Greg Molyneux Photography

Tag: black and white

Contrasting light in grayscale.

  • La Grain

    100mm black and white macro photograph of a purple coneflower
    La Grain — 100mm | f/4 | ISO 100 | EXP 1/400

    While they may not get the same play on social media like my vibrant landscapes are wont to do, a big soft spot in my heart exists solely to express myself through the macro and black and white medium. Five minutes on a psychologist’s couch would most likely reveal this proclivity as a merger between my primary and secondary school days as something of a black and white pencil drawing enthusiast, coupled with my more recent start as a photographer who worked almost exclusively in the macro world for the better part of my first 20,000 photographs. Roots, man. You just can’t shake ’em.

    Here I’ve presented a very simple composition of one of my favorite flower subjects: the purple coneflower. Using a near side-on perspective the depth of field is quite thin. leaving only the front section of the blossom in sharp focus. Shallow depth of field brings a welcome sense of whimsy and wonder to the composition, enabling the eye to move, leaving the mind left to fill in the fuzz. By introducing noise into the photograph during post processing I intentionally wanted the resulting graininess to layer an aspect of grit and imperfection to the shot. In some ways a hat-tip to the tendency of grain to show up in old school film photography—not that I’ve ever shot a roll of film in my life. It’s OK, feel free to revoke any photographist street cred I may or may not have established up and until this point.

  • Daedalus Bid You Take Heed

    Low key abstract black and white macro photograph of a purple coneflower
    Daedalus Bid You Take Heed — 100mm | f/3.5 | ISO 100 | EXP 1/125

    This is abstract. Is this abstract? I think this is abstract. A quick googling of abstract art returns the following—

    art that does not attempt to represent external reality, but seeks to achieve its effect using shapes, forms, colors, and textures.

    Once I decided to roll with low key black and white processing, all my mind could see is an unnamed papier-mâché sun, brooding near unseen amidst the vastness of space. The way the would-be corona is captured frozen in its solar flare tango as countless sun spots blot out the surface. This is no coneflower—this is a sun. Will our telescopes ever fix on such a sight? Of course not. But another photographer’s macro lens just might.

  • See to the real you

    High key black and white macro photograph of a clematis flower
    See to the real you — 100mm | f/2.8 | ISO 100 | EXP 1/250

    It wasn’t until showering this morning—OK. OK. This afternoon. So what if I like to sleep a little late?—that I realized I totally forgot about this photo. Taken in my backyard all the way back on May 24th I processed this baby up and apparently moved on to other things. Cripes. Memorial Day parties to host, work to pay the bills and exercise the mind, and naps. But mostly naps.

    So here it is, mid-June and my clematis is finally getting its due. It’s certainly not my typical macro, but every now and then a high key black and white treatment on a flower photograph is just what the doctor ordered. And while this exposure doesn’t reach the heights of I’d love to see you in that dress, it does slot in nicely among my past work.

  • Here be Dragons

    Here be Dragons

    Black and white abstract macro photograph of a Japanese Maple that looks like a flying dragon
    Here be Dragons — 100mm | f/2.8 | ISO 100 | EXP 1/100

    I’m a Game of Thrones fan. I’m a macro fan. I’m a black and white fan. So for my money here goes the trifecta. I know many folks appreciate my wide angle landscapes—the sweeping shots of the dramatic sunsets that readily pop-up along the Jersey shore. Those are great, and I love getting out there and making those photographs. But what excites me the most is getting up close and personal with the micro world at the business end of a macro lens. Old school handheld shooting I can couple with the drama of shallow depth of field and its smooth bokeh, finishing with a moody black and white photograph rendering just enough mystery and pause into the final frame. It is in these most I feel most capable—most inspired.

    And as far as Game of Thrones is concerned—am I on point in seeing a dragon here, or is that just me? Better yet? Season 5, episode 4 airs tonight!

  • Public Health Hazard

    Public Health Hazard

    Ceramicist and potter, a hooded Jeff Ruemeli smokes the last of his cigarette as he stokes the soda kiln fires in this low key black and white portrait.
    Public Health Hazard — 50mm | f/1.4 | ISO 8000 | EXP 1/40

    Obligatory Disclaimer Alert: Kids, don’t be like this hobo hipster wizard. Smoking is bad for your health.

    This past Thursday longtime pal, ceramicist, glass blower and acoustic romanticist, Jeff Ruemeli, invited us over to the LBI Foundation of the Arts & Sciences to check out this here soda kiln firing he’s been waxing poetic about for weeks. The outdoor oven apparatus—roughly 5 feet by 5 feet by 7 feet (not including the chimney) of what I’m guessing is some kind of volcanic brick—was quite cool; and glowed something fierce in the dark of night as he and his colleague worked diligently to get the temperature up to a balmy 2,300°F.

    While I was unable to get a serviceable image of the natural gas kiln itself, I did manage to make this here modest portrait; highlighting the perils of gnarly beards and nasty cigarettes. Both insidious threats to civil society. Hide your children; hide your wife.

    Without question I have a fear of portraiture; personal space and comfort issues, damn you to hell. In the future, if I find some subjects I’m comfortable enough with, it’s an area of photography I’d like to explore. As such a speedlite and portrait lens may be in my future. Hooray for cash eating hobbies!

  • Trail Rides and Snowy Pines

    Nestled in the heart of the New Jersey Pinelands. fresh snow blankets the fire trails and pine trees of Greenwood Forest Wildlife Management Area in this black and white wide angle photograph.
    Trail Rides and Snowy Pines — 14mm | f/8 | ISO 100 | EXP 1/30

    If literal titles are your thing, this post is for you.

    In a shocking turn of events I woke up early this morning. 5:00 a.m. to be precise. Outside of snowfall and fishing, it’s a tall order to release me from the grip of my warm bed during morning hours. Unless we’re talking about work—which I seldom necessitates my waking up too early. Alas a morning person I am not.

    Sleep be damned, with the excitement of fresh powder during a snow starved year there was no way I was going to miss this opportunity. Even if the wind chills resembled something you’d more likely feel defending your hidden rebel base on Hoth—and that’s without an odiferous Tauntaun to warm your bones. But I digress.

    As I am decidedly lacking in snow photographs I have to exploit all opportunities to shoot it that I am given. The small body of snowfall work is the culprit of a three-part beast: 1) snow can be hard to come by in coastal Ocean County; which relates to reason 2) that I just don’t have enough experience making photographs of snow; and 3) my vehicle is simply too unsafe to drive in snow.

    Fortunately today at least two of the mitigating factors were addressed: a widespread swath of 4″–6″ blanketed Ocean County into the early hours this morning, and I had Jon Carr drive in his Jeep Cherokee. And so it was, Wawa coffees in hand, embarking on a predawn journey into the Pinelands. Much of the next two hours consisted of minimal photography but maximum enjoyment. While great scenes with dramatic light were hardly reaching out to grab us, we just cruised the trails (re: made a bunch of wrong turns) like we’ve done so many times with our crew over these past 17 years. I’m a huge fan of the New Jersey Pinelands regardless of the season, but there’s just something special when they’re draped in snow.

  • Meet Mack, Beagle Bulldog Puppy Mix Master

    An adorable low key black and white portrait photograph of a Beagle-British Bulldog puppy mix named Mack, with a red 'Angry Birds' squeak toy between his paws.
    Meet Mack, Beagle Bulldog Puppy Mix Master — 50mm | f/1.4 | ISO 5000 | EXP 1/800

    Female canines you have been put on notice. This little guy’s just about as cute as can be, and he’s got the smooth disposition to match. I mean just look at that furrowed brow and those eyes. This is one awesome dog.

    While I regret to inform you Mack is not my own, he is, however, the latest fur-child welcomed into the loving home of my cousin and his most wonderful bride. Mack joins his two big brothers—Rottweiler and Pit Bull—and is never one to back down; rolling his fur up, getting down and dirty wrestling with the big boys. Between naps and play fights, Mack enjoys cuddles, snuggles, head butts and red Angry Birds squeak toys. I also hear he likes chess, but I’ll have to get back to you on that one.

    He’s melted all of our hearts, and now he can melt yours.

  • Symbol of Strength

    Heavy mesoband snow and wind batter Barnegat Lighthouse as winter storm Juno skirts the New Jersey coast in this low key black and white photograph of a resolute and unmoving Old Barney at night.
    Symbol of Strength — 14mm | f/2.8 | ISO 5000 | EXP 1/30

    To better set the stage take a watch—and listen—to the snow bands and high winds that slammed into Barnegat Lighthouse Monday night. Please excuse my shaky hands.

    Taken a the top of the 10 o’clock hour, I tucked in low and close along the concrete seawall that runs all the way out into the inlet. With the wind at my back and cover to my right flank, I was able to affix camera to tripod and rifle off a few shots before the combination of intense snowfall and wind compromised the clarity of my lens. Wanting to capture snow flakes and the lighthouse beams in the shot I had to dial my aperture wide open and crank the ISO to 5000. This afforded me a 1⁄30 exposure—fast enough to freeze the scene.

    Distracted by storm and snowfall I arrived home and ignored the contents of my memory card. It’s only today, Wednesday, that I’ve gotten to really see this shot for all its worth. Black and white processing was the obvious choice from the get go, with the white of the lighthouse lending strong contrast against the backdrop of a roaring night sky. The Lighthouse itself bears the brunt, revealing an icy spine running vertically down the whole of the structure just to the right of center—its unwavering position a testament to the steady, yet unrelenting direction of the fierce wind howling out of the north-northeast.

    When you’re out there exposed to the elements as nothing more than a vulnerable sack of human, you really appreciate both the intensity of weather and the fortitude of man. Here stands a singular column, standing sentry, strong as ever.

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  • Today some snow happened

    Light snow falls on an empty roadway marked only by a lone set of tire tracks. Flanking the road are guardrails and pine trees to either side of this black and white photograph.
    Today some snow happened — 14mm | f/8 | ISO 800 | EXP 1/30

    Up until about 4 hours it was hardly the season for snow lovers. Not for those of us living in New Jersey, anyway. But with today’s Clipper and the threat of this weekend’s Nor’easter, times they are a changing. Being a photographer and a snow lover, stopping to take pictures on my way to dinner seemed the only sensible thing to do.

    I went toward my usual Dock Road jaunt but turned off onto Mayetta Landing Road just before things open up onto the marsh. There lie one single pair of tire tracks perfectly marking the road ahead. I quickly parked in the shoulder, threw on the hazards, and jogged off into position. With ISO set to auto and snow messing up my lens, I fired off a single handheld exposure and produced what would become the picture above.

    Here’s to more (and better!) snow photos coming in the days and weeks ahead.