Textured Monochrome

This week for the Lens-Artist Challenge, John invites us to focus on the tools we consider when taking photographs: Shape, Form, Texture, and Light.

Sarah of Travel with Me fame (You don’t follow her? Why not?) decided to focus on texture alone in her role as Guest Presenter for Leanne’s Monochrome Madness . I’ve decided to follow her excellent example.

I often like to use monochrome to ‘describe’ texture. It seems to highlight shape, form and – er- yes, texture to advantage, with no colour to distract the eye.

In fact my featured photo of nearby Brimham Rocks is changed very little by the use of monochrome. The sky was a bright azure blue that day, with whiteish clouds. Realistically, grey is so much more authentic this year.

Let’s stay with the natural world, and go to Mossyard Bay in Dumfries and Galloway, to inspect the rocks there, and a sheltered pool as the tide goes out.

Mossyard Bay …
… and a pool receding as the tide recedes

We’ll stay by the sea, but in Arenys de Mar in Spain this time. A rusting chain, a decaying lump of concrete in the fishing port.

A tired chain in an even more exhausted lump of concrete, Arenys de Mar

More man-made creations, battered by wind and weather. A has-been saint awaits repair in the stone mason’s yard at Rheims Cathedral.

A fatigued saint, Rheims.

And here’s a characterful shuttered window that’s lived a long life in a village in the Hérault, France.

A village house in the Hérault 

An English country garden, complete with bee.

Eryngium finds favour with a bee.

… an icy puddle …

A locally frozen puddle.

And let’s leave you with that most Yorkshire of animals, a sheep: happy to show off a magnificent fleece, magnificent horns.

A winning exhibit as Masham Sheep Fair.

Author: margaret21

I'm retired and live in North Yorkshire, where I walk , write, volunteer and travel as often as I can.

55 thoughts on “Textured Monochrome”

  4. Brimham Rocks is a great choice and I love your coastal rocks too, and pools 🙂 I also loved the ‘has-been saint’ and the wave pattern on the sheep’s horn intrigued me – I’m thinking it maybe shows growth in the same way a tree’s rings do so?

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      1. Not really. Too many of my friends keep complaining about their locks and how much work they are and … so I’m happy to look at them on other people’s heads
        (or sheep’s heads).

        Liked by 1 person

  12. Perfect in monochrome, Margaret. Showing off textures and light perfectly. Do love that sheep – laughed out loud at Life in books and your own comment. Spot on.

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