Arizona’s iconic Antelope Canyon in black and white. Seems a real contradiction. As the Antelope Canyon is an explosion in light and colors. But last weekend I visited an exhibition of renowned nature photographer Norbert Rosing with his breathtaking black and white photographs of nature’s monuments in the West and Southwest of the USA. His photographs are very much inspired by the work of Ansel Adams. They show an inspiring and exciting play of light, contrast and composition, which make these shots quite unique. The exhibition inspired me to look back at my photographs from a tour of the US Southwest back in 2012 and convert some of them from color to black and white. I started with images from amazing Antelope Canyon. I invite you to continue and take a special tour of Antelope Canyon in black and white…
Selecting the right images for conversion was not easy. And a lot of the images I took ten years ago were abundant with hundred shades of red and orange. The variety of the colors were making the image. As soon as the color was gone, many of the photograph were quite boring. Taking color away reduces the photograph to light, shadow, shapes, texture, contrast and composition. It was a quite interesting exercise to select the photographs best reflecting the just mentioned elements. The elements that make a good black and white image.
I would be interested to hear your thoughts on the monochrome conversions, leave a comment below.
If you are looking for more inspiration about photography, please visit my free Learning Center.
Have a great Wednesday
Marcus
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gorgeous tones and textures Marcus. Thanks for sharing.
Narayan x
These photographs are exceptionally inspiring- they flow with beauty
Thanks so much, Hannelie, your kind words are highly appreciated! Marcus
Marcus, I have seen many photos of this location, but these are stunning, just remarkable. I love the black and white shots. They are so crisp. Thanks so much for sharing
I’m so pleased that we did too!
Beautiful! 😊
Thanks, much appreciated!
Wonderful images and series! You’ve made a new impression on me with this well-photographed place. I really like the B&W!
Thanks, Denise, your kind words are so much appreciated! Marcus
Hi Marcus, superb photos. I’ve sent you an email about Nuremberg. Have a great weekend. Marion
Thanks, Marion, your kind words are much appreciated! I’m so glad we finally met for real last weekend! Marcus
Inspiring shots! Thank you !
Thanks, so glad you liked them! Marcus
Amazing how we can notice even more detail sometimes with less color. Thank you!
Appreciate your feedback, Josh!
Theses curves , lines and monochrome are outstanding , really !
Thanks, Vic, your kind words are very much appreciated! Marcus
Beautiful photos!
Thanks, so much appreciated! Marcus
A beautiful post thank you so much
Thank you so much for talking the time to visit and comment, highly appreciated!
I have not seen this in black and white and although I like the colours your treatment does bring out the shapes and textures
Thanks so much, Diana, appreciate your kind words! Marcus
These are lovely in monochrome. I haven’t done too much with BnW yet but I watched a video in the B and H YouTube series called Seeing in Black and White with Eileen Rafferty and I found it quite educational (for me). Removing tone and dealing in only light and dark, shapes and texture, for me, definitely is a challenge when normally viewing the world in color (which I am drawn to). This is a skill I am definitely trying to get better with. Thanks for the reminder.
Thanks so much for sharing your thoughts on monochrome photography, highly appreciated! I have to check out this series on YouTube. Marcus
Extraordinary rock formations, fabulous images. I think you made an excellent selection for converting to black and white, and a fabulous job of processing and presenting them. Great work!
Thanks, Glen, your kind words are very much appreciated! Marcus
They’re truly gorgeous. Great selection!
Thanks, your visit and comment is very much appreciated!
Breathtaking photographs, Marcus! They are Art, beautiful and powerful!
Absolutely unique and highly creative!
My very best wishes to you!
Thank you, Kaya, your kind words are as aways so much appreciated. And sorry for replying so late! Marcus
Monochrome is so beautiful. And you selected the right pics. Just WOW!!!!
Thanks so much for your kind words, they mean so much! Marcus
That’s a great idea! I will look in my photos from around that time of the Lower Antelope Canyon and see what they look like in b&w.
Thanks, Hien, glad I could inspire you! And sorry for replying so late! Marcus
A real wonder of nature !
Thanks, so happy you like the images! Marcus
Absolutely superb! I’ve seen colour images of Antelope canyon many times and after a while they all look a bit similar. But in black and white there is a whole new dimension to the shapes and tones. The particular images you have selected are all stunning. Fantastic work!
Thanks, Stuart, appreciate your kind words so much! Marcus
Wow! Your work is beautiful and exquisite.
Thanks so much for your kind words, highly appreciated! Marcus
Beautifully converted Marcus! My eyes are drawn to different aspects of the rocks (without the colours vying for attention) and the shaft of light coming through in the last image is especially gorgeous 😊
Thanks so much, and sorry for replying so late.
Great set!
Thanks, much appreciated!
Beautiful!
Thanks so much!
Gorgeous Marcus!
Thanks, Janet, much appreciated! And sorry for replying so late! Marcus
Always good to revisit images and see “what happens if…”. Especially when they turn out so striking as these did.
Really, just stunning.
Thanks, Allan, your kind words are very much appreciated! And sorry for replying so late! Marcus
To light, shadow, shape, texture, contrast, and so on, add flow, which you have captured so well on the images you selected. It’s quite a place, and you’ve represented it well. A very successful exercise, I’d say.
Thanks for your kind words, Andrea, highly appreciated! Marcus
those are some impressive photos. 🙂
Thanks, Art, much appreciated!
These are beautiful, Marcus. I can well imagine them in glorious color, but black and white is wonderful.
Thanks, Lois, glad you like those. And sorry for replying so late! Marcus
Marcus, these photos are absolutely beautiful! Wow, well done, sir! I’ve heard of this canyon, never been there.
Thanks so much, John, your kind words are highly appreciated! It’s not too far from you, so perhaps one day you should go! It’s so worth it!
Your welcome, and I am guessing that the canyon is a good six hour drive from Las Vegas.
Always forget how large the US is….
It’s big! The distance between Las Vegas and my home town in Michigan is barely under 2000 miles!
Quite wonderful play of tomes and textures. Just excellent, Marcus.
Thanks so much for your kind words, highly appreciated! Marcus