Tag Archives: black and white

Black and White from Ballarat

Just a quick flashback to a walk around the lake in Ballarat, Victoria, Australia in the winter. With the exception of one bizarrely bright bird, absolutely nothing was colourful that day and the wind was icy cold and quite gusty.

I briefly glanced at these when I first took them, but since we were already up to our eyeballs in packing boxes and mess, I didn’t have the energy to devote any time or inspiration to them back in August.

Here I am back in France, happily and cozily parked in front of the fire in December, and now I’m glad I saved these for the right time. Some of these are potential book covers or perfect for doing a matte and frame treatment. I can tell when my heart is happy again because my productivity level just soars. That’s a lovely thing to be able to say at my age!

All of the images in this short photo essay are from Lake Wendouree in Ballarat. Enjoy!

Unidentified woman and child walk along the lakeside on a cold winter day.

Unidentified woman and child walk along the lakeside on a cold winter day.

Partially submerged tree and water grasses in a rain-swollen lake.

Partially submerged tree and water grasses in a rain-swollen lake.

A bench at the edge of a swollen lake.

A bench at the edge of a swollen lake.

Wind whipped dunegrass alongside the water's edge of a lake.

Wind whipped dunegrass alongside the water’s edge of a lake.

And finally — the ONE SPOT of colour…

An Australian bird with a bright red face and deep blue chest picks its way through the marsh grass of an inland lake.

An Australian bird with a bright red face and deep blue chest picks its way through the marsh grass of an inland lake.

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Stationary and Serene-ISH

Stationary (for now!) — and serene-ISH (heavy on the ish!)…

Since we returned to Australia, purchased a house, and are knee deep in renovation dust (there’s a plan — trust me — there’s a plan), I am temporarily stationary in one town. What a change from the 2010 through early 2013 years of being on the road through multiple countries and living in several parts of France. And yes, we would both tell you in a heartbeat that we miss it ever so much. The evolving plan involves a revisit of that European lifestyle — but not quite yet.

One thing that I didn’t particularly enjoy was never having the time to adequately keep up with photo editing. So one of my tasks for now is to diligently work through my back catalogue of images, edit them, and then forward them on to my various agencies.

My sleeping hours are incredibly skewed right now, so I’m taking my inspiration today from this lovely bit of sculpture. It was actually a decorative element on the corner of a larger statue’s plinth in Dresden, Germany.

See that serene face? Note to self — soak it in, Deborah — soak it in!

 

A sculpture of a serene woman at one of the 4 corners of the Friedrich August I monument in the Schlossplatz in Dresden, Germany.

A sculpture of a serene woman at one of the 4 corners of the Friedrich August I monument in the Schlossplatz in Dresden, Germany.


 

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Photo Of The Day: Up The Stairs & Into The Fog

There are days in Normandy when the weather is less than sunny and bright and the fog rolls off the ocean into the seacoast towns.

Today’s picture of the day in black and white is a simple shot — up a set of stairs that are clad in the same cobblestone as the streets below and into the bright but strange light of the fog.

Enjoy!

 

Up the stairs in Granville, a historic seaside town in Normandy, and into the fog at the top of the stairs.

Up the stairs in Granville, a historic seaside town in Normandy, and into the fog beyond. B&W


 

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Photo Of The Day: Brussels Streetscape in Black & White

Bright sun, deep shade — just made for black and white. Enjoy!

 

Man walks down exterior stairs in deep shade on a sunny day in Brussels, Belgium. B&W

Man walks down exterior stairs in deep shade on a sunny day in Brussels, Belgium. B&W


 

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Architectural Photos of CCCB Museum in Barcelona

This is a mixed bag of both black and white and colour photography today. These photos give you a brief glimpse of the architecture of the lovely CCCB museum in Barcelona.

Some of the more angular shots were better presented in black and white. For visual punch, I love bright blue-sky days. But more and more often lately I seem to be defaulting back to black and white which returns me to my early days in journalism and blissful hours spent in the darkroom.

Enjoy!

 

Entrance sign at CCCB museum in Barcelona, Spain


 

Man passing though courtyard entry arch into the CCCB contemporary art museum in Barcelona, Spain with St. Geoge & the Dragon sculpture overhead on building facade.


 

A St. George & the Dragon sculpture above the archway entry into the CCCB museum in Barcelona, Spain.


 

Entry-exit ramp at the Barcelona, Spain museum CCCB.


 

Old meets new in the two buildings housing the CCCB museum of contemporary art.


 

The crisp geometric angles of the interior lobby in the CCCB museum of contemporary art and culture in Barcelona, Spain.


 

Escalator to upper galleries at the Barcelona, Spain contemporary museum CCCB.


 

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Stony & Textural Black & White in Barcelona, Spain

Even in sunny Spain, there are cold, wet, and gloomy days when the colour of the sky is flat and bright shades of clothing or advertising are muted and subdued. What better time to switch to black and white photography which actually enhances the image since you are looking at the bones, the structure, or the texture instead of being wowed by snappy-bright colour.

These are from Barcelona on a wet but wonderful Sunday. The building is the Museu d’Història de la Ciutat, the city museum of Barcelona. This 15th Century palace was moved, stone by stone, from its original location in 1931 due to the upcoming construction of a roadway. When the new site on Placa del Rei was being excavated and prepared for the rebuilding of the palace, there was a stunning archaeological find — a large section of the old Roman city was still lying beneath the city streets of Barcelona!

I will have a slide show from the interior of this museum in the coming days.

Enjoy!

 

Upper exterior of the dramatically gloomy 15th Century building housing the Barcelona History Museum. This historic palace is built atop part of an excavated Roman city.


 

Gargoyles ring the upper part of the history museum in Barcelona


 

Entry to the imposing 15th Century stone palace housing the Barcelona History Museum. An excavated section of the former Roman city is on view in the lower levels.


 

One last picture — a glimpse through a narrow passageway which is down the street from the museum.
 

View down a narrow passage in Barcelona, Spain


 

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Please respect the words and images on this page.
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