then you just stop fighting it, man!

On a more serious note, I am 52, have been into photography since childhood, and things got serious in 1987 when I bought my first SLR, the Praktica MTL3, that I still have. It was what I learnt my craft with. Old School, for some, and normal for others. Digital came along, but film remained a constant. And now I do both. A camera is but a tool after all. Some do certain things better than others.

Since 2019 I have been blogging about my photographic journey, and have lately written articles about how to. More what kind of approach to have (in my opinion of course), and aiming to demystify this passion that we share, whilst drawing on 40 years experience as an amateur photographer. The ethos being something along the lines of, if I can, then you can.

You can view my website – here

You can also view my Instagram – here

The Château de la Preuille image was shot on the Canon 6D Mark II with the 16–35mm f/4 L lens and an ND filter to achieve a long exposure of the sky. Slowing the shutter to several seconds transformed the clouds into smooth sweeping streaks — the ND filter is the key tool for this effect in bright daylight. Read more about long exposure and landscape technique at IJM Photography.