Back (in B&W) from Utah

Hi again,

I just got my B&W photos back from processing, and per my own expectations, I'm much happier with them. I was dissapointed with my color pics. I've been trying to take good pictures on backpacking trips or other vacations for about 9 years now. I usually just do 1 or 2 rolls of B&W and lots of color. Recently I decided to get a little more serious and try to learn more about photography, and about a month before this trip I started taking a B&W photo class through the Austin Museum. I expected this class to help my photography over all, but it seems I've only improved in B&W. Does this make sense? I thought it would carry over into color, but my color pictures from this trip are kinda boring. Maybe I'm just in a B&W mindset? I'm not trying to brag about my B&W, but compared to my previous trips, these are much improved. Has anyone else had this kind of experience? Do you go back and forth, being better at color or B&W?

Here's a few of my favorite B&W shots. Hope you like them.

Thanks,
Paul

1. My first double exposure shot that I would call successful.
2. My hiking buddies in Bryce Canyon...waiting on me, as usual.
3. A twisted tree on the rim of Bryce Canyon.
4. My contribution to Halloween.

Well done Paul! I am a very big fan of Ansel Adams and a couple of these sure put me in mind of some of his work. Nothig like the grreat outdoors and your B&W's have done a great job capturing it. Love your double exposure. Some camera can be really tricky to do doubles with. What did you use to shot this one?

Paul,

I think the shots you've posted are extremely good. For most shooters, creating strong and dynamic b&w images is more difficult than color. For some, much more difficult. And while it's possible to improve in all types of photography, you seem to have a real aptitude for b&w (and yes, it involves a very diiferent way of seeing).

So, instead of lamenting a lack of color skills, you should consider embracing and fully exploring b&w images, perhaps taking a slower approach of evaluating the color aspects of the scenes you shoot.

In time, your color vision and recognition should improve, and those shots will get better as well...

Now, one things I do NOT want to stir up here is the digital/film comparison, except to say that one interesting aspect of shooting digtial is that you capture in color for every shot, and only after the fact convert an image to b&w.

It can be a very valuable learning tool to do side by side comparisons of the b&w and color of the same scene, and see the various ways a color pic can be made b&w....

Still, you seem to be doing fine with film... :cool:

OT, Thank you for the kind words. I too am a big fan of Ansel Adams. You'll be pleased to know all of these shots were made with Nikon equipment. The camera is an N75, and it's double exposure feature is very simple. Hold down the "bracketing" button, roll the "command dial" until the right symbol appears, release, then take two shots. That's it. You can repeat this to take more than two.

Steve, Thank you too. I think I'll take your advice and stick with B&W for a while. I'm having a delima though, and it kind of leads into the next topic you mentioned. My last class is on Sunday, and that will be the last time I have access to a darkroom. Since I've learned how powerful making your own prints is, I don't know if I'll ever be happy with lab prints again. I can't seem to find a cheap darkroom to rent, and I don't have room to set up my own. So, I'm thinking about going digital. The instant feedback of digital seems to be a great learning aid. But, I'm just now learning the powers of the darkside...I mean darkroom...and I'm affraid I'll be dissapointed with photoshop. I need to find a place were I can play with photoshop. I've never used it before.

Thank you both again.

Paul