Black and White Photos
Although color images seem to be everywhere, for many images I prefer a black and white interpretation. This preference might come from my first introduction to photography years ago being black and white film and working in the darkroom.
Black and white images often rely more on their strength than color images. Often color photos rely on the color as opposed to the strength of the image itself. It might be there is a flashy paint job on the car or a colorful sunset behind it, so you might be impressed simply because of the intense colors and not by the strength of the photograph.
A photo in black and white is an abstraction of sorts. Black and white images are an interpretation of the scene by the photographer instead of simply recording it in color.
There is also a emotional reaction to black and white images that is often absent in color.
Color photos are more common, more of a simple recording of a scene, and everyone does it, ten million times a minute.
Thoughtful and well-balanced black and white photos, though, are much more rare and require a certain degree of skill and aesthetic understanding that most casual photographers lack.
Photographing a subject in black and white is like going back to the scene’s roots, getting to its basic structure, its “genetic” composition or underpinning, and I enjoy doing that, particularly when the final result is successful.
Black and white images often rely more on their strength than color images. Often color photos rely on the color as opposed to the strength of the image itself. It might be there is a flashy paint job on the car or a colorful sunset behind it, so you might be impressed simply because of the intense colors and not by the strength of the photograph.
A photo in black and white is an abstraction of sorts. Black and white images are an interpretation of the scene by the photographer instead of simply recording it in color.
There is also a emotional reaction to black and white images that is often absent in color.
Color photos are more common, more of a simple recording of a scene, and everyone does it, ten million times a minute.
Thoughtful and well-balanced black and white photos, though, are much more rare and require a certain degree of skill and aesthetic understanding that most casual photographers lack.
Photographing a subject in black and white is like going back to the scene’s roots, getting to its basic structure, its “genetic” composition or underpinning, and I enjoy doing that, particularly when the final result is successful.
Sparky the hot dog vendor on Civic Plaza, Albuquerque, New Mexico
Woman and sea lion, Albuquerque Biopark Zoo, Albuquerque, NM
Bodes General Store during a snow storm, pre-dawn,, Abiquiu, Northern New Mexico
Cemetery, Northern New Mexico
Small orchard and snow, Espanola, NM
Lone tree and landscape, I-25, Central New Mexico
Meeting his new brother on day one, Albuquerque, New Mexico
Lowrider car hopping contest, Lowrider Day, Espanola, New Mexico
Corvette, tepee and Shiprock, New Mexico
Infrared photo of Tohono O’odham Nation San Xavier Indian Reservation and the Mission San Xavier del BacInfrared, which is south of Tucson, Arizona
San Francisco, Calif., boy swings from back of delivery truck, Haight and Market streets
Elderly couple stare at model in Union Square, San Francisco, Calif.
Swift water rescue, Rio Grande, Espanola, New Mexico
Father and new son, Albuquerque, New Mexico
Albuquerque, New Mexico
New Orleans, Louisiana
Santa Fe, New Mexico
Espanola, New Mexico
The Roundhouse during a legislative session, Santa Fe, New Mexico
Circus prep, Espanola, New Mexico
Chaco Canyon, New Mexico (above), MCRD Marine Corps Recruit Depot, San Diego, California (below). Both Widelux F7 photos
Rio Grande bosque, Albuquerque, New Mexico
VR gear, Albuquerque, New Mexico
Zia Pueblo, New Mexico. Big Chief gas station and storm
Movie set, Espanola, New Mexico
Lowrider Day, Espanola, New Mexico
Abiquiu Dam, Northern New Mexico. Still water, cloud reflections
Railrunner commuter passengers on pedestrian overpass, Santa Fe, New Mexico
University Hospital, Albuquerque, New Mexico
Star Wars characters, Comic Con, Albuquerque, New Mexico
Road work, Gallina, New Mexico
Informal basketball game, Ohkay Owingeh Pueblo, Espanola, New Mexico
Steelworker, Abiquiu, New Mexico
Separating cattle at cattle sale near Ghost Ranch, Northern New Mexico
Street religion near the University of New Mexico on Central Avenue, Albuquerque, New Mexico
Small cemetery near Chamita in Northern New Mexico
Aircraft at the National Museum of Nuclear Science and History, Albuquerque, New Mexico
Boat launch ramp with light snow covering, Abiquiu Dam, Northern New Mexico
Jet Ski leaves interesting wake, Abiquiu Dam, Northern New Mexico
Day of the Dead Marigold Parade, Albuquerque, New Mexico
Aircraft and missle at the National Museum of Nuclear Science and History, Albuquerque, New Mexico
Boot and spur on cowboy at a cattle sale near Ghost Ranch in Northern New Mexico
To contact Bob Eckert for assignments, consultations or workshops, please email [email protected]
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or use the contact form on the About page