I LOVE BLACK AND WHITE PHOTOS. I don’t know why, I just do. Perhaps
because I was born in an era when most of the photos were black and white, and if you wanted a special colour photo you would have to go to a studio and that was very expensive...
PORTRAITS
I never used to get involved with taking portraits. Most of my photographs are taken when I am travelling both long and short distance. I also visit lots of museums and they are my main source of photographic interest.
The beauty of the BNW Portrait came to me recently when a friend asked me if I could take her photo on a blank background as she was about to renew her passport and she wanted something she could live with for the next ten years or so and not look like ‘a convict’ - her words not mine!
Fast forward after several shots and it became a sort of mini portrait shoot as she became more and more enthusiastic. I was sold.
Portraits for me can reflect so many human characteristics. The also have the ability to synergise the components to reflect a complete message for the onlooker.
So, I am now putting more and more Portraits on my Insta account as a trial and to see the feedback I get. Portraits are a lot of fun, and sometimes I photograph wholly in BNW and sometimes I do colour and post edit according to what I feel the photograph needs to tell its story.
Do have a look at my insta accounts Oomi.Photos and Oomi.BNW. Each has an eclectic mix of subject matter as that reflects my personality. As I have said many times, each day is a different day and requires every one of us to open our eyes and be aware of the possibilities it brings.
I never get hung up on being an ‘expert’ in any photographic field, because the day I take my photography so seriously and it doesn’t stay an absolute pleasure to point and shoot whatever takes my interest is the day I will stop!
Until next time. We are what we are, and we do what we do. Have a great time with your Camera!