This is one of my favorite challenges as I love black and white photography; it captures the essence of the topic in many cases, allowing viewers to focus on shape, texture, and emotion without the distraction of color. The interplay of light and shadow transforms ordinary scenes into dramatic compositions that tell a story. I am still returning to the burned down barn for this week’s Monochrome Madness and NovemberShadows, as it evokes images in my mind that nurtures my creative vision. Each revisit to the photos reveals new angles and perspectives as how to edit and capture its haunting presence, inviting me to experiment and refine my technique while deeply connecting with the subject matter.
Here in these two sets of images and different frames, I’m checking out how the crop’s aspect ratio changes these images. It’s pretty interesting to think about whether cropping a photo to a square actually adds something to the mood compared to keeping it in its original rectangular shape weather it is landscape or portrait. This change can really shift the focus, often guiding the viewer’s eye to specific details more easily. But you’ve also got to wonder if this tighter framing means losing some important context or details, which could totally alter the story the photo tells. Cropping can either amp up the emotional punch or totally take it down a notch, so it’s definitely a key choice in the editing process that we need to think about.
I have to admit these are more black and white photographs than monochrome, but the rules are not too tight in these challenges.
Ritva Sillanmäki Photography 
goodness you find incredible places to explore
Thanks Becky, sometimes you don’t even have to go far to find them
clearly I need to be more adventurous or at least observant for these kind of finds
Lots more wows Ritva 😀 This is a fabulous gallery. You have conveyed the feeling of the place so well
Thanks Brian, I did work on these to convey it
What a great post. I really enjoyed looking at these images and reflecting on your thoughts about them.
Good to hear, I do put some work into them 😀
That’s clear. Well done you.
Its amazing how much beauty can be found in destruction!
I am loving the process of editing these images
The last image is lovely.
Thanks Brad I tried to make some objects in more focus
I liked these photographs. Really astonishing…
Thanks you very much Debadrita
Beautiful images!
Thanks Anne
Just the kind of wonderful work I expect to see each time I visit. I have yet to be disappointed.
Janet, thank you that is such a high compliment
Sincerely meant.
❤️
I think you used the right word: haunting.
Much a appreciated Egídio
I know you talked about the play of light, but I love the textures here and I think how you have processed them have really brought them out.
The did also pop up in the process, I am really enjoying the edit process of these photos
Love the textures, love the light, Rtva! Apropos square format, I do think that if we compose for square format, we will get a better composition than if we crop to square format… The original image wasn’t intended to work as a square. of course quite a lot of the time we can get away with it but I think sometimes creating an image for square format is the idea.