Today was a bit disjointed. In fact, this whole weekend was a bit discombobulated as I had to get up super early for two work events. That meant that I slept most of the afternoon away. Don't get me wrong, I'm not complaining ~ it was a rainy weekend so being in bed with hot coffee and my animals made me happy. It's the only thing I truly enjoy about winter...the garden being watered for free, the dams getting topped up and snuggly cuddles with soft fluffy socks and my comforting hoodie.
I went down to the beach afterwards and even got some shopping done and was back home around 9am, eagerly anticipating going back to a snooze. I woke up thinking it was the morning and that I was late for work. It took me a while to clear the cobwebs from my head.
I felt like messing around on Photoshop and Lightroom. Something I haven't done in a long time, it felt good to play around with some photos from the day. That first one came out nicely I think. That is my entry for the #monomad challenge. I love the contrasts and reflections, lines and curves.
For some reason, I can never really get the same kind of effects with beachy photos. this one at least has some contrast because there were some plants in the foreground, but they often seem to just become a grey mess with very little definition. Maybe it was my mood when I took the image because I had to brave the rain to get it.
At the shopping center the security guard thought I was dodgy because I was taking photos of the roof. He lifted an eyebrow at me. So I pointed up and told him to look at their feet. Look how cool they look from underneath. We had a little laugh together and parted ways. Not sure if he radioed his control centre and told them a weirdo was walking around, but at least he didn't make me delete the photo.
I know a few people who won't be impressed with me, but I took this next one while driving. I'm a bit of a sucker for cows in pasture because it reminds me that countryside is still close by even though I now live in the city again.
The fact that the top of my car window aligns parallel to the road surface was totally fluke but I must admit I like it. It frames it nicely even if unintentionally and there's some depth of field and perspective to the image which I hardly ever get right.
All in all, not a bad mono day. I have to admit that it's a lot easier when you find good subjects and I've never really had the eye for that.
I read that book by Ansel Adams on black and white photography but none of it really stuck. My memory isn't very good these days. Most things that I know I've learned by trial and error and taking tidbits from here and there in combination. Maybe I'm learning by osmosis. I see a lot of pics here on Hive that I absolutely love in mono and I often look at them and try to work out what it is that makes the photo pop or stand out to me. I've never really been one for portraits though and landscapes seem a lot trickier than people in mono. If you have some quick tips 'n tricks for me, let me know in the comments but please be kind, I'm a novice.
