SporkSports - Black and White Photography

(5-31-08)

Back in 1998 I decided to do a little experimentation and shoot a roll of real black & white film. I figured it would be a lot like if I just took my color pictures and converted them to black & white on my computer but they actually seemed to have a lot more contrast and impact than I expected. In fact, they really look the best when you see the actual, real life prints. Part of the reason is that black and white film tends to have much finer grain than color film of the same speed. This gives the pictures incredible sharpness that you don't normally achieve with color film.

I'm going to create this section with the best of those photos from '98 and then probably update it later either with color prints converted to black & white, either via grayscale conversion of RGB color separation or else I may bust out my Nikon and actually shoot another roll of B&W.

September 1998, My old cat Smokey, relaxing in a chair
September 1998, Assorted flowers
September 1998, An interesting sculpture, although the very high contrast of the film makes the details all but vanish

September 1998, This was also something of a disapointment. Although very vivid in color, this scene turned out looking very flat in B&W
September 1998, Some swimming ducks
September 1998, My Civic in front of my parents' old house. Taken with a filter designed to make the edges of the picture look blurry to emphesize the center.

September 1998, A view straight up the Bank of America building in Mesa
September 1998, The Fountains in front of the BofA building
September 1998, The Fountains behind the BofA building.

Page Created: 11-20-01

September 1998, My old cat Smokey, relaxing in a chair	September 1998, Assorted flowers	September 1998, An interesting sculpture, although the very high contrast of the film makes the details all but vanish
September 1998, This was also something of a disapointment. Although very vivid in color, this scene turned out looking very flat in B&W	September 1998, Some swimming ducks	September 1998, My Civic in front of my parents' old house. Taken with a filter designed to make the edges of the picture look blurry to emphesize the center.
September 1998, A view straight up the Bank of America building in Mesa	September 1998, The Fountains in front of the BofA building	September 1998, The Fountains behind the BofA building.