{Guest Post} Back in Time by Tracey Clark

 Oh my goodness... I'm so excited.....the super talented...always inspiring....  Tracey Clark is here to share with us today! Woo hoo.... Be sure to check out the surprise below her beautiful words and images.

Take it away, Tracey.....

My love affair with photography began in black & white. Before the digital age, you had to make a decision what kind of photograph you wanted to create. For me, it was always black & white. Roll after roll, shooting with a monochromatic palette, I began to actually see the world around me translated through the absence of color. It helped to hone my photographic eye. I became a stalker of light, of shadow, highlights, shade, shape, curve, space, composition and expression. When you remove the color from the image, each of these things becomes even more important. 

Since then, I’ve come to embrace the digital age and have learned to love (and depend on) seeing the shot in color first. After the fact, with the click of my mouse, I can change it on a whim. It’s changed how I see the world. I still see all of the things I saw before only now I have the luxury of choosing how to proceed. Color or black & white? And I usually make my choice on a shot to shot basis. Now, every shot can ask for something unique. Each one tells me what it would like to be. I listen and follow along.

Even still, I am 100% certain that laying my photographic foundation in black & white made me the photographer I am today. I’m not so sure I’d be able to see all of the elements I see, all of the things that make up a strong image, if it weren’t for the monochromatic practice. Would I still know the way the light shapes things and bring them to life, the importance of gesture and expression, the way every part of the frame is a narrative? I’m not sure. I just don’t know if color makes you work hard enough to not only see those things, but also to put them to good use in your images. I guess at this point there’s no real way to tell but I can say that with Picture Black & White, I am eager to shoot with black & white in mind again. I am looking forward to the challenge of going back to basics, of revisiting my beginnings, and reminding myself of where and how my passion was sparked.

Why is it that black & white images from the past stir our souls? Is it just a coincidence that all of the black & white images I cherish feel timeless, classic, and true? I doubt it. Black & white isn’t just where I began in photography; it’s where many of us began experiencing photography, whether by shooting or just by looking at early images. Black & white photography is a part of our history, part of who we are. And no matter how much amazing and awesome technology there is to help us capture life in living color, traveling back in time to where it all began will never get old. 

.....

Thank you Tracey... I adore your B&W imagery.

Fabulous News

Tracey is offering 3 lucky winners a spot in her upcoming class, Picture Black & White. 

To enter, leave a comment below sharing your thoughts/ideas/experience with Black & White Photography. Be sure to enter your email address in the info box.

The lucky winners will be announced tomorrow evening (May 2nd).

Update on May 2 by Kim Klassen

Thanks so much for your wonderful comments.The winners have been choosen... 

Congrats to Deanna Swauger, Jo Nelson & Donna Hopkins. 

It's not too late to sign up for the class.... pop over to the registration page to check it out.

Comments

[Tammy]

I take very few black and white photos, but it sure would be awesome to learn how to take them with the emotion behind them that Tracey's are!!

[Marilyn]

I love B&W photographs as they tell the full story; B&W allows all the trivia to disappear, fade into the background, and the real hero of the photo to shine.

[Alison]

I took a photography class in highschool which had us developing and printing our own pictures in B&W - I enjoyed it, but that was my only experience. What I did learn later in life from photo conservator, is that B&W produces sharper images than colour due to the processing. Silver grains on film produces sharper images than the three colour layers required to produce colour. A small difference, but a difference none the less. And not to mention the fact that B&W film is one of the only truely archival mediums...

[Laurie Sriver]

OH be still my heart....it is palpitating just the thought of being able to take this class with Tracey!!! My daughter who has just given me my first grandchild LOVES black and white photography. With that said...I am trying to learn as fast as I can this beautiful technique for the future with my lil' man she has brought into the world. Thank you for the opportunity!!
Laurie

[Scrappin Annie]

A black & white photo can show much more character in a person's face than a coloured photo. Would love to be able to take photos like that. scrapinannie@gmail.com

[Sarah]

I am about all things color. Not that I am an over the top fashion dresser, in that realm I keep everything fairly plain. But in photographs the more vibrant the color the better. Yet this class has intrigued me, and if I hadn't already spent my photography budget on Kim's awesome class Photo Essentials and the Kristin/Meredith class Now You I would have signed up for it. Tracey, make me a believer in Black & White.

[Barb Phillips]

I love Black and White photos. I love collecting, looking at them and taking them. The later is where I am needing the most help. Taking the busy, chatty colors out of an image only helps one concentrate on the main objects and objective.
I would adore having one of the spots in your Black and White workshop. please, please, please Ü

[Carol]

My home is adorned with many black and white photos - mostly taken by my hubby. I've added a couple of my own black and whites to the collection. I love the blacks and I love the whites, but mostly it's all the shades of gray between the two that wins my heart.

[Laerte Pupo]

Our dreams are in black and white. I don't remember having dreamt in colour.
I believe this is the reason why we are attracted by images in PB.
Because the PB is in our unconscious.
This is at the bottom of our souls.

[Pat]

My favorite photos of my children are in black and white. At tha time (1970s), my husband was developing his own black and white photos. I love the fact that there is no distraction with color just pure enjoyment of the subject matter. I would love to learn more about the process.

[Jane]

There is something about Black & White pictures that takes me back in time. I haven't tried doing anything in black & white yet, perhaps I should make some time for it.

[Leslie]

I, too, started in b/w because that's all I could afford for my cheapy little camera when I was a kid. It's still my favorite for the same reasons you cite - shadows, forms, highlights let me really see the subject, without the distraction of colors.

[Jo]

I love black and white photos! I've converted a few of my images to black & white using Photoshop, but I need lessons on it! This would be a wonderful class to take! After taking some of Tracey's picture series classes, I know how truly inspirational she is!! Thanks for a chance to win a spot in the B & W class!

[leslie]

Like Tracey, my love for photography started many moons ago with black and white. For many years that is all a shot. I do both now but my true love is black and white. Thank you for the opportunity to join this class.

[Kaylene]

I also began with black and white many years ago and even developed my own film, they were hilarious time taking the film out of the camera under the bedclothes. But life got in the way and then the age of digital, but I still occasionally move the dial and take black and white. And of course I cheat and use filters to alter my colour shots.

I would love to be chosen to do your course as I do need a refresher on all the ins and outs.

Cheers

[fotogran]

Enjoyed your inspiring post. I have no idea how to take a good B&W photo but would love to learn. Thank you for the opportunity!

[Lyn Banks]

Like many photographers in the digital age, I am guilty of being caught up in QUANTITY, not QUALITY. So now I am going back to basics and concentrating on composition and light to improve my images.
I love working in mono because you aren't so distracted by the colour. You have to work harder to capture an image that gets your attention using the subject matter and contrast of tones.
Thank you Tracey for reminding us to look at our world through different eyes.

[Michele Redman]

Would love to win a spot in this class and be a student as opposed to a teacher. Keeping my fingers crossed!

[Wanda]

There is magic and warmth and a sense of intimacy that is unique to b&w photography. I would love the opportunity to take this class. Many thanks!

[Grace V]

I can spend hours poring over black and white photographs, and have assembled all of my own and my husband's family B&W photos together to decorate our downstairs bathroom. We get endless comments from visitors (positive comments)! Last summer a houseguest had brought along all of her old family photographs to pass on to her brother, and I asked if I could look at them. She couldn't understand why I would be interested in looking at photos of people I didn't know, but I found it fascinating. I would love to learn how to concentrate more on B&W in my own photography work.

[karen]

I first discovered black and white photography through a friend who photographed a beautiful one of my daughter when she was seven years old. He had a darkroom and developed his own gorgeous photographs. I started taking black and white photographs and instantly noticed how the details were so much more dramatic.

Thank you for entering me in your giveaway.

Karen

[Kathy]

Love black and white. It simplifies everything. Shows the bones of a scene.

[Bonnie]

Black and white brings out a nostalgic feeling in me. My first recollection is when our family had our picture taken just before immigrating to Canada from the Netherlands in 1949. I still have that picture and it is as sharp today as it was then. Sometimes it is only B&W that can create the mood that we are looking for. I think in the days to come we will see more and more amazing captures in B&W. Thank you for sharing you wonderful pics with us and whoever gets chosen to take your course is a very lucky person!!!!

[Renée]

I have not had much practice with black and white. I would love to learn. Thanks for the chance to win a spot!

[Bev Miskin]

Your course sounds very exciting, as I am a beginner photographer, and new "dabbler" in "black and white" editing. I am not always confident in what to choose for my black and white subjects. I would love the opportunity to take part in the course.

[Cheryl]

I just don't get black & white photos. There are so many ways to turn them to black and white that I don't know what is right or wrong. I really need this class and would love to win it. I Love black and white photos.
Thanks for the chance.

[Jan]

Black-and-white is the most compelling medium. It speaks of resolution (no not pixel count!), simplicity and truth. It is what it is, in the most wonderful sense of the idea. It's deep, complicated and not nearly as simple as it looks. What a great idea, having a class that would delve into its complexities.

[Karen]

Love the timeless look of black and white photos. Would love to win a spot in Tracey's class! Thanks for giving us all a chance

[cathy barrows]

I love color so much and have alway been afraid to throw it away. I see awesome black and white images, but am never sure how to get there and love what I see. Something I would love to learn.

[Laurie]

I love the depth and texture that black and white photos bring out

[Nancy Lennon]

Learning to shoot in black an white sounds awesome! Please enter me in the drawing.
Nancy

[Linda J]

Absolutely LOVE B&W shots!! I would so benefit from your expertise!

[Susan]

I love B&W and find that you can capture more detail and emotion once the colour is removed. I would love to take the course and explore new techniques.

[Tracey Daminato]

Black and white photography has always seemed to show much more than coloured to me. There is a motion and expression to it that I find so much more appealing. Coloured pictures somehow take something away fom photos, a tone of sorts. I would love to take Tracey's class to learn more about how to shoot better and more interesting photos, and how to get acroos what I want to express.

[Sue McB]

Black and white photography to me is the original and the best.....one gets a real idea of how things look, the lighting, contrast etc without the distraction of colour. Although I love my DSLR, and the images I capture, I am always blown away by how good something well composed will look in B&W. I would LOVE the opportunity of doing this course with Tracy, and have all relevant bits crossed!!

[cathy @ ma vie trouve]

Great posts - thanks for sharing. I love B&W but really struggle when I try it. My photos come out flat. Would love to learn move on how to get the crisp sharp images.

[Paula]

Oh, I'd love to take the class; I've managed to get a few good b & ws, but I'd love to get more of them!

[diane]

I started my photographic experience in black & white film as well. I grew up with nothing BUT black and white images. There is a way that black & white brings out depth of emotion that color just can't do. I was encouraged to return to my photographic "roots" last week after attending a workshop that made me realize just how much I miss it. I would love to play in black & white with others.

[Tammy]

Black and white photography is timeless. The objects or people are what stands out. There is less visual noise. It is what I learned to shoot during my first couple of 35mm photography classes. It was such fun learning how to process the film and make beautiful compositions.
I'd love to be involved in your class.
Please enter me.
Thanks!
Tammy Sprinkle

[Sandy]

Black & White photography will always be in vogue. It is timeless. That was all they had in the beginning of photography, yet..when you see some of the early photos it was like being there. You could imagine the glorious color that was there, because they knew how the lighting would appear in black and white.

B&W photos can give do more to a scene than color. It would be nice to take a class just in b&w to see if I have the "right stuff".

[Joyce]

I can't say I know a lot about b&w photography except that I love, love, love it. Another thing I love is learning. Tracey's class looks fab.

[Karla DeMott]

Black and white photography has always been my favorite. The classic beauty and cleanliness that comes from these photos can suit anyone! As a beginner in the professional world I would be honored to be a part of this course. Continued learning is the only way to success.

Thank you!

[Karen Connell]

I fell in love with photography after seeing the Black and White Images of Edward Weston. He had so much passion to communicate and he did it so well in Black and White. After starting in B&W I am returning to it digitally for my hand colored work. I am excited that digital B&W is now coming close to the range of tonalities that we used to get with film and dark room printing. There is so much scope for expressing yourself in B&W. I am happy to be back in that medium.

[Joan Grey]

I'd love to win a spot in Tracy's Picture Black and White. I've never really tried much B&W, but I'd love the opportunity to learn and grown with a great group of people.

[Barb B.]

Black and white photography is to captivating! I'd love, love, love to know more about how to capture just the right shot.

[Roberta]

Black and white photography is so classic, elegant and often romantic. I used to shoot black and white in my film days but because I didn't do my own processing the results didn't always meet the vision I had in mind. With digital I feel I have an opportunity to learn to process more in line with what I may have in mind for a particular shot. This course sounds like the perfect opportunity to learn more. Thanks for sharing your thoughts with us.

[Lisa Modglin]

Thanks for the inspiring words. Unlike you, I'm new to photography. I'm a bit overwhelmed by all the terms I hear, not to mention all the gadgets and toys my fellow photographer friends have. I am happy to say that I am beginning to "see the light". Now, as the afternoon turns to evening, I relish just sitting on my front porch watching as those wonderful rays begin to come in at an angle. Even better when I'm driving at that time of day and I can wonder in the beauty of the light as it plays in the fields. The utmost in peace and tranquility is be somewhere....anywhere....camera in hand during that magical, golden hour. I have recently begun shooting portraits and I love black and white, it's so soft. I look forward to exploring more in both the color and monochrome worlds. :-)

[Mary]

B and W draws you in.......the depth is so great, pure....nothing better

[Ruby Nelson]

I treasure all of my Mom's old black and white brownie kodak pictures, they take me to a difference place, just wondering what she was thinking and doing that day. They seem to bring a story to me with each one. They are close to 100 years old now.
I am 81 and on my bucket list I have mentioned taking great black and white pictures especially of my great grandchildren. I have
six of them. It is just so much fun applying them to a canvas and making timeless treasures for the family. It sounds like this is the class for me. Oh I hope I win!!

[Karen L.]

I fell in love with black & white photography when I was a teenager. At that time though, all of the local photo labs were phasing it out. Hard to buy the film and hard to find somewhere to get it developed. This was well before digital, and well before the ability to print photos on a home printer.

After begging my parents - for Christmas one year I got a hobby kit - enlarger, trays, chemicals, paper, etc...all set up in a basement room with no windows. It was an ardurous task to develop those photos but I learned so much and I was delighted with each discovery.

Getting back into photography now after a long hiatus, I can say that I am thrilled with all of the options we have nowadays - digital cameras, special effects, post processing, printing at home in color, no more messy chemicals, mobile phones that take photos and so on. But I still think back to those times when our options were limited and we had to really put a lot of thought and effort into composing and developing a photo. Those lessons were hard earned, but oh so valuable.