01/26 – New Beginnings
New Beginnings of what? What does it mean? I’m glad you asked, or I hope you wanted to ask. :-).
This is the first of themed fortnightly posting in black and white and I have joined some of my friends in this 26 image challenge for 2015. So what is my own personal challenge? My aim in this challenge is to develop my black and white photography to tell some of my stories better than colour pictures could.
The image you see below illustrates my point. Here is a skilled craftsman who has a workshop full of modern tools and machines. Here, though, he is using a labour intensive method and an antique tool, to achieve the effect he is after. It is exactly the right tool for the job. It’s not necessarily the easiest way, but it is the best way for him and for what he is making.
Black and white photography is where it all started – historically and also personally for many of us. We now have tools that allow us to process our digital photographs in colour or in black and white, as we choose. So usually we choose colour as… everyone loves colour. And the picture comes out of the camera in colour. But that’s not always best. Sometimes colour is a distraction. Sometimes, to tell a photographic story with the emphasis where you want it, black and white is the answer. My aim is to discover the right time and the best way to use this medium to tell my stories.
In case you are wondering, the craftsman here is in fact my husband Steven tells me that this plane was probably owned by his grandfather who would have given it to him. He doesn’t know who the previous name belonged to, but it was apparently the custom in England, on the death of a craftsman, such as a furniture maker or cabinetmaker for his tools to be sold to help his widow. His own grandfather (also a skilled woodworker) might have come by the plane this way.
Thanks a lot, +Lady Fran W
Wonderful intimate image and story.
thanks so much +Ellie Kennard
I've replied to you in a pm, +Diana Boyd​ and all the info is in there. 😀
+Ellie Kennard I read that you have a plugin that connects your G+ postings to your blog and I was wondering what that is called. I have been considering doing a blog myself, but of course the time factor has limited me, but this sounds very efficient.
Thanks a lot +Tisha Montgomery – nice to be along on this journey together again! 😀
This is a great shot and goal, Ellie! 🙂
Sad but true.
Today's tools are very cheap ,you use and throw away
+שלמה ארגוב yes indeed, it's great that these old tools can still be used. You won't be able to say that about today's technology in the future.
+Nimi Rajesh​ thank you so much, I hope it will be interesting.
מיחזור
I felt it as a profound post +Ellie Kennard and would love to follow your project and stories, along with learning new things, thank you!
Thanks a lot, +Alex Lapidus​
+Sumit Sen​ thank you! I was hoping you might. 🙂
Great start, will certainly follow the journey 🙂
Wonderful idea and image!
Thanks so much for your encouragement, +Heiko Mahr – and your comments, which are always welcome.
Wonderful work +Ellie Kennard
and excellent thoughts!
+Alison Christensen I absolutely agree about that joy. Thanks so much for your comment and good wishes.
+Diana Boyd I must get to look at the others now that I have posted my own (late) first one. I'm glad to be involved and was inspired by seeing all of those by others!
+Lauri Novak thank you so much for the great welcome and the encouragement to start. Glad to be aboard.
+Dan Hartnett – so true. Actually I haven't watched TV in years, black and white or colour, but I know that even in the old days of TV, bw was great.
Black and white is where TV started too, but you don't see many of those anymore.
Excellent goal – love this shot and the focus. Welcome aboard!
wonderful story telling through BW +Ellie Kennard and it is as you said, sometimes the color is distracting. Glad you are along on this journey!
Ah, the joy of watching a craftsman at work!
Your goal is one that I will enjoy seeing each fortnight – good luck with your endeavours!