The Monochrome Challenge

/ Richard R. Barron / 2 Comments

I published this to social media recently and got almost no response. This might be due to the Christmas holiday, which is now over. If this interests you at all, I would urge you to share it on social media or create your own monochrome challenge on your web site. If you participate in PhotoLoco, don’t hesitate to post it there. 

California-based Photographer Nic Coury recently acquired a Leica M246, a monochrome (black-and-white only) digital camera. He posted some images recently on social media, and they were very powerful, and perfect in black-and-white.

Thinking about this paradigm, I thought about how I sometimes like to shoot in monochrome mode to force myself to see things differently and take my photography outside its usual box.

Here is what I was able to conjure with my Minolta DiMage 7i in monochrome mode, on a recent short walk through the woods behind our home in Byng, Oklahoma…

Barbed wire clings to a branch as part of a makeshift fence.
Barbed wire clings to a branch as part of a makeshift fence.
One piece of equipment California Nic probably won't be able to legally carry is a sidearm. Given my recent experience killing a skunk, I feel justified continuing to carry a weapon.
One piece of equipment California Nic probably won’t be able to legally carry is a sidearm. Given my recent experience killing a skunk, I feel justified continuing to carry a weapon.
Our pond is full this fall and winter after a wet period in southern Oklahoma.
Our pond is full this fall and winter after a wet period in southern Oklahoma.
This very old truck is on the Palmer's side of the fence, but they've never objected to me photographing it.
This very old truck is on the Palmer’s side of the fence, but they’ve never objected to me photographing it.
These wheatgrass tips catch light all fall and winter. In contrast to my usual super-sharp-focus style, I chose to rack the "clarity" slider to minimum to enhance their softness.
These wheatgrass tips catch light all fall and winter. In contrast to my usual super-sharp-focus style, I chose to rack the “clarity” slider to minimum to enhance their softness.
This woodland is at the western edge of the patch, just before the new highway.
This woodland is at the western edge of the patch, just before the new highway.
The muted light creates a deeply moody image of these leaves on the ground in the woods.
7 The muted light creates a deeply moody image of these leaves on the ground in the woods.
I don't know what or who is buried here, except to say that this marker is at the head or a very foreboding trail that leads into a dark wooded area.
I don’t know what or who is buried here, except to say that this marker is at the head or a very foreboding trail that leads into a dark wooded area.
These puddles are caused by rain filling tire tracks from trucks that periodically come to pump oil and wastewater from oil wells.
These puddles are caused by rain filling tire tracks from trucks that periodically come to pump oil and wastewater from oil wells.
This bale of cattle panel fence has been on the north end of our property for at least as long as I have lived here, 15 years, and it has likely been here three times that long.
This bale of cattle panel fence has been on the north end of our property for at least as long as I have lived here, 15 years, and it has likely been here three times that long.

2 Comments

  2. Magnificent, inspiring, etc., all the usual reactions, plus some I haven’t even thought of. Love the wheatgrass tips and the clarity slide action on that. Great choice. I wish I could purchase a few prints from you!

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