Photographer: Michel Rajkovic

Location: Greece

The texture difference between the water and the rocks is phenomenal. The black and white theme aids in highlighting the softness of the water and the hardness of the rocks. This photographer has a knack for creating ghostly landscapes that are both captivating and frightening. The opening in the rocks gives the sense of the "unknown" in the world, which is both exciting and scary at the same time. Some of the areas on the rocks are a little blown out and the center of the photo (in the water) is somewhat bright. I would play with the adjustments of the levels in this photos so that the midtones are more dominant that the shadows or highlights themselves.

Photographer: Marty Knapp

Location: Giacomini Wetlands Trail

Foliage/Nature shots are always beautiful in black and white. The whiteness of the plants almost look as if they're illuminated and glowing, which adds a mystical feel to the photo. The dark tree branches create a natural frame that help hold the composition together. The light source creates a slight divide between black and white on the left and right side of the photo, while in the center it comes together in mutual shades of grays, blacks and whites which connect the left and right side of the photo. This photo would look good in full color, but I feel it would lose its charm that the black and white theme gives the composition.

Photographer: Paul Politis

Location: New York City

What drew me to this black and white photo is the obviousness of the light source. Being in black and white, the light source is accentuated when it hits the sides of the buildings which helps add depth and height to the photo. It gives the viewer the sense of feeling small when looking at these buildings. Being in black and white helps highlight their enormity. The photo is also kept in a simplistic black and white color scheme since there are 3 main shades: the dark side of the buildings, the light side of the buildings, and then the gray of the sky. Simplicity enhances focus on the buildings and the viewer's eye won't get so distracted trying to pick out hundreds of different shades of whites, blacks and grays. 

Photographer: Cole Thompson

Location: Devil's Tower, Wyoming

Though it's daylight, Thompson did a great job in creating this black and white photo without blowing out the sky. Having the sky darkened adds for greater contrast against the clouds and Devil's Tower. The trees at the bottom of the photograph loose a great deal of detail, a downside to being in black and white. It could also be a good thing, however, because it allows for more focus on the main subject of the photo itself: Devil's Tower. My favorite part of this black and white photo is the vast amount of negative space the sky gives. It's beautiful and almost seems like it has a hint of a gradient to it as the sky meet the clouds. An all around great shot. with great balance between the heaviness of black and the lightness of white, with the right amount of grays in between to add visual depth to this photo. 

Photographer: Cole Thompson

Location: Death Valley, California

This black and white photo shares the same eerie, foreboding feeling that the location of it gives. Being in black and white, the photographer puts emphasis on the road, making it as alluring as possible. I would perhaps try to darken the sky a little more so that is doesn't battle for attention with the lightness of the road. Simple and captivating, having this photo in black and white gives the viewer a feeling of stepping into another world and only being able to go down one path. The mountains off in the distance with the road disappearing over the hill gives a sense of mystery and curiosity.  

Photographer: Hugh Honeyman

Location: Unknown

I chose this picture because it stood out to me as a good composition, but bad choice of using a greyscale, black and white theme. This photo is too busy to be in black and white, it's starting to look cluttered and it's difficult to separate one object from the next. If it were in color, the viewer would have an easier time determining all of the separate parts of this metro shot. The photographer could have at least made the contrast heavier in this shot to help get rid of all of the grayer tones that are making this shot so mashed up.

Photographer: Shane Gross

Location: Somewhere off the East Coast

Not my favorite shot, simply because it's somewhat boring to me. Black and white can add drama to the right shot, sure, but I think I would rather see this shot in color with the whale being its true gray color surrounded by its blue environment. However, I do enjoy the texture of the whale that's brought out by the blacks, whites and grays. It's as if it defines the texture more so than a color shot would.

Photographer: Tom Millea

Location: Unknown

Stark contrast is created in this photo by Tom Millea. From the foggy sky to the dark corner of the forest, this photo boasts a comfortable balance between light and dark, black and white. Having this photo in black and white helps create division between the 2 subjects while also unifying them at the same time. Neither side looks too empty or heavy, the dark and light balances each other. If this photo were in color, I don't believe the same effect of perfect balance would be created. It's being in black and white is what makes it. 

Photographer: Unknown (from http://www.villafranceprovence.com/)

Location: French Riviera

This photo of a horse being in black and white allows for greater definition of the muscles and texture of its mane/body. It adds drama and intensity. However, the horses mouth, belly and eye gets somewhat lost in the extremely dark background. I would try to focus on the levels of these areas by playing around with the highlights to bring a little more definition to these parts of the horse. 

Photographer: Sally Mann

Location: Unknown

This photo by Sally Mann reminds me of the phrase, "monkey-see, monkey-do" in the sense that children will follow in the footsteps of their parents. The child's pose and expression reminds me of a middle aged woman who seems unhappy with her life. With this photo being in black and white, you can see the subject focus is put intently on the girl, her "cigarette" and the floating figure in the back which gives a feeling of a hanging corpse. This photo plays with innocence being contaminated and a sense of morbidity and death. Having such strong highlights and deep shadows helps keep the girl on the right out of focus so that she doesn't take the attention away from the main part of the photo: the ties between the girl, her cigarette and the floating corpse. 

Photographer: Molly Steele

Location: Green house in Los Angeles, CA

Even though it's a straight on shot, the different positions of the plants and the beams of the green house help give depth and definition to this shot by Steele. What I especially enjoy is the fact that you can see the condensation built up on the windows; it helps break up the sharp vibrance of the leaves by creating a softer background. This photo works much better in color; I feel like it would lose its charm and the texture of the condensation if it was put in black and white.

Photographer: Kevin Russ

Location: Unknown

Not one of my favorites from Kevin Russ, but it's a fairly decent shot. The sky gets a little blown out due to the brightness which makes the branches of the trees get lost. I do, however, enjoy the creepy contrast between the makeshift teepee and the white of the forest. It's foreboding in a way and reminds me of The Blair Witch Project.

Photographer: Kevin Russ

Location: Anza Borrego Desert

This particular shot by Kevin Russ reminds me of a desert animal looking out across the vast expanse of cacti and desert ground. The angle of the shot is almost inviting in a way: it's as if its asking you to step into the photo and take a look around yourself. Russ does a great job with keeping great focus on both the close up cacti and the ones that are farther away, all without losing much detail.