Vintage Photos: Autumn Explorations in Black and White
Why photograph the most colorful season in black and white? To challenge what I see and what I think I know, to see the shapes and details and the compositions, leaving me with textures and patterns that are the foundations of my compositions. The colorful leaves and amber sun, all the comforting warm tones, change to values of gray in black and white, but the light…the light is still that distinctive angle, nearly horizontal sometimes, highlighting details you might not notice in any other season. And this was black and white film, because there is nothing like black and white film, with lenses and filters, not digital shots with effects, so it was even more challenging than the immediate reassurance of checking the little display on my digital camera.
I found a box of black and white photos that I knew had existed but had been separated from the rest. They are from 2004 to 2006, so not terribly vintage, but because black and white processing became more and more difficult during those years I had to wait to see my photos. I found local film developers who would still do a few rolls and took several at once, then tucked them all together in a box and in my studio. Over the course of those three years, just before I bought my DSLR but still had a halfway decent Olympus digital, I went out to the garden, to my neighborhood, and to the trails with a roll or two of black and white film in October or November.
Of course, there are cats on each roll too, and watching them enjoy their sunbaths works with color or without. Moses was always hard to resist on her bricks, and of course she works just fine in black and white. And I so enjoyed exploring Stanley at the end of his life when he was so much more relaxed. I think I’ll be featuring this theme over the next two weeks as well, and we’ll see Moses on her bricks and Stanley on the deck, Namir and Sophie in morning sunlight and watching me from the front door as the leaves fall and the sun changes from soft to stark as November comes near.
Above are all the feline photos, below the flowers and vegetables. To save time I scanned them in groups and left most of them that way, pulling a few favorites to feature; there were others on this roll too. I have so many photos I will never be able to do anything with most of them but share them now and then, but at least I can do that, and I hope you enjoy them.
See other photos of Moses on The Creative Cat and read the story of her rescue and life.
See more Vintage Photos, scanned from prints on film through the years and photos From the Archives which were never featured here.
Also see more photos of Garden Kitties.
Art and Gifts featuring cats you know! Visit Portraits of Animals
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Feline Photographs from Portraits of Animals!
One of my favorite photos of Stanley from August 2006, it was his last summer with me, he was about 24 years old, needing a little supportive care but still enjoying his time outdoors with me and every moment of every day besides that. Read more, and purchase.
Copyright
All images and text used on this site are copyrighted to Bernadette E. Kazmarski unless otherwise noted and may not be used without my written permission, although links to your site are more than welcome and are shared. Please ask if you are interested in using and image or story in a print or internet publication. If you are interested in purchasing a print of an image or a product including it, check my animal and nature website Portraits of Animals to see if I have it available already. If you don’t find it there, visit Ordering Custom Artwork for more information on a custom greeting card, print or other item.
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Weekly schedule of features:
Sunday: Essays, Pet Loss, Poetry, The Artist’s Life
Monday: Adoptable Cats, TNR & Shelters
Tuesday: Rescue Stories
Wednesday: Commissioned Portrait or Featured Artwork
Thursday: New Merchandise
Friday: Book Review, Health and Welfare, Advocacy
Saturday: Your Backyard Wildlife Habitat, Living Green With Pets, Creating With Cats
And sometimes, I just throw my hands in the air and have fun!
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I enjoy B&W photos too! I snapped a few of Da Boyz this weekend, ’cause their black furs blend in so much when they are curled up together. However, I purchased reflectors to perhaps help me with giving more depth to my black-cat photos…haven’t tried yet, but I will!
There’s just something special about B&W prints. Many years ago I started taking some of my shots in B&W and found things in them that didn’t show up in color. I love ’em but haven’t taken any since I shifted to digital. I may have to try some now. Thanks for the images.