Category Archives: B&W Photography

Death Valley: Racetrack

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131122_DV_Racetrack by Karl Graf. Canon 5D MkIII, EF 24-70mm f2.8L @ 34mm, f/11, 1/100 sec, ISO 400

Last weekend we visited family in Los Angeles.  We started talking about photographic adventures and Death Valley came up.  I thought I would go back through my images from earlier this year and post a few more from my trip to Death Valley with John Barclay and Chuck Kimmerle.

This image is from the “infamous” racetrack basin.  Nobody knows exactly how these rocks move across the basin.  Which direction did this 18-inch rock come from???

Anyway, it was an awe-inspiring site to visit and explore.  Staying with the Black and White theme of the workshop, I focused on the contrast between the elements within the frame.  I darkened the tracks slightly to help pop them out from the flats.

 

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We Will Always Remember

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130911_Ground 0 by Karl G. Graf.

September 11 was twelve years ago.  It seems like it was just yesterday …  It seems like it was so long ago.  Visiting the 9/11 Memorial at Ground 0 puts it right back in front of us.  How could this happen here at home?  Why did it happen?  What are the underlying causes?  What can we do to make sure this cannot happen again?  What causes such hatred?  Can we ever be at peace between all the peoples of the world?  So many questions … so few answers.

We will always remember and never forget what happened.  We must also devote our efforts to resolve the underlying causes that led to this act.

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Turn Around

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130818_SmithRocks_Clouds by Karl G. Graf.

Just turn around and see a whole different world.  The last 3 posts looking West showed peaceful images without a cloud in the sky.  Looking East was a totally different story.  These clouds were just flying across the sky along the eastern horizon.  I was intrigued by the wispiness of the clouds.  There must have been quite a high jet stream up there.  B&W provided the sharp contrast between the clouds and the bright blue sky.

 

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Between

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130818_SmithRocks_B&W by Karl G. Graf.

These steep vertical spires of Smith Rocks separated the view between the images on my previous two posts.  Looking at these massive rocks jutting out of the landscape makes me realize just how amazing Nature is.  I attempted to use black and white to emphasize the drama of these spires.  An early morning sunrise will make this image spectacular.  I can’t wait to go back!

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Lonesome???

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130802_Windmill by Karl G. Graf. Lonesome??? … Not really, just beyond the ridge there were hundreds more.  I selected to isolate this single wind turbine to portray the landscape the way I remember it back 13 years ago when I moved from the Northwest to the East Coast.  Wind turbines now are abundant on the desolate Washington hills above the Columbia River gorge.  I roamed on these lonesome hills as a young boy scout so many years ago. It gives me a sad feeling to see the once beautiful open hill country covered with industrial mechanical giants.

This image was taken along the roadside coming down from the Oregon plateau to the Columbia River near Biggs Junction, OR.

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Fonthill Study: Remington Noiseless

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Study by Karl Graf.

Henry Mercer’s Study is my favorite room at Fonthill.  Mercer has 4 working desks situated strategically around the room to capitalize on the light as it progresses throughout the day.  This image is one of the “standard” photographs taken of the room.  I attempted to give it a little different perspective by converting to B&W and focusing the light on the typewriter.

 

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