China – mostly in black and white (with a little colour now and then)
China – mostly in black and white (with a little colour now and then)
The thing about using black and white rather than colour is that it adds a vintage quality to the photos. I did not do this on purpose. I visited what was billed as an “Ancient Village” and as usual found it greatly commercialized for tourists. Most of my photos of China are fairly colourful, but when we look past the attractiveness of bright colours there are other factors of interest to be found. What happened is that soon after starting to take photos they all came out in a purple tone – something happened either in my camera's colour balance, or else it was some other technical problem that developed. Some photos now and then did come out with proper colours, but mostly they were just purple toned, so I have had to desaturate them into B&W. Anyway, here is the result. As what seems to be usual when I go out on a trip, it was an overcast day.
1. When we got out of the car, this building was nearby, close to the river, and a good example of the architecture of that era.
2. Wherever you go in China, even in North American Chinatowns, you will find elaborate and usually highly decorated gates leading into areas. Oh oh, the colour purple (not the movie) is starting to show up.
3. Oh no - this is where my camera really started to go flooey. Our friend and her daughter are trying out a primitive treadmill - actually it's a kind of pump to push water in a trough - a reverse waterwheel concept.
4. Some folks just hangin' around and enjoying the day.
5. Looking up inside one of the gates
6. Building walls are decorated as well
7. This sculpture forms part of a wall.
8.
9. I have no idea who this is supposed to represent, or if it's just there as decoration.
10. All of a sudden, the camera worked to show natural colours.
11. Spring flowers in February - it's warmer in Chengdu than where I lived previously farther north.
12. A theatre stage - it had been transported from a different town and rebuilt in this spot. Wish the colours of the eaves could have been captured here.
13. A pavilion on the middle of a bridge over the river - sat on a bench and ate lunch here. There was a teahouse on the floor above.
14. Mah Jhong - a favourite pastime here. When I was a kid my mother taught me how to play it, but I've since forgotten. It's pretty popular here, as is ping-pong. My wife and I play ping-pong almost every day.
15. An extended family dinner by the river
16. There were huge fields of these yellow flowers, that top off a plant that is edible when it is younger.
17. In some cases colour would certainly be a lot better. The windows were beautiful.
18. This picture is the last photo I was able to take because the camera battery ran out. It was unfortunate because we then went to a second museum village that was the most fascinating one I ever encountered in China. It was the one that housed the Chinese Cinema museum, and fortunately, as you have recently seen, I got back there again with my camera fixed and a charged battery.
Before the days of digital photography, my preference was to work in B&W - enlarging and processing my photos myself. However, China is so incredibly colourful, colour can reproduce what's here so much better.
The thing I love about China (and other Asian countries) is that everything is a work of art. Buildings, train stations, gardens etc etc...
Good essay Buzz.
Looks as if the NT members prefer photo-essays in colour rather than black and white.
Dear Friend Buzz: I cannot speak to the rest of NT.
The Yom Tovim are soon upon us.
Thanks for your contribution to my discussion on ethics.
That too takes time to think through and do properly.
Time. Best to make it an ally. Otherwise it is surely a worthy enemy.
Good article Buzz.
We gain and lose with technology.
A lot of the insights and effects with light and shadow in black and white films like Film Noir disappeared, or were replaced with other effects in color photography, 3D, Java platforms etc.
We gain and lose when technologies mature and are replaced with newer ones.
This photo essay reminds us of the values of black and white photography.
Thanks.
Enoch.
P.S. For about a month I will be off more than on line.
This includes The News Talkers.
Smaller more rural and less affluent Congregations who cannot afford a full time Rabbi still need someone to conduct High Holy Day Services.
From Rosh ha Shanah until just after Simchat Torah I will be filling in that gap about various places in upstate NY.
As with end of life Pastoral Care, I conduct Services when there is no one else to do so.
It costs me money.
Some things you do for other reasons.
Shanah Tovah Tichateyvu.
Gomer Chatimah Tovah.
Enoch.
I'm sure that the services you provide to smaller congregations are much appreciated.
B&W movies and photography are still better than colour in some circumstances - you mention Film Noir , for example, and there is what Spielberg did with Schindler's List, and I posted an article on the subject of movie directors opposing colourization of B&W movies:
I may soon do a photo-essay of B&W photos I have done, going back more than half a century well before digital photography, and using recently taken colour photos I have desaturated of their colour and the reasons why I did.
Dear Friend Buzz: I look forward to viewing it.
Thanks.
E.
A good black and white image is, IMO, comparable to the beauty of a woman who is not wearing any makeup, rather, her natural beauty and true essence is found in form and character rather than in artificial color or trappings of fashion.
My two cents.
Maybe so, but then not all colour is artificial. My two mao. (US$1 = about 6 yuan and 1 yuan = 10 mao, - so it's about as close as I can get to 2 cents).
B&W or color I enjoy seeing your pictures
Thank you charger.