This week I have been very busy editing photos, and as I love monochrome and black and white images, I took some time to try different styles from our wonderful visit to Glenelg Beach in South Australia.
Glenelg beach pier
The Pier there provided great opportunities for photography, largely due to the striking contrasts between light and shadow, which are essential in monochrome photography. I experimented with various angles and compositions to capture the essence of the scene, highlighting the elegant lines of the architecture against the raw natural beauty of the beach.
These images reflect not only the stunning vistas but also the unique atmosphere of the location. These are my contributions this week for Leanne’s Monochrome Madness.
From the cemetery we were off to Tybee Island and another lighthouse. Tybee Island Lighthouse we only saw from the outside.
Significant events in the history of Tybee Island: During the Revolutionary War, Tybee was the staging area for French Admiral D’Estaing’s ill-fated 1779 “Siege of Savannah”, when combined multinational forces attempted to defeat the British held Savannah. During the War of 1812, the Tybee Island Lighthouse was used to signal Savannah of possible attack by the British.
Tybee Island light station
1958 two U.S. Air Force planes collided in the air and one of them had to dumb a nuclear weapon (hydrogen bomb). The lost weapon, known popularly as the “Tybee Bomb”, remained a security concern for several years, although the Air Force claims the bomb lacks a nuclear capsule and does not pose a serious threat.
On August 17, 1960, eleven African-American students were arrested on Tybee Island at Georgia’s first wade-in protesting the Whites-only public beaches. The commemorative plaque of the wade-ins can be seen by the Tybee South Beach. The plaque was installed only last year, 62 years after the event.
The weather was quite windy in Tybee and therefore we sat for a while in one of the swings by the dunes.
Later, we walked along the pier and watched the fishermen. One of them caught a small stingray. Unfortunately, the stingray got the hook stuck very deep inside of it. The fisherman was holding the sting with pliers while the bait shop keeper was trying to pry the hook with other pliers, without success. Eventually they had to cut the fishing line and the shop keeper took the stingray in his shop to be killed.
Walking on the beach we got some nice shots that I will post in an other post as this is already overloaded with them. These photos are shot with both of my cameras and also some are with mobiles.
And that was that. Soon we had to start thinking about driving back to Boynton Beach, Florida. It was a seven hour drive with one stop in Daytona Beach exit to get gas and eat at the Popey’s Chicken Restaurant, which proved to be nice surprise. The traffic was fairly heavy once again but we were able to maintain an average speed of 75 mi/120 km, by following our friend Bob’s advice – stay in the pack. Go too fast and you’ll get a ticket and if you go too slow, you’ll get honks from the horns and you’ll cause hairy situations.
I have a soft spot for black and white photography, I was once again reminded about the importance of exposure, light. It is the key element in these photos.
Sunset in B&W is it’s own thing to capture once again it comes to the light, lowlight in this case. How it enhances the shapes and creates shadows.
Sunset in Naples Pier. Unfortunately it was destroyed in Hurricane Ian, but I have a memory.
Naples Pier, Florida
Sunset in Miami
The way that light hits objects, I think, is one of the more important things that sculpture and photography share. – Rashid Johnson
We have had rather gray and rainy September, the forecast was predicting that to this weekend also so we decided to stay at home. But no, rather we had a nice weather, Sunday particularly was lovely.
I like this shot of the Naples Pier I took few years ago. The sun was low and it came shining under the pier. I transformed it to blank and white image. I think i works both ways.
This first photo is an unedited straight from my mobile that i converted to black and white image. I took it at a Pier in Kaivopuisto in Helsinki on a very misty day.
We also visited St Kilda Pier it’s history dates back to 1853. Providing panoramic views of the Melbourne skyline and Port Phillip Bay, the pier is a popular destination. I liked how I was able to capture the skyline behind the sailboats at the pier. The opportunity to see a penguin in it’s natural habit at a place like this was something unexpected.
Almost over, November the grayest month of all. Darkness is so strong, but there has been few nice sunsets too. Here is one witnessed at a small boat pier. Looking the other way you saw sunset and on the other moon rising.
Ritva Sillanmäki Photography 