Photography

Guest Post – Stacy Fischer

Black And White Photography, Photography

This is the third post in our Guest Post series featuring Stacy Fischer. Although Stacy is quick to point out “I am a photography newbie” her images certainly don’t reflect that. I guess thats what is so great about photography. Whether you are a professional, amateur or newbie, a great image cannot tell the difference.

working-horse

My name is Stacy Fischer and I was born in Huntington, New York (shout out to Joe!). My family moved from Long Island when I was about three years old, and I have spent the last 19 years living in McLean, Virginia, just outside of Washington, D.C.

Joe’s invitation to guest post on Monochromia took me totally by surprise. In fact, I asked him if he didn’t want to rethink his offer!

You see, I am a photography newbie. That’s not to say I haven’t had my Nikon D90 for years – about five years at this point — but until recently I used it on family vacations or at family events, shot only in automatic (I just couldn’t wrap my head around F-stops!), and knew nothing about composition.

That all changed in February with my foray into photoblogging. Visual Venturing, “Because everyone likes pictures,” grew out of my passion for visual design, but I never imagined what I would find: a wonderful, welcoming, supportive, incredibly talented community, a community I absolutely credit with my growth as a photographer. From studying your amazing photos, following your links, asking all kinds of questions, and receiving invaluable feedback, you have inspired me to learn everything I can about this wonderful art form.

My appreciation for black and white photography comes from participating in Leanne Cole’s and Laura Macky’s Monochrome Madness Challenge (http://leannecolephotography.com/category/mmc/). Learning to see the contrasts, shadows, and light that translate effectively into black and white photos has provided me with countless “aha” moments that have better informed my photography in general. And much to my surprise, I have come to truly enjoy the purity of black and white images. Also to my surprise, the two most liked photos on my blog are in black and white, though I chuckle that the most liked one is of nothing more than a wire attached to a tree stake, shot while I was experimenting with creating a shallow depth of field (see, I AM learning photographic principles!).

Monochromia is a wonderful forum in which to explore and to share this wonderful genre of black and white photography. Kudos, Joe, for creating this blog and many thanks for standing by your invitation. I am honored to share my story.

St-Roch

Meho

 

IMG_3919_10_2014

ISO100 – F2.8 – 1/500 –  17mm – Darktable and GIMP

St-Roch is the neighborhood where anybody from different social classes can meet. Hummm…. Obviously, you’ll never meet a banker there but… Snack bar or gourmet restaurant, trendy pub or tavern, anything is there.

 

So Much To Love

Black And White Photography, Emilio, Photography
Elgin RR car-2

Elgin NV

“Grief is a Freight Train,
Oh what’s a little pain
When you’ve got so much to Love.”

Freight Train – Lyrics by Sara Jackson Holman – | MetroLyrics

This deserted boxcar was discovered on  a side rail of tracks just outside the ghost town of Elgin NV.

Please visit Photos By Emilio for a little something in color, too!

Montreal’s Alleys

Meho

IMG_5673

ISO400 – F2.8 – 50mm – GIMP and G’MIC

I used to live in a suburb financially comfortable throughout my whole childhood. As soon as I moved out from under my parents roof, I headed to something more “working class”. I’ve learned so much from these places. I’ve learned a lot about needs, how to get out of the bottom with nothing at all, and how to have self esteem while wearing worn out jeans for a job interview. 😉

Infinity

Black And White Photography, Laurie, Photography
Infinity

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.

 

Joe’s Choice

Black And White Photography, Emilio, Photography

Trust your car bw

As most of you (or maybe only some of you)  know by now,  Joe of The Visual Chronicle is the mastermind behind Monochromia!  When he saw the post I did last week on my blog, he commented:  I think it looks great and has come a long way from that blah Jpeg file. The last step would be to convert it to black and white and post it on Monochromia 🙂 And remember “you could trust your car to the man who wears the star”

So here it is, my blah Jpeg file color corrected in Lightroom to  glorious black and white. I think I prefer the color version this time but please let me know what you think! (That’s a not so sneaky way of getting those of you who have not yet visited our individual sites to go visit mine for a start,  then go visit everyone else’s.)

Making Music

Black And White Photography, Laurie, Photography

IMG_6616-2

 

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!

 

Here and Now

Black And White Photography, Elina, Photography

wheat_ElinaK

Walking barefoot on the grass and catching up with dear friends after a long time. Enjoying the atmosphere of the countryside and watching the sun slowly disappear behind the fields. Driving back home late at night and feeling sweet happiness in my heart.