Hello there, Fellow Wanderers,
This week’s blog post allows me to share with you not only my passion for photography but the exciting details of the 10th edition of Expometro.
Expometro is ringing in its 10th anniversary with a first, a Digital Billboard Art Show in the heart of Times Square, New York. This unique art show will take place from the 2nd to the 3rd of December, as the Christmas season kicks off and can be found at 1530 Broadway, New York City. The digital billboard will be strategically placed just above eye level to allow all individuals passing through Times Square to view. Artworks by 593 artists from 60 countries will be displayed on this giant 20 x 50ft digital billboard just above the iconic I❤️NY store, an incredible collective Art experience at “the Crossroads of the World”. I am beyond excited to share with you that my work will be part of this exhibition!
To be an artist within this collective approach is a humbling and enriching experience. As a black and white nature photographer I have chosen to exhibit a macro floral image that continues to allow me to proudly showcase South Africa’s natural beauty on an international platform.
Nature has an uncanny ability to captivate us with its intricate details and breathtaking beauty. Among its many wonders, the South African Pincushion Protea has always captivated me. With its striking appearance and unique characteristics, it serves as a testament to the artistic elegance that nature inherently possesses. It is for these reasons that I have chosen to showcase this beautiful flower as a black and white macro photographic image for Times Square, NY, Expo Metro Exhibition.
Nature, with its infinite tapestry of colours, textures, and patterns, has been a perennial muse for artists throughout the ages. In the realm of photography, the choice between colour and monochrome is a pivotal decision that can profoundly influence the way we perceive the natural world. While colour photography vividly showcases the spectrum of hues that paint the landscape, black and white photography possesses a unique ability to capture the innate beauty and essence of nature, revealing its intricacies, fragility, and natural patterns.
Both for myself and many black and white nature photographers, the decision to work in monochrome is not just an aesthetic choice but a deliberate attempt to strip away distractions and home in on the raw beauty of the natural world. The allure of monochrome has a way of distilling a scene to its fundamental elements, emphasizing contrasts, shapes, and textures in a manner that transcends the distractions of colour. In the realm of nature photography, this minimalist approach often results in images that evoke a sense of timelessness and classic elegance. For me, this allows the opportunity to create a visual storytelling experience that engages a viewer on many levels.
This storytelling opportunity is created in my work through the following choices:
· Embracing Contrast:
· The absence of colour allows the photographer to focus on the interplay of light and shadow, accentuating the contrasts that define the natural world. A lone tree against a stormy sky or the delicate veins of a leaf can be more pronounced in black and white, offering a stark yet captivating visual experience.
· Highlighting Intricacies:
· Nature itself is a masterful artist, weaving intricate patterns and textures into every corner of the landscape. Black and white photography, by eliminating colour distractions, allows the viewer to delve deeper into the details—the delicate web of a spider, the rugged texture of a rock, or the fine lines on a flower petal.
· Revealing Fragility:
· The fragility of nature can often be overlooked in the vividness of colour photography. Black and white, with its subtle tones, has the power to convey a sense of vulnerability in the face of environmental changes. A withered leaf or a raindrop on a petal becomes a poignant reminder of the fleeting nature of life.
· Timelessness and Classic Elegance:
· Black and white photography has a timeless quality that transcends eras. It allows us to capture the enduring beauty of nature in a way that feels both contemporary and classic. A landscape devoid of colour becomes a canvas of eternal beauty, a storytelling moment evoking a sense of nostalgia and timelessness.
Nature is a masterful creator of patterns, from the fractal geometry of a fern to the ripples in a pond. Black and white photography excels at highlighting these patterns, drawing attention to the inherent order and harmony present in the natural world. As an artist these patterns have always intrigued and fascinated me in the following forms:
· Fractals and Symmetry:
· The intricate fractals found in leaves, shells, and snowflakes are accentuated in black and white, revealing a mesmerizing world of symmetry and repetition. Each delicate detail becomes a testament to the mathematical precision woven into nature's design.
· Textures and Tones:
· The play of light and dark in monochrome photography brings out the textures of natural surfaces. From the rough bark of a tree to the smooth contours of a pebble, black and white allows us to appreciate the tactile richness of the world around us.
In the realm of photography, the choice between colour and black and white is a matter of artistic preference, each offering a unique perspective on the beauty of the natural world. While colour dazzles with its vibrancy, black and white has the power to distil nature to its purest form, capturing the essence, intricacies, and fragility that make it a timeless muse for photographers.
I look forward to hearing your musings on the beautiful pincushion up on exhibition next week. Pop over to the below link and be part of the online experience if you are unable to visit Times Square:
Take care,
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