photo challenge (29/30) – black and white

In life, I like things to be simple, straightforward and uncomplicated. That’s most likely the reason why I like black and white photos so much – it’s life minus all the bullshit.

I think most people would argue against my choices as to why I like monochrome images, in favour of their choices as to why they think colour images are more superior. Now I know that a colour photo is technically a truer representation of life as we see it, it’s just that sometimes a black and white photograph speaks louder about the moment that’s been captured.

photo challenge (27/30) – from a distance

Yesterday’s feature was a close-up – for which many would probably choose a person or something macro, and I chose a beach hut – and today it is ‘from a distance’.  I thought I would try to keep a common theme for both of these two parts of the photo challenge, as it was something I was recently told I should try with my photos.

I’ve also tried to keep a sense of symmetry to this photo as that is something I’m very keen on.  Earlier today I read something that really clicked with me: “To me, photography is an art of observation.  It’s about finding something interesting in an ordinary place.  I’ve found it has little to do with the things you see and everything to do with the way you see them.”

photo challenge (26/30) – close-up

I walk along the beach several times per week and strangely I have taken very few photos of the beach huts.  Today I changed that and made one the feature of today’s photo challenge.  There are literally hundreds of them lining the promenade from Sandbanks to Bournemouth Pier and beyond, and they all have an individual character.

Number 72 caught my eye today as I turned around after photographing the groynes – another favourite of many.  I loved the bright yellow paint on this hut, that and the fact that it was in great condition, proud almost when compared to those that stood next to it.  I also like the fact that the gauze bushes that grow behind were flowering, and their yellow buds complimented it quite well.

photo challenge (24/30) – animal

I had planned to take a photo of a squirrel – possibly climbing a tree or eating some nuts – in Bournemouth gardens, but that hasn’t happened. Squirrels are so timid and flighty that it’s very hard to get a good shot, unless you have a telephoto lens and you can sit a hundred feet away on a bench. I don’t have a telephoto lens.

I do have three beautiful cats that are quite happy to pose for me, however. So why not make use of them. Moscow already featured in this photo challenge for the Bokeh theme, which coincidentally was also his birthday. Today I’ve chosen to feature him again, and thankfully managed to capture him at one of his more docile stages of the day. Thanks, Moscow!

photo challenge (14/30) – eyes

They say the eyes are the windows to the soul; I don’t know quite how much of that could be claimed to be true but you can see why people might think so.

When you look into another’s eyes, you can definitely see emotion and thought. Obviously this is much clearer when looking in the eyes of a human. When you look in the eyes of an animal – a cat for instance – it’s a little more difficult to draw emotion or thought from them. My youngest cat, Moscow on the other hand is quite the opposite. He portrays emotion and thought quite distinctly. That’s the main reason that I chose to feature him in today’s part of this photo challenge.

photo challenge (12/30) – sunset

This is the magic hour, the time of day that most photographers will wait patiently for. They say the light is at its best during this time, and you know what, they’re not wrong.

Oh his way home, he called me to tell me that the sky was beautiful and that I should go out to the cliff top to watch the sun setting. I left the house and headed down towards the beach. He pulled up in his car and gave a lift for the remaining journey down there. By this time, the sky had turned a shade of pink that can best be likened to candy floss.

We sat and watched the sky together as it turned every shade of wonderful. It was truly beautiful.

photo challenge (5/30) – from a high angle

Vertigo describes a sensation whereby the environment around you, feels like it moving or spinning, and not as most think as a fear of heights.  Obviously you may suffer from Vertigo if you also suffer from this fear.  Thankfully, for the sake of taking this photo, I do not.  I did, however, fear that I might drop my camera.  Thankfully, again, I did not.

So day five of this photo challenge brings me to taking a photo – as you may have guessed from the post’s title – from a high angle.  I could have chosen to taken one from the cliff’s edge, but thought against it rather promptly.  Then I took a walk to Westbourne via the Chine bridge, something I walk across perhaps 4 or 5 times per week.  I often see people walking their dogs or enjoying the psychotic pastime of jogging/ running, and think to myself how small these people seem down there.

I know that most photographers would wait beyond patience to have a photograph without people ‘interfering’ in it; I on the other hand would happily wait for people to come into frame.  I can’t say what it is that makes the shot for me, other than the fact that I love the interaction of people within a picture.  You have to admit, that this image may not be as interesting if it were without these people that wandered into frame.  That said, photography is purely subjective, so who am I to question what would make this image better or worse?

photo challenge (4/30) – something green

I live in an area of Bournemouth that is covered and surrounded by green; trees, the chine, even bus stops and lamp posts are green.  This part of the challenge should be so easy, but it has proved somewhat difficult., mainly as I have really struggled to decide upon what to photograph.  That and the fact that the green never seems to be quite as it should be.

Anyway, I’ve just got home from a walk around Alum Chine and Westbourne snapping away, much to the amusement and bewilderment of passers-by.

photo challenge (3/30) – clouds

Clouds are everywhere, in every fluffy shape and size imaginable, except on the gloriously hot summer days (which obviously happen all the time in the UK). I’ve always loved them and been fascinated by them, ever since I learned the word Cumulonimbus (commonly known as thunder clouds) in year 8 Geography class. Sadly, I’ve never really thought much of taking photos of them. Until now!

Day three of this photo challenge is all about clouds. Perfect. The weather today isn’t exactly suited to taking pictures of them, however, as the sky is just one ugly mass of grey Stratus and Stratocumulus clouds (also known as rain clouds). Anyway, I’m not one to shy away from a challenge, so here’s one I prepared earlier.

voyeurism

I’ll keep this one quite simple.  I’ve always enjoyed watching people and passing time by just observing the world around me – to be a voyeur.  And before you think it, not in the seedy, sexual way – it takes all sorts but that just ain’t my bag.

This photo was taken along the Southbank in London on a rainy day earlier this year.