Black and White – Page 29 – Jennifer Sawicky Photography

October 25, 2015

2015-10-25: What I’ve seen this week

This week has seen a fair bit of rain and fog in my area, so I didn’t take my camera out with me as much as I would like. When I did, much of what I tried to shoot suffered from poor light and a lot of noise. So, just a few pictures this week to share, all taken today.

I was happy to see the northern shrike again, and this time, have my camera at the ready. This one is a juvenile based on the plumage. — I was happy to see the northern shrike again, and this time, have my camera with me. This one is a juvenile based on the plumage.

Another view of the northern shrike. If it hadn't been for a sizeable flock of other birds that caught my attention (finches or sparrows, or perhaps the crossbills) I wouldn't have even noticed this lovely bird. — Another view of the northern shrike. If it hadn’t been for a sizeable flock of other birds that caught my attention (finches or sparrows, or perhaps the crossbills) I wouldn’t have even noticed this lovely bird.

The three birds posed in the treetops are part of a much larger group that were pecking at the pinecones. With the fog, I wasn't able to make a species ID. — The three birds posed in the treetops were part of a much larger group that were pecking at the pinecones. With the fog, I wasn’t able to make a species ID.

October 15, 2015

CEE’S BLACK & WHITE PHOTO CHALLENGE: SMALL SUBJECTS

I had fun going through my archives for photos that would fit this challenge, as I was able to select ones that may not have ever been worked on otherwise.

I hope you enjoy, have a great evening.

A grey heron takes a pause atop a group of hippo. Timbavati Reserve, South Africa, May 2015. 1/200sec, f8.0, ISO 640

A pair of pygmy kingfishers are small no matter how you look at them. Chitwa Chitwa Lodge, May 2015. 1/1250sec, f5.6, ISO220

A woodland kingfisher is dwarfed by the buffalo weaver nest he is sitting next to. Chitwa Chitwa Lodge, May 2015 1/800sec, f5.6, ISO 560

Some of the large animals in the world look tiny when viewed in the vastness of the Okavango Delta by air. — Some of the largest animals in the world look tiny when viewed in the vastness of the Okavango Delta by air. How many animals can you spot? Stanley’s Camp, Okavango Delta, April 2015 1/1250sec, f9.0, ISO 1100

CEE’S BLACK & WHITE PHOTO CHALLENGE: SMALL SUBJECTS

October 14, 2015

2015-10-14: Wordless Wednesday

October 12, 2015

2015-10-12: Monochrome Monday

Mama cheetah alternates between scanning the surroundings and having a rest on the road, while her 3 cubs laze away the late afternoon nearby. Phinda Game Reserve, May 2015. 1/320sec, f5.6, ISO 1250 — Mama cheetah alternates between scanning the surroundings and having a rest on the road, while her 3 cubs laze away the late afternoon nearby.
Phinda Game Reserve, May 2015.
1/320sec, f5.6, ISO 1250

September 7, 2015

2015-09-07: Monochrome Monday

Here are a few photos from my wanderings in the past week, that I thought would look interesting converted to monochrome.

Have a great Monday!

A bit of an odd photo, but I like it, so I included it. I just loved the way the frost glistened on the hood of this truck. If I wasn't on my way off to walk with Spencer, I would have gone back for my macro lens and played around; given we are just moving into fall, I guess I'll have lots more opportunities! 1/3200sec, f5.6, ISO 320 — A bit of an odd photo, but I like it, so I included it. I just loved the way the frost glistened on the hood of this truck. If I wasn’t on my way off to walk with Spencer, I would have gone back for my macro lens and played around; given we are just moving into fall, I guess I’ll have lots more opportunities!
1/3200sec, f5.6, ISO 320

A few of the wildflowers have hung on despite the frost, but these ones seemed resigned to summer having passed. 1/800sec, f5.6, ISO 500 — A few of the wildflowers have hung on despite the frost, but these ones seemed resigned to summer having passed.
1/800sec, f5.6, ISO 500

Some of the roadside tall grasses, glistening with frost in the early morning sun. 1/800sec, f5.6, ISO 1250 — Some of the roadside tall grasses, coated with frost and catching the early morning sun.
1/800sec, f5.6, ISO 1250

August 31, 2015

2015-08-31: Monochrome Monday

I exposed this shot for the sky, as I wanted to capture the amazing texture of the clouds and the suns rays visible behind the clouds. The trees naturally went into silhouette. Converting this to black and white emphasized the texture far more than the colour photo did. 1/1000sec, f7.1, ISO 110 — I exposed this shot for the sky, as I wanted to capture the amazing texture of the clouds and the suns rays visible behind them. The trees naturally went into silhouette. Converting this to black and white emphasized the texture far more than the colour photo did. Okavango Delta, April 2015 1/1000sec, f7.1, ISO 110

August 2, 2015

Cee’s Black & White Photo Challenge: Older Than 50 Years

I didn’t think I would be entering any photos for this challenge, as I couldn’t think of any subject to photograph. Then, a couple weekends ago, I signed up to go for a hike to Ancient Forest. We had a beautiful day for a hike in the forest, and lucky for me, a member of one of the local hiking groups accompanied the group I was with, to give a talk about the area.

Certainly if you are in the Prince George area it is a beautiful place to visit, and a very unique ecosystem in the region. Some of the cedars in the forest were in excess of 5 metres in diameter and over 2,000 years old.

Standing in the middle of the forest, looking straight up.

The beauty of the sun filtered by tree branches.

Tourism PG

CEE’S BLACK & WHITE PHOTO CHALLENGE: OLDER THAN 50 YEARS

July 9, 2015

Cee’s Black and White Photo Challenge: Large Subjects

Hikers walking up the spine of Big Daddy dune in Sossusvlei, Namibia, April, 2015 1/1250sec, f11, ISO 1100 — Hikers walking up the spine of Big Daddy dune in Sossusvlei, Namibia. April 2015
1/1250sec, f11, ISO 1100

July 8, 2015

Vulture Silhouette

If you been following my blog for any length of time, I think you’ve probably noticed that I enjoy silhouette photos. Especially of birds. While staying at Chitwa Chitwa, we stopped for a sundowner and just as I picked up my glass of wine, I noticed the vulture in this tree. Actually, there were two, but the photo of both of them didn’t work out so well (perhaps if I had the 150mm-600mm then…)

I’ve included here both the cropped image as shot, with only a pass of Nik’s output sharpener as my editing, and one that has been further enhanced with both Silver Efex and Colour Efex. I’d be interested to know if there are any preferences. I like both (or I wouldn’t post them!).

Have a great evening.

And this is the one that's had just a little work done. — And this is the one that’s had just a little work done.

February 8, 2015

Bald Eagle and an Osprey

Here in southern BC, we have spent the last few days with lovely warm weather for February, but have been absolutely hammered with rain as well. This morning, I woke up to a reprieve from the rain and even a few hints of blue sky. As such, I finally got out on a morning walk with my camera. I can’t believe it is February and these are the first 2015 photos I am able to post. They aren’t the best eagle or osprey photos I have taken and the birds weren’t doing anything weird or wonderful. I am just so thrilled that I was able to have a dry walk and see some birds that I decided to share.

Based on the quality and direction of the light, and how desaturated the photos were, I decided to convert everything to black and white.

Happy Sunday everyone!

20150208_Osprey-2 — An osprey peers down at me from a tree along the banks of the Pitt River.

20150208_Osprey — Tired of being photographed, the osprey flees the paparazzi.

This osprey didn't seem to appreciate the camera being pointed at it, and flew away to a new perch after only a couple photos. We played this game a few times before it headed off out of reach of my camera. — This osprey didn’t seem to appreciate the camera being pointed at it, and flew away to a new perch after only a couple photos. We played this game a few times before it headed off out of reach of my camera.

20150208_Bald Eagle — The trunks of two trees nicely frame a beautiful bald eagle. It kept a very watchful eye on Spencer and I.

20150208_Bald Eagle-2 — The eagle’s penetrating gaze trained in the direction of the osprey. Even though it was a fair distance away, I have no doubt they were aware of each other.