Autumn in Glorious Black and White

Suddenly, autumn is almost over. Those rich burnished leaf tones of copper, gold, brass, bronze and rust are all but gone, released onto the woodland paths beneath the trees. It’s that final burst of colour that we love to celebrate: so how odd of me to choose trees as my subject for Jude’s Photo Challenge this week, where she invites us to look at shadow and texture in black and white. I thought it might be fun to allow craggy, nubbled trunks and bark centre stage, and to contrast them with the leaves, glossy this autumn from the rain that’s so often beaten them to the ground beneath the trees where they’ve been since spring time. And at the end, just a couple of trees reflected in different ways, at the Yorkshire Sculpture Park.

The High Ride at Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal

Two from the High Ride at Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal. The last image was taken a Kiplin Hall

The Yorkshire Sculpture Park.

2020 Photo Challenge #45

Author: margaret21

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

49 thoughts on “Autumn in Glorious Black and White”

  1. I’m not convinced that autumn colours look better in black and white, but I do like the tree bark with the touch of light on it and I like the composition of the one showing the roots with leaves. But I suspect I’d like it more in colour. The final photo is lovely, like the leading lines in this one.
    Thanks as always for joining me in these assignments 😊 it’s a joy to see your interpretation.

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    1. Autumn is absolutely about colour. I was just trying to highlight things – such as bark, reflections, which we might not otherwise notice. And it was all done for your challenge really, which I always enjoy, and always makes me think.

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  3. Oh I think that without the colour the strength of a composition really shines. The top pair is a perfect example with the colour photo not offering anywhere near the intensity and drama, same with the ‘mirror sphere’ picture.

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    1. I can see how that face mask factory of yours might require an audio book or two. I’ve just done a Google trawl for you. No luck. But it has been made into a film in France. It’ll have to wait until you have some down time nd can actually read again.

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      1. Thanks for taking a look on my behalf. I would just say that the mask factory is not currently very busy. Since this lockdown began interest and sales for masks has fallen off a cliff which is understandable. If you’re locked in and not socialising there’s no need for a mask. I currently have ten for sale on the shop and was only going to make more when I sell some. I think peak mask has passed and hopefully the need for them won’t be required for much longer if Easter is the goal for many folk to be vaccinated. It is all a bit of crystal ball gazing though isn’t it?

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    2. Hi Agnes. I see my reply below has attached itself to the wrong comment – other readers will be bemused! I’m embarrassed no longer to know who created the mirror sphere – I was less careful about these things a few years back. But yes, that works – as do all the tree trunks I think. But autumn does need colour, on the whole Winter is dank enough,

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      1. Hello Margaret, I hadn’t noticed as I tend to read my comments on the ‘comment thread’ and don’t always go back onto original posts. But thank you for the info re the book. And, yes I agree that autumn needs colour, but every now and then a black and white shot makes you see the usual and expected a little differently.

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  6. With your image compare the b&w shot doesn’t say “autumn” to me, it looks more like winter but I like it better than the colour photo because it hints at a mystery. What lies beyond these trees?

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  7. Ooooh , lovely images, and the last one puts me in mind of the last image in this post: “https://suejudd.com/2018/01/28/what-this-traveller-saw-in-transylvania/

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  13. Everybody is loving everybody on here today. 🙂 🙂 I love the shadows on the tree and the reflective ball in black and white, Margaret. The others look a little bleak to me, but Kiplin Hall has a soft, romantic look that I like.

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  17. I agree that the colour conveys more about autumn and the black and white more about the texture and composition. I particularly like the leaves on the roots and the shadow on the bark. It is true they do feel a bit wintery – so perhaps we will be seeing more black and white shots from you recording the winter ahead?

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