B&W Challenge No. 47 Shape & Form

[tonyw]

To quote from What is the Black & White Challenge? : "By removing color, the image will be broken down to the interplay of light and shadow, line, texture and form. As part of the challenge we want you to try to “see” in black and white."

So what is Form? Shape and Form are key elements of art and photographic composition with the difference being that shape is 2D while Form is 3D so they really go together.

Here's an example of an interesting shape in silhouette so 2D - but it doesn't say much about what it is (an alien with a large head perhaps  )?



Here's the original converted to black and white lit from the side so showing it has 3D depth (so form) - could still be an alien but more like the top of a fence post and the wooden texture adds to the interest



So for this months challenge find some interesting shapes that work in Black & White - if you choose to emphasize just the shape (eg a silhouette) that's fine but I'd encourage you to look for shapes with depth to emphasize the form.

Hope this makes sense!

Shapes and form can be as simple or as complex as you want - here's a more complex one where I tried to emphasize the curvy shape of the cliff and the ancient cedar growing from it.




Tony

[hmca]

Sounds like a challenging challenge, Tony. Look forward to seeing what I may have that could fit and where I might go to shoot for it. This will be a great learning experience for me.

[hmca]

Well this was fun and I think I've found a few good examples. When once I started looking I think I may have had a photography assignment on shapes at one time. I'm not sure how much depth they actually show but they seem to be strong shapes.

[pontiac1940]

Geese ... living forms

[pontiac1940]

Green feed bales 

[kdcintx]

These old chimneys stand as sentinels at a long ago abandoned fort. The tall chimney and tree shapes stand out against the clear sky.

i.ibb.co/VMf3W15/sentinels.jpg

[billz]

Thanks Tony! The theme is off to a good start.

[tonyw]

I agree with Bill - definitely off to a good start:

Helen - I particularly liked the second one as it had me guessing what it was (part of a suspension bridge?)
Clive - really like those geese - all that negative space helps emphasise the goose shapes
Karen - a fine row of chimneys and interesting tree shapes between. Reminded me of old ruined farm houses here where eventually the only thing that remains is the chimney
Bill - very shapely - the shallow depth of field works perfectly to emphasise the curvy shape.

Keep them coming

Tony

[hmca]

Sitting at my daughter's table for dinner.....

[tonyw]

Good one Helen - a fine collection of rectangle shapes - hope you enjoyed dinner!

Tony

[tonyw]

A more complex one taken today and converted in Silver Efex Pro 3. Lots of circular and triangular shapes. In case you don't immediately recognize it it's the front right track of a new John Deere 8RX 410 Mega Tractor - list price US$561,503 - cab carpet and sound system extra ...



Tony

[hmca]

Well seen, Tony....a triangle made up of circles!

[tonyw]

I've always been intrigued by the shape of the tulip tree leaf - so had to plant one a few years back. Took this with the sun behind it to show up the veins and converted to B&W in Silver Efex with settings to emphasise the detail in the leaf.



Tony

[hmca]

Placed both of these items on the window ledge to emphasize the shape. After converting to B/W in camera RAW I took them into NIK CE and added a glamour glow filter....accidentally as it was the filter that opened from the last time I had used it. I like the way it toned the B/W! May do this more often in the future.

[hmca]

Took this the other day and decided against it. Cleaning off the desktop I gave it another look, filled in some miscellaneous shapes with black and decided to add it to the challenge....