In B&W

As you can see, I continue to linger in the somewhat hypnotic shades of black and white. And this time around I bring you some very striking pieces of fine art by painters, some of whom you may already know and others who you may be introduced to for the very first time. Nonetheless, what you will witness are highly accomplished expressions in B&W. Awe inspiring, thought provoking and sometimes just plain beautiful. Take a look.

Untitled by Mark Rothko

Symphony of the city II by Jorge Azri

Bullfight III by Pablo Picasso

Las Meninas by Pablo Picasso

The shell by Rembrandt Van Rijn

Three Worlds by M S Escher

Deco Rhapsody I by Mali Nave

Still Life by M S Escher

In B&W

In my current B&W mood, I seem to have made a rather remarkable discovery of sorts. Floral photography in B&W/sepia. The very idea was a bit of an oxymoron at first. How can nature’s vibrant colour palette be reduced to boring shades of black and white? If one wanted to photograph flowers at all, I would imagine one of the key influencers would be colour. The various hues and tints that have inspired much poetry and prose through the ages must at the very least be captured faithfully in photography if not enhanced and glorified to ethereal proportions. So it was a bit of a shocker to come across some of the most sublime floral photographs in B&W/sepia ever. I bow to the artistic genius of Steven N. Meyers, Harold Silverman, Dennis Frates, Sondra Wampler, John Rehner for opening my eyes to this wonderful phenomenon.

When flowers are photographed in B&W/sepia, you will notice that a rather interesting transformation takes place. Stripped off their natural pigmentation as it were, these pretty, delicate creatures now assume a depth of character that can be startlingly compelling. They are now suddenly hard to dismiss. Their beauty now acquires a certain timelessness. You have very little choice but to pause and soak in their absolute magnificence.

Here are a few of those breathtaking photographs that have completely bowled me over. Hope they move you as well.

Dogwood Blossoms by Steven N. Meyers

Fleur No. I by Sondra Wampler

Droplets on water lily by Dennis Frates

Anthurrium by Harold Silverman

Orchid Dance II by John Rehner

Magnolia

Anemone by Deborah Schenck

Goat’s Beard IV by Jim Christensen

Rose Petals II by Nicole Katano

Zinnia by Harold Silverman

In B&W

I appear to be in one of those black and white states of mind this week. And as a fitting tribute to my prevailing mood, I figured I’d post a few of my absolute fav music videos. Yes, in B&W of course.