Monochrome can solve a problem

@JudyEv (339431)

Rockingham, Australia

November 3, 2023 7:42am CST

My friends here know that Vince and I take photos at horse endurance rides. I only started taking photos a couple of years ago and for a while I relied heavily on Vince setting up my camera for me. But now I can adjust the ISO (still don’t really know what it is), shutter speed and F stop (don’t know what that is either) according to the conditions at the time. Black horses absorb the light so need different settings to white horses which reflect the light. Bay/brown horses are easiest to photograph. At the ride last Saturday, we were in bright sunlight, the paddock was shiny as the grass had been mown and some horses really blended into the background. When I came to process the photos, I found that putting them into monochrome (black and white) worked quite well. When colour photography first came in, it was all the rage and still is really, so black-and-white photos are a bit of a novelty. We’ve sold a few black-and-whites from this ride although I only did it with a few of the photos. I think monochrome looks a bit more dramatic too.

18 people like this

18 responses

@porwest (89914)

• United States

3 Nov 23

Especially with certain pictures, I have always liked the black and white element of them. In many ways I think black and white actually captures much more detail AND allows the imagination to work better to fill in the blanks. You just see more.

4 people like this

@JudyEv (339431)

• Rockingham, Australia

5 Nov 23

Where I had caught the horse and rider against a tree in the background, black and white differentiated between the two much better.

3 people like this

@porwest (89914)

• United States

5 Nov 23

@JudyEv It always does. Job well done.

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (339431)

• Rockingham, Australia

6 Nov 23

@porwest Thanks

1 person likes this

@LindaOHio (177809)

• United States

3 Nov 23

Those are great photos. Hope you and Vince have a wonderful day.

3 people like this

@JudyEv (339431)

• Rockingham, Australia

5 Nov 23

Thanks. I'm glad you like them.

2 people like this

@LindaOHio (177809)

• United States

5 Nov 23

@JudyEv You're very welcome.

1 person likes this

@BarBaraPrz (47256)

• St. Catharines, Ontario

3 Nov 23

ISO is the film speed and f-stop controls how much light gets through the lens, if I remember correctly. Not sure what relevance it has to digital cameras.

3 people like this

@JudyEv (339431)

• Rockingham, Australia

5 Nov 23

Thanks. I'm sure that's still correct with digital cameras. It's ringing bells. I think the f-stop influences depth of field too.

2 people like this

@wolfgirl569 (105820)

• Marion, Ohio

3 Nov 23

It can look wonderful.

3 people like this

@JudyEv (339431)

• Rockingham, Australia

5 Nov 23

It certainly suits some photos better than colour.

2 people like this

@xFiacre (12966)

• Ireland

3 Nov 23

@judyev Sometimes the colour distracts from what’s going on. In these photos there’s a real sense of movement.

3 people like this

@JudyEv (339431)

• Rockingham, Australia

5 Nov 23

Thanks. It made the horses stand out from the sandy-coloured paddock and a pale blue sky.

@sharonelton (28700)

• Lichfield, England

3 Nov 23

The photographs look great. They look good in black and white. You did well!

3 people like this

@JudyEv (339431)

• Rockingham, Australia

5 Nov 23

Thanks. Some of them merged into the background too much but looked better in monochrome.

2 people like this

@sharonelton (28700)

• Lichfield, England

5 Nov 23

@JudyEv You're welcome. Yes, I agree.

1 person likes this

@snowy22315 (180362)

• United States

3 Nov 23

I think they do too, as they are not very common any more.

2 people like this

@JudyEv (339431)

• Rockingham, Australia

5 Nov 23

The wheel often turns full circle, doesn't it?

1 person likes this

@rebelann (112770)

• El Paso, Texas

3 Nov 23

Those are really nice photos but as with many I prefer color prints.

2 people like this

@JudyEv (339431)

• Rockingham, Australia

5 Nov 23

I didn't do many in black and white but was surprised that they sold as well as they did.

2 people like this

@RebeccasFarm (89832)

• Arvada, Colorado

3 Nov 23

It is stunning black and white Judy. Much more so than the color at times. It is necessary to bring out the photo. Your photos are lovely and you do very well. I too do not know all the ins and outs though I took a tiny bit of a photography class when my son was a babe.

2 people like this

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@RebeccasFarm (89832)

• Arvada, Colorado

5 Nov 23

@JudyEv Yes it is more distinct.

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (339431)

• Rockingham, Australia

5 Nov 23

If I didn't get the rider's head against the sky but against a tree, then it was hard to see them. In monochrome the head was more distinct.

1 person likes this

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@LadyDuck (471255)

• Switzerland

3 Nov 23

Some photos look more interesting in black and white. Sometimes we are distracted looking at the colours and we miss details.

2 people like this

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@LadyDuck (471255)

• Switzerland

5 Nov 23

@JudyEv I agree, sometimes the colours "flatten" the contrast.

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (339431)

• Rockingham, Australia

5 Nov 23

I agree. There seems more contrast in these somehow.

1 person likes this

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@Tampa_girl7 (50179)

• United States

3 Nov 23

The pictures turned out really nice.

2 people like this

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@Tampa_girl7 (50179)

• United States

5 Nov 23

@JudyEv I can see why they’d want both.

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (339431)

• Rockingham, Australia

5 Nov 23

Thanks. I was pleased with the black and white ones. We put the same photos on the website in colour and monochrome. Some of the riders bought both! lol

1 person likes this

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@Fleura (30330)

• United Kingdom

3 Nov 23

Monochrome is more artistic somehow. Great pictures, as always!

2 people like this

@JudyEv (339431)

• Rockingham, Australia

5 Nov 23

Thanks. There was more action at this event; much more so than at a standard endurance ride.

1 person likes this

Valerie J. Routhieaux

@just4him (317040)

• Green Bay, Wisconsin

3 Nov 23

I agree. They do look more dramatic. Well done!

2 people like this

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Valerie J. Routhieaux

@just4him (317040)

• Green Bay, Wisconsin

6 Nov 23

@JudyEv You should be please with them.

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (339431)

• Rockingham, Australia

5 Nov 23

Thanks. I was really pleased with how they turned out.

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (339431)

• Rockingham, Australia

6 Nov 23

@just4him Thanks. I am.

1 person likes this

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@Dena91 (16587)

• United States

3 Nov 23

As neat as color photos are, especially of autumn leaves or spring flowers, I love black and white photos.

2 people like this

@JudyEv (339431)

• Rockingham, Australia

5 Nov 23

The wheel has gone full circle in a way, hasn't it?

1 person likes this

@shaggin (72103)

• United States

4 Nov 23

I wish I had Vince to teach me how to use my camera better. I love black and white photos. I can’t decide which of the four photos here I like best. I sure am thankful upon my return here that photos are working again. I had really missed your photos! The site would be 50% less fun for me without photos.

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (339431)

• Rockingham, Australia

5 Nov 23

I am gradually getting better but now we're probably going to stop doing so much so I'll probably get worse again! lol I agree about having photos on here. It's not nearly as enjoyable without the photos.

1 person likes this

@jstory07 (139523)

• Roseburg, Oregon

4 Nov 23

Those black and white pictures look really nice.

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (339431)

• Rockingham, Australia

5 Nov 23

Thanks. I was glad that I thought to convert some to monochrome.

1 person likes this

@Beestring (14518)

• Hong Kong

3 Nov 23

The pictures look great in black and white.

2 people like this

@JudyEv (339431)

• Rockingham, Australia

5 Nov 23

Thanks. I was really pleased with them and they sold well too.

1 person likes this

• Indonesia

5 Nov 23

Nice photos. It must be really exciting to ride a horse like that

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (339431)

• Rockingham, Australia

5 Nov 23

The riders did look as though they were enjoying it.

1 person likes this