Greg Molyneux Photography

Tag: black and white

Contrasting light in grayscale.

  • Timeworn

    A low key black and white macro photograph of single aged and wrinkled Japanese maple leaf—curling up reminiscent of an old hand.
    Timeworn — 100mm | f/3.5 | ISO 640 | EXP 1/250

    The late day sun was pouring in. Casting a splendid glow upon the withered remains of my Japanese maple leaves. I’ve got a hundred or so of these bad boys that refuse to let go and find their final resting place in the dirt. At about an inch and a half in size these tenacious leaves make an excellent macro subject. Inspired I ran inside and fetched my camera, fixing my macro lens as a soldier would fix bayonets. Of course that’s a ridiculous notion but my mind can get pretty ridiculous. I digress.

    From the get go I knew I wanted to go black and white. Even with the rich golden light, I figured a low key black and white would really accentuate the story being told by this leaf. I wanted to set a sharp focus on the leaf tips alone, which struck me as the fingertips of an aged hand. The soft focus allows the eye to fade back into the picture, filling in the wrinkled, gnarled details for ourselves. Our own lives and our own mortality are inextricably linked to the unstoppable passage a time. Time being a concept that will forever fascinate me until the moment I can know it no more.

  • A change in the weather

    A black and white HDR photograph of fierce clouds, a tidal pool and undulating sands on the beach in Holgate, NJ.
    A change in the weather — 14mm | f/8 | ISO 100 | 7 Bracketed Exposures

    Holgate, New Jersey. Back to where it all began. This is the photograph. The date? January 1, 2012. I didn’t know it at the time, but this began a 365 day (366, it was a leap year) photo project that would later transform into a full on passion. I am thankful for life and its odd twists of fate.

    As for tonight’s shoot? I was hopeful the clouds would break just enough to allow sunset to do its thing. That never really happened, but for tonight that was OK. With storm clouds moving through in advance of tomorrow’s rain-out, the clouds were plenty dramatic. Combine that with the tidal pools and undulating sand patterns marking the foreground, and I had the ingredients for solid landscape photo. Considering the abundance of grey the stretched on for miles, I had a notion I may go black and white for the final processing choice. Once I got home and went monochrome with Silver Efex Pro 2 my decision was made.

    Oh, and speaking of weather—it may snow for Thanksgiving, New Jersey.

  • Day 5 of 5: Take a walk

    A gritty, grainy black and white wide angle photograph of a wooden pedestrian path along an old bridge spanning the Great Bay Boulevard salt marsh
    Take a walk — 14mm | f/8 | ISO 100 | EXP 1/60

    Here it is, folks. My last shot for the #fivedayblackandwhitechallenge. It’s been a fun departure from my standard photographic modus operandi, but with that said I’m ready to get back to my usual photo grind. Thanks for hanging with me during this brief divergence from the status quo.

    Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3 | Day 4 | Day 5

  • Day 4 of 5: This old gristmill

    A wide angle black and white photograph of the old Batsto Village gristmill taken in portrait orientation
    This old gristmill — 14mm | f/8 | ISO 100 | EXP 1/100

    I’m going to the well once more. Here’s another photograph from the 184 shots I made Saturday afternoon photowalking Batsto Village. For day four of the five day black and white challenge, I went with the old Batsto gristmill we see above. In the interest of full disclosure, I had no idea what a gristmill was until mere moments ago. Thanks Google! For those just as out of the loop as me, a gristmill is used to process and grind various grains (wheat, corn, etc.). This particular gristmill was, “built in 1828 and originally operated with a wooden water wheel. In 1882, the wheel was replaced with a more efficient “side winder” water turbine.” As with the rest of Batsto Village, the building has been wonderfully preserved and will transport you back to the early 19th century. Batsto in Fall is a great way to spend an afternoon. I cannot recommend enough, New Jersey people.

    Tomorrow’s the last day of the black and white challenge. What lies ahead?

    Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3 | Day 4 | Day 5

  • Day 3 of 5: Crossing the line

    Low key black and white photograph uses strong lines in front of backlit sun to a repetitive effect
    Crossing the line — 14mm | f/8 | ISO 100 | EXP 1/30

    When shooting wide angle have some fun working angles in tight spaces. It’s here where these rectilinear lenses really shine. Photowalking Batsto Village yesterday, I poked my nose inside this weird barn-esque pseudo covered bridge type building sided in evenly spaced, repetitive wood slats. I only call it weird because I’ve never seen anything like it and surely have no idea what it’s called. Anyway, leaning inside there was about two feet of space at the base, gradually widening as it moved upward. Here’s the shot I quickly framed up with the afternoon sun pouring in and shadows filing in perfect order.

    Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3 | Day 4 | Day 5

  • Day 2 of 5: It’s anyone’s story

    In this black and white photograph, strong leading lines move the eye through this olde tyme porch where an old wood bench sat steady for a lifetime of stories, friendship and support.
    It’s anyone’s story — 14mm | f/8 | IS) 100 | EXP 1/30

    Wow that really tells a story. I don’t know what story, but yeah.

    Some friends and I made our way to Batsto Village this afternoon. Founded in the late 1700s, this preserved iron town is one of the pearls of Wharton State Forest. We, and about four dozen other photographers, made the best of the rich afternoon light, and I made the best of one of my favorite porches on the site. A simple wooden porch that creaks off the page of a Mark Twain novel. I spent a good ten minutes photographing this bench, the floor and the angles, trying to get the movement and shadows just so. All the while this composition hung in the back of my mind as one of my black and white possibilities for day two of the challenge.

    As soon as I applied a low key black and white look with a dose of grain I knew this was a winner. Almost immediately my buddy Jon looked over and uttered the words above. While utterly simplistic and overtly amorphous—almost Yogi Berra like—it actually hits the mark. This photo tells its own story, and certainly one far better than I’ll ever tell. Enjoy.

    Aside: two days in and I am really enjoying the 5 day black and white challenge.

    Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3 | Day 4 | Day 5

  • Day 1 of 5: Flat out

    A low key black and white macro photograph of a late season daisy in Autumn.
    Flat out — 100mm |f/4 | ISO 400 | EXP 1/400

    Last night I was tagged on Google+ to participate in the #fivedayblackandwhitechallenge that’s been running strong for the past couple of weeks. If nothing else it’s coincidental that yesterday was the first day it popped in my mind if I’d somehow get tagged for this. I was on my way to work. Sure enough that thought was manifest by day’s end. For anyone unfamiliar with Google+ it’s a wonderful place for photographers. It’s where this hobby started for me, and for that alone it will forever be remembered fondly by this guy, ghost towns be damned.

    Onto the challenge: I love me some black and white. I really do. Back in my Studio Art days in high school it was my wheelhouse. Colors were scary. Black and white might as well have been the blanket of one Linus Van Pelt. 15 years later and suddenly into photography, color has, perhaps ironically, taken me by storm. Past inhibitions are strangely gone and color has become a strength. Life is nothing if not odd.

    All that setup being said, black and white remains a passion of mine. As much as I’ve learned to harness the power of color in all its vibrant glory, nothing takes me away (sorry, Calgon) like a stunning black and white. That’s where my envy rears. In that vein I am very excited about this challenge. My inner critic, though, is concerned that it will be hard to make great black and whites on purpose and on demand.

    I guess we’ll see what the next five days have in store.

    Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3 | Day 4 | Day 5

  • I’d love to see you in that dress

    I’d love to see you in that dress

    A minimalist high key macro of a Klondyke Sunny Red (cosmos sulphureus) flower that creates the look of a woman spinning a dress.
    I’d love to see you in that dress — 100mm | f/4 | ISO 500 | EXP 1/1000

    I’d be lying if I said I consciously set out to get this kind of shot. What started as a run of the mill macro shoot turned into a shot I’ll proudly claim as my own. Just looking—and falling into—this shot overwhelms me with flowing imagery; a striking ballerina spinning that stunning dress with a confidence all her own.

    What’s interesting is this shot represents several departures from my shooting norms. Rarely do I center a subject, and rarer still do I go for the brightness and glow of the high key style. But once again breaking the mold rewards with unexpected dividends. I’m sure there’s a lesson in that. In the meantime let’s all celebrate her dance.

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  • Tucked away in there that’s the Fall

    A low key fine art black and white photograph of a small pine cone tucked away between pine tree branches. Sharp contrast and shallow depth of field add to the mood.
    Tucked away in there that’s the fall — 100mm | f/3.5 | ISO 400 | EXP 1/250

    I’m not sure why but when I see pine cones I automatically make the association to Fall. A quick googling tells me this is the time of year said cones are approaching their max size and thereby most noticeable (even though the subject here is a little guy—no more than an inch in length), so I reckon it’s as simple as that. Not much mystery to this passing observation.

    I’ve had my battles with the Fall but this year I’m going to focus on its upside. Most notably: the pictures I’m going to take. Heading into Fall and Winter I know that fog, foliage, amped up sunsets, and snowfall are in store for my camera and I. And moving out of Summer, which for me is the least interesting time photographically, I am excited at what the future holds. I’ve been jonesing to get out there and shoot more. Here comes my chance.