Black and White Photography

After a long break from being clued to the Internet, I decided it's time to get back on the saddle.

First piece of news: I sold a print of Wrap it Up (Workers) through my website. 

I made some fine photographs during my summer trip back to the States.

• I started off by photographing lines and shadows at the Frankfurt Airport Hilton
•  I walked in downtown Denver and shot a few skyscrapers

•  I continued the Fiction of Nature: California Central Coast Series I began in December, 2012. I am still working on them.

I'll start off my showing a few of the Frankfurt Airport Hilton Lines and Shadows.

Matthew G. Beall Photography   2013    Frankfurt Airport Hilton Lines and Shadows 1

Matthew G. Beall Photography   2013    Frankfurt Airport Hilton Lines and Shadows 2

Matthew G. Beall Photography   2013    Frankfurt Airport Hilton Lines and Shadows 3

 

Matthew G. Beall Photography   2013    Frankfurt Airport Hilton Lines and Shadows 4

Distance and detail of plants and leaves affected by light and shadow is a wonder. The intimate secrets of nature's forms are powerful and compelling.

Now go have a look at the rest of the series

Matthew G. Beall Photography
Blowing in the Wind
2012
Ulm, Germany

Matthew G. Beall Photography
Fern
2012
Ulm, Germany

Matthew G. Beall Photography
The significance of THREE
2012
Ulm, Germany

Matthew G. Beall Photography
Shadow Leaves
2012

Neu Ulm, Germany

What is it about water, about the ocean that draws us? 

Time caught ever moving

Exposure set long

Time caught ever moving 

Sucking in Light

Time caught ever moving 

Fiction of nature

Matthew G. Beall Photography
Swirl
2012-2013
Shell Beach, California

 See more of this series

Intimate Nature: 

 The

form and texture as realized through light and shadow of a leaf.

See the series  HERE

Matthew G. Beall Photography    Shadow behind a Leaf      2013

I recently came across Andy Ilachinski's writings and photographs. I was taken by his definition of photography and fine art photography. It made me think about how I see it to be. So, building upon his words, I propose this:

Photography is capturing what a “thing” is.


Fine Art Photography is the art of capturing and the making of "what else" a thing is.

He goes on to state:

"Point and shoot photography is all about grabbing the shot (of something)"

'Oh, what a lovely tree... where‟s my camera?...click....let‟s go'

In other words, he is talking about the snap shot.

 He continues with, "Fine art photography is all about doing everything possible (before / during / after a shot) to communicate feelings to someone else"

'I‟m so happy here...what beautiful light...how calm everything is...

it‟s as though nothing else exists...a gentle breeze...serenity...'

 My view:
 Fine Art Photography has to begin with visualizing. It is a process  which needs to take place before, during and after the exposure. The process is made up of three simple words: Look, See, Think  It is striving for consistency and quality over quantity where 
the end result is hopefully one that conveys emotion i.e. connects with the viewer at some level. 

“One should not only

photograph things

for what they are,

but for what

else they are.”

MINOR WHITE

The importance of the overall balance of light & shadow is pivotal to composition in Black and White photography. 

Matthew G. Beall Photography
The Rocks
2013
Shell Beach, California

Matthew G. Beall Photography
The Rocks
2013
Ulm, Germany

Matthew G. Beall Photography
A Tree but Not a Tree
2013
Ulm, Germany

The Experimenting the Self journey continues with part two of
The Philosophy of Self

The philosophy of self defines the essential qualities that make one person distinct from all others.

Matthew G. Beall Photography     Philosophy of Self: Multiples 1       2013

Matthew G. Beall Photography     Philosophy of Self: Multiples 2    2013

Matthew G. Beall Photography     Philosophy of Self: Multiples 3    2013

The Experimenting the Self journey continues. 

The philosophy of self defines the essential qualities that make one person distinct from all others.

Matthew G. Beall Photography     Philosophy of Self: Realization 1       2013

Matthew G. Beall Photography     Philosophy of Self: Realization 2       2013

Matthew G. Beall Photography     Philosophy of Self: Realization 3       2013

Stille

an einem sonnigen Tag

Licht

zwischen den Bäumen

an einem sonnigen Tag

Schatten

unter den Bäumen

Stille

Matthew G. Beall Photography       In the Park 1             2012

Matthew G. Beall Photography       In the Park 2              2012

Matthew G. Beall Photography       In the Park 3              2012

Matthew G. Beall Photography       In the Park 4              2012

Matthew G. Beall Photography       In the Park 5            2012

Matthew G. Beall Photography       In the Park 6              2012

Matthew G. Beall Photography       In the Park 7              2012

The Kon Tiki Inn in Pismo Beach, Californina is a truly awesome 'classic' beach hotel. It makes me think of films made in the 60s. Retro Classic

Matthew G. Beall Photography     Kon Tiki Classic     2012-2013

Matthew G. Beall Photography     Kon Tiki Retro      2012-2013

I look at you not to be clearly seen. 

Experimenting the Self (part 1) 
Experimenting the Self -- Part Deux 

Matthew G. Beall Photography       I See You See Me       2013

Matthew G. Beall Photography      Guarded      2013

In Experimenting the Self (part 1) I stated that I get wrapped up in limitations of my own doing. Even though it is very easy to say, it is hard to actually draw outside the lines i.e. your comfort zone. 

Experimenting the Self is a journey to break free of my barriers I have knowingly or unknowingly put upon myself. It is about exploration. It's about putting both feet in icy water. It's about seeing. It's about introspection and extrospection at the same time. It's a journey that I want to take with YOU.

Matthew G. Beall Photography   Experimenting the Self:Here to There    2013

 

Matthew G. Beall Photography   Experimenting the Self:To Where    2013

Matthew G. Beall Photography   Experimenting the Self: Journey    2013

Matthew G. Beall Photography   Experimenting the Self:Within     2013

Matthew G. Beall Photography   Experimenting the Self: Portrait of Now    2013

Also see Experimenting the Self-- Part Deux

 

Sometimes I get wrapped in limitations of my own doing.

Matthew G. Beall  Photography    Wrapped     2013

        It's not easy to break through

Matthew G. Beall  Photography    Push     2013

  You have to push to see

Matthew G. Beall  Photography    Push to See     2013

Even though you may not want to see what is

Matthew G. Beall  Photography    Push  to Block       2013

 It's easy to stay in the trap

Matthew G. Beall  Photography    Push but Trapped    2013

And not look 

Matthew G. Beall  Photography    Push to Not    2013

I am excited about Lightroom 5 (BETA). I tested it out on two photographs I took this past December in Shell Beach, California. These two new photographs are now part of my California Central Coast Series

And http://matthewgbeallphotography.blogspot.de/2013/10/a-rocky-shore-caught-in-black-and-white.html

Matthew G. Beall Photography   The Rocks    2013   Shell Beach, California

Matthew G. Beall Photography   The Cove   2013   Shell Beach, California

Perspective. Your point of view. The way you see things. Subjective. This is what it really comes down to in art making.

Matthew G. Beall Photography    Ulmer Münster through the Stadthaus   2013   Ulm, Germany

I absolutely love making photographs. It's fun. It's relaxing. It's sometimes frustrating, and it's not always easy. It takes knowledge and vision. You have to be curious. You have to be open. You need to look and see. You have to be willing to learn  from others and from yourself. You need to experiment. You should strive for quality over quantity. You need to know when to reject those that just don't cut it. You need to accept that some may reject your work, your vision.  After all, it is completely subjective.

And every so often you should go back and revisit those you made. Sometimes after days, weeks, months or even years, you see these 'old' pieces of work in a new way. Sometimes you will even make another version or change the name. Sometimes you won't. 

Matthew G. Beall Photoghraphy
Shell Beach Morning Point
2012
Shell Beach, California

Matthew G. Beall Photography    The Wheel Goes Round    2011   Ulm, Germany

Matthew G. Beall Photography    A Small Park     2013        Ulm, Germany

Matthew G. Beall Photography    The Stream and Trees and Plants       2012        Neu  Ulm, Germany

Matthew G. Beall Photography    A Snap Shot       2012      Santa Barbara, Californina

Matthew G. Beall Photography    The Münster Series       2011 - 2013          Ulm, Germany

Matthew G. Beall Photography      Airport     2011        Munich, Germany