Wanna take a super-fast spin around the globe with me again?
I’m meant to be going through my thousands of images to choose mere handfuls for my soon-to-be-created portfolio website.
It’s more agonising than I thought it would be and I keep finding other things I really need to do.
Like being suddenly curious what some of my favourite colour images from the 52 Suburbs Around the World project would look like in black and white…
![Patricia and Shianne 3, NY [b&w]](./../../../../wp-content/uploads/2013/09/bw151.jpg)
Patricia and Shianne 3, NY [b&w]
![it's a child's playground now, Istanbul [b&w]](./../../../../wp-content/uploads/2013/09/bw.jpg)
it’s a child’s playground now, Istanbul [b&w]
![their Hills Hoist, Istanbul [b&w]](./../../../../wp-content/uploads/2013/09/bw18.jpg)
their Hills Hoist, Istanbul [b&w]
![how the French can eat so many pastries and stil stay so slim, Paris [b&w]](./../../../../wp-content/uploads/2013/09/bw8.jpg)
how the French can eat so many pastries and stil stay so slim, Paris [b&w]
![kinks fan 2, Tokyo [b&w]](./../../../../wp-content/uploads/2013/09/bw10_v2.jpg)
kinks fan 2, Tokyo [b&w]
![apres prayer, Delhi [b&w]](./../../../../wp-content/uploads/2013/09/bw6_v3.jpg)
apres prayer, Delhi [b&w]
![smoke and rubble but at least the washing's done, Istanbul [b&w]](./../../../../wp-content/uploads/2013/09/bw5.jpg)
smoke and rubble but at least the washing’s done, Istanbul [b&w]
![last light, Kyoto [b&w]](./../../../../wp-content/uploads/2013/09/bw01.jpg)
last light, Kyoto [b&w]
![Luna and her rock 'n' roll dad, Paris [b&w]](./../../../../wp-content/uploads/2013/09/bw71.jpg)
Luna and her rock ‘n’ roll dad, Paris [b&w]
![all shapes and sizes, New York [b&w]](./../../../../wp-content/uploads/2013/09/bw_v2.jpg)
all shapes and sizes, New York [b&w]
![Ginza cats, Tokyo [b&w]](./../../../../wp-content/uploads/2013/09/bw4.jpg)
Ginza cats, Tokyo [b&w]
![Bronson, LA [b&w]](./../../../../wp-content/uploads/2013/09/bw11_v22.jpg)
Bronson, LA [b&w]
![Patricia and Shianne 2, NY [b&w]](./../../../../wp-content/uploads/2013/09/bw14_v2.jpg)
Patricia and Shianne 2, NY [b&w]
![Wesley 2, Auckland [b&w]](./../../../../wp-content/uploads/2013/09/bw16.jpg)
Wesley 2, Auckland [b&w]
![yeah!, Paris [b&w]](./../../../../wp-content/uploads/2013/09/bw171.jpg)
yeah!, Paris [b&w]
![end of a long night, Sydney [b&w]](./../../../../wp-content/uploads/2013/09/bw9_v4.jpg)
end of a long night, Sydney [b&w]
I do love colour – intensely – but it’s interesting to see the world in black and white too don’t you think?
Jodie says:
Wow!!! I LOVE the black and white!! These images are wonderful. Thank you so much for posting them.
Lisa says:
The black and white really brings out the magical light and shade. Gorgeous :-)
Peter McConnochie says:
One of the things I loved most about both your 52 projects was your use of colour and in particular colour and pattern to link images.
You see things so vividly and present them to others using colour to alter mood, perception and to show the beauty of a place or person.
However I so love the black and white images – great texture and shade coming through and a much more ‘street photography’ feel almost spectator view of the world than the more interactive feel of the colour images.
Lovely to see (and worthy of merit) but my heart belongs to your colour work!
Louise says:
I agree, the diptychs work better in colour because of those links. This was just me fooling around to avoid having to make ‘hard’ decisions about my website images! But I do really like some of the singles in b&w.
Bron says:
Just thinking about you Louise – in colour of course – I then saw the arrival of your tantalising black & white shots.
Love them!!
Jo Kaupe says:
The black and white are fab, particularly like the Istanbul ones.
Deb says:
I think the Japanese geisha would be better in colour as I remember the beautiful colors on her kimono and I really liked it.
Louise says:
The colours in that image are beautiful I agree. If I was going to print one, would def be the colour one. But interesting to see how some images translate better than others into b&w.
Gay Miers says:
Some favorites here Louise…first pic of the girls, French bulldog, smoky Istanbul.
In London this week. Seeing Clarabelle Saturday!!!!
LOL GG
Louise says:
Bronson the bulldog – pug? – is a delight isn’t he? They obviously bought that car to compliment his devilish charm and good looks. Enjoy London and give Claire a huge hug from me!
Peter says:
At first I thought you were referring to your book and was going to suggest doing one in colour and the other in B&W. You could title it ’52 Shades of Black and White. After reading again I realized it was for your web site, so why don’t just mix it up. It’s your site and you can do whatever you want!! Good Luck.
Mike Reed says:
The B/W seems to have more life, stimulating, evocative….morest of joie de vie
Toni Mostyn says:
I just love B&W. My fav is the cyclist in Paris. Wonderful photos. :)
Beth says:
Stunning as always,thanks so much for sharing with us how you see the world behind your lens, I am always so glad to see you pop up in my email!
Louise says:
Thanks for saying Beth – you wonder sometimes when you send the email out, how people feel about it. It is after all yet another email in our email-crazy lives. But one I guess that doesn’t ask anything of you but to enjoy – hopefully.
bronwyn says:
I think colour shows off the glitz, glamour and gaudiness of the mardi gras and India images (IMHO only), but I LOVE the way the light stands out so much with many of these in B&W. Can I buy?!!!!
Helga says:
I like the coloured most. It is your speciality to combine on the first view not combinable forms or prints in harmony about the colors. The light effects in the blackwhite pictures is amazing, but really impressive they are not in the way the coloured are. My sight :-) Love your art!
Louise says:
I know what you mean. As I said to someone Peter above, this was just an experiment – and that I agree, the diptychs combining two images work best in colour. But I love the Istanbul ones in b&w, and the girls in Crown Heights, NY.
Carrie says:
These are gorgeous – thank you for sharing!
valya says:
There is something neutralizing about Black and White making all the same and taking out much of the difference. Great shots and a nice change. Do love colour as well.
David Hancock says:
Many gorgeous images but a couple that I would drop too.
Louise says:
Oh yes, do tell! No, I get it, this was more about seeing that some work better than others in b&w. Fun to do when putting off a more serious, demanding task!
Ann says:
Absolutely love the b&w. Works so well with your images.
Louise says:
Glad you like it, thanks Ann.
Jackie Nolan says:
Black and white photographs evoke drama I feel,
which is good. Capturing light and shade give
special effect to an image. It is a great contrast to
colour. I think you should go with some of these,
e.g. Paris, man on bicycle, Instanbul -Hills hoist,
for shadows – Instanbul, child’s playground and
Patricia and ShIanne, NY. Of course Bronson LA
gorgeous boy! B&W another art form which you
have mastered! Just love light,shade and shadows!
Louise says:
Thanks Jackie. I am in an obsessed-with-shadows stage right now. Love all those long lines you get in early morning and late afternoon. Bring on daylight saving!
yani says:
The fact that you have a really great sense of contrast works perfectly for black and white images. There are some of your shots that are all about the colours, but I would really love to see you explore the black and white idea, especially on photos that didn’t necessarily “work” in colour for whatever reason.
Louise says:
That’s exactly right – sometimes it’s all about the colour but other times, not so much. I think I may well dabble in the b&w area from now on while still celebrating glorious colour.
John Ellis says:
You have chosen some here that work really well in b/w. It’s a different way of seeing and representing the world and mixing colour and b/w is misleading because they are doing different jobs.
Jade says:
Simply breathtaking!!