Post Your Black and Whites Photos!!
- Thread starter Dave_W
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Peter7100
Senior Member
Wonderful silhouette
An oldie from May, 2020. The Eiffel Tower was backlit hence the tones were washed-out considerably. The image didn't look good as high contrast so I dodged-and-burned the tower as appropriate. It's a so-so composition of a familiar landmark.
D500
70-300 AF-P DX VR
D500
70-300 AF-P DX VR
Last edited:
Blue439
New member
The Monk on the Fire Ladder (1960s and 2021)
My mentor in the field of church photography was a French Benedictine monk, Dom Angelico Surchamp, the publisher of all the Zodiaque books. He was an amazing, unique person. From him I learned a little bit about photography, and tons about life in general. Using Sinar field cameras and Hasselblads, he himself took most of the luscious black-and-white photos that illustrated the Zodiaque books between, roughly, 1950 and 2000, and the most iconic photo of him is probably the one below, where he is, in his billowing black robes, perched atop the very tall firemen’s ladder on a reconnaissance mission of the high tympanum of the cathedral in the city of Angoulême (western France).
And so of course, when I happened to be shooting Romanesque churches in that area myself in 2021, I took the second shot below, to show that nothing had changed much, more than half a century after the first one... Angelico had passed away in 2018.
Nikon Z7 II, Nikkor 19mm, ƒ/4 PC-E tilt-shift lens, manual focus, FTZ II adapter. Gitzo tripod, Benro geared head.
My mentor in the field of church photography was a French Benedictine monk, Dom Angelico Surchamp, the publisher of all the Zodiaque books. He was an amazing, unique person. From him I learned a little bit about photography, and tons about life in general. Using Sinar field cameras and Hasselblads, he himself took most of the luscious black-and-white photos that illustrated the Zodiaque books between, roughly, 1950 and 2000, and the most iconic photo of him is probably the one below, where he is, in his billowing black robes, perched atop the very tall firemen’s ladder on a reconnaissance mission of the high tympanum of the cathedral in the city of Angoulême (western France).
And so of course, when I happened to be shooting Romanesque churches in that area myself in 2021, I took the second shot below, to show that nothing had changed much, more than half a century after the first one... Angelico had passed away in 2018.
Nikon Z7 II, Nikkor 19mm, ƒ/4 PC-E tilt-shift lens, manual focus, FTZ II adapter. Gitzo tripod, Benro geared head.
Blue439
New member
A Trip in Italy (2021)
In September and October 2021, we spent three weeks touring the Italian regions of Abruzzo, Umbria, Marches and Emilia-Romagna, which we hadn’t visited yet. Personally, I had my sights firmly set on a series of early Romanesque churches of high architectural and artistic interest —which did not however include the amazing discovery I made by sheer chance of the wonderful round church of San Giusto in the small village of San Maroto, built on a rocky hilltop overlooking the valley of River Chienti in the province of Marches (middle of nowhere in central Italy).
There are very few round churches in the world, compared to rectangular ones. That’s because rectangular churches were based on the Roman, so-called “basilica” floor plan, which was widely available as a model (even in ruins) throughout the former Roman Empire (think Pagan temples), while the round model was only available in one copy: the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem, which architects and builders had to have seen (or at least heard about), and not many of them had.
There is precious little information about the erection of San Giusto. Most historians will not commit beyond “between the 11th and 13th century” (you don’t say!), with only one venturing “first half of the 12th century”. Personally, based on the way local stones have been hewn and appareled, and on the outside decoration (the inside is gorgeous but bare), I would rather say most definitely 11th century, if not older. This is a truly astounding church, which I strongly encourage amateurs to visit.
The almost abstract shot below details the way the stones are appareled and the volumes are connected. A true masterpiece, demonstrating knowledge and expertise way beyond anything normally called upon for a small village church... about which there is a lot more to be learned! The influences from the Middle East and Byzantium may point towards builders having come from as far as Syria, which was not unknown in those days... but not for a simple village church! So, what’s behind this mystery? Will we ever know?
Nikon Z7, Nikkor 19mm, ƒ/4 PC-E tilt-shift lens, manual focus, FTZ adapter. Gitzo tripod, Benro geared head. Natural light.
In September and October 2021, we spent three weeks touring the Italian regions of Abruzzo, Umbria, Marches and Emilia-Romagna, which we hadn’t visited yet. Personally, I had my sights firmly set on a series of early Romanesque churches of high architectural and artistic interest —which did not however include the amazing discovery I made by sheer chance of the wonderful round church of San Giusto in the small village of San Maroto, built on a rocky hilltop overlooking the valley of River Chienti in the province of Marches (middle of nowhere in central Italy).
There are very few round churches in the world, compared to rectangular ones. That’s because rectangular churches were based on the Roman, so-called “basilica” floor plan, which was widely available as a model (even in ruins) throughout the former Roman Empire (think Pagan temples), while the round model was only available in one copy: the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem, which architects and builders had to have seen (or at least heard about), and not many of them had.
There is precious little information about the erection of San Giusto. Most historians will not commit beyond “between the 11th and 13th century” (you don’t say!), with only one venturing “first half of the 12th century”. Personally, based on the way local stones have been hewn and appareled, and on the outside decoration (the inside is gorgeous but bare), I would rather say most definitely 11th century, if not older. This is a truly astounding church, which I strongly encourage amateurs to visit.
The almost abstract shot below details the way the stones are appareled and the volumes are connected. A true masterpiece, demonstrating knowledge and expertise way beyond anything normally called upon for a small village church... about which there is a lot more to be learned! The influences from the Middle East and Byzantium may point towards builders having come from as far as Syria, which was not unknown in those days... but not for a simple village church! So, what’s behind this mystery? Will we ever know?
Nikon Z7, Nikkor 19mm, ƒ/4 PC-E tilt-shift lens, manual focus, FTZ adapter. Gitzo tripod, Benro geared head. Natural light.
Blue439
New member
A stunning cupola from the 900s (2021)
In the southern Italian city of Assisi, well away from all the touristic and commercial hype connected to Saint Francis, the church simply called “San Pietro” was built as a Benedictine abbey church in the 900s, and the inside retains its original majestic and stark grandeur, very conducive to the intended elevation of the soul through meditation and prayer. The façade was redone in the 13th century, and there are some added elements from the Gothic period, but overall, the church as we can see it today has traversed an entire millennium to reach us almost intact. It is a splendor to behold and a joy to visit.
I used the 24~70mm ƒ/4 zoom to take all those photos. I had left the tilt-shift lenses and tripod behind, for fear that someone would once more forbid me to use them! Such is life, unfortunately, in many Italian sanctuaries these days.
The round holes you can see are “sound pots” drilled to improve the acoustics in the church. Yes, they knew how to do that even in the Middle Ages...!
Nikon Z7, Nikkor Z 24-70mm, ƒ/4 S lens, handheld.
In the southern Italian city of Assisi, well away from all the touristic and commercial hype connected to Saint Francis, the church simply called “San Pietro” was built as a Benedictine abbey church in the 900s, and the inside retains its original majestic and stark grandeur, very conducive to the intended elevation of the soul through meditation and prayer. The façade was redone in the 13th century, and there are some added elements from the Gothic period, but overall, the church as we can see it today has traversed an entire millennium to reach us almost intact. It is a splendor to behold and a joy to visit.
I used the 24~70mm ƒ/4 zoom to take all those photos. I had left the tilt-shift lenses and tripod behind, for fear that someone would once more forbid me to use them! Such is life, unfortunately, in many Italian sanctuaries these days.
The round holes you can see are “sound pots” drilled to improve the acoustics in the church. Yes, they knew how to do that even in the Middle Ages...!
Nikon Z7, Nikkor Z 24-70mm, ƒ/4 S lens, handheld.
Blue439
New member
Romanesque, but... not a church ! (2021)
It is widely believed that Romanesque architecture is only to be found in churches, but that is not true. It is an architectural style that will also be found on “civilian” buildings like castles, even though the examples are few and far between as castles were first and foremost about defensive functionality and solidity, and not about slender arches or soaring vaults or decorative sculpture.
Other than castles, not many things in the Middle Ages were built sturdily enough that they would have reached us. Among those other buildings is a “hospital” (for want of a better word) that was built on the periphery of the small town of Pons in the French province of Saintonge (that’s in the western part of the country, not too far from the Atlantic coast), which was fortified during the Middle Ages and a prosperous place, as it was located on one of the major Paths to Compostela.
I say “on the periphery” as this hospital, meant to to receive pilgrims both ill and in good health but in need of a safe place to stay for a night or two, was indeed built outside the town walls to lessen the risk of contagion... It was completed in 1160 and this was its main entrance, directly on the street. The rib vaulting you see rising above is, of course, Gothic.
Nikon Z7, Nikkor 19mm, ƒ/4 PC-E tilt-sshift lens, manual focus, FTZ adapter. Gitzo tripod, Benro geared head.
It is widely believed that Romanesque architecture is only to be found in churches, but that is not true. It is an architectural style that will also be found on “civilian” buildings like castles, even though the examples are few and far between as castles were first and foremost about defensive functionality and solidity, and not about slender arches or soaring vaults or decorative sculpture.
Other than castles, not many things in the Middle Ages were built sturdily enough that they would have reached us. Among those other buildings is a “hospital” (for want of a better word) that was built on the periphery of the small town of Pons in the French province of Saintonge (that’s in the western part of the country, not too far from the Atlantic coast), which was fortified during the Middle Ages and a prosperous place, as it was located on one of the major Paths to Compostela.
I say “on the periphery” as this hospital, meant to to receive pilgrims both ill and in good health but in need of a safe place to stay for a night or two, was indeed built outside the town walls to lessen the risk of contagion... It was completed in 1160 and this was its main entrance, directly on the street. The rib vaulting you see rising above is, of course, Gothic.
Nikon Z7, Nikkor 19mm, ƒ/4 PC-E tilt-sshift lens, manual focus, FTZ adapter. Gitzo tripod, Benro geared head.
Blue439
New member
The Light of Romanesque (2021)
There is nothing quite like the light that moves around in Romanesque churches... Saint Peter’s in the village of Aulnay, old province of Saintonge, western France.
Nikon Z7, Micro-Nikkor Z MC 105mm, ƒ/2.8 S macro lens. Gitzo tripod, Benro geared head.
There is nothing quite like the light that moves around in Romanesque churches... Saint Peter’s in the village of Aulnay, old province of Saintonge, western France.
Nikon Z7, Micro-Nikkor Z MC 105mm, ƒ/2.8 S macro lens. Gitzo tripod, Benro geared head.
Blue439
New member
A crooked bell tower (2022)
The western façade of the Benedictine abbey church of Beaulieu-sur-Dordogne, southwestern France. Yes, the bell tower is quite crooked... The tripod head was of course perfectly level for this photograph.
Nikon Z7 II, Nikkor 19mm, ƒ/4 PC-E tilt-shift lens, manual focus, FTZ II adapter. Gitzo tripod, Benro geared head.
The western façade of the Benedictine abbey church of Beaulieu-sur-Dordogne, southwestern France. Yes, the bell tower is quite crooked... The tripod head was of course perfectly level for this photograph.
Nikon Z7 II, Nikkor 19mm, ƒ/4 PC-E tilt-shift lens, manual focus, FTZ II adapter. Gitzo tripod, Benro geared head.
Blue439
New member
Saintonge: a profusion of Romanesque ! (2021)
The old province of Saintonge, in the western part of France, is replete with gorgeous Romanesque churches. So, one day in the Fall of 2021, I plunked myself down in a rented house for two weeks, squat in the center of the area, and I started shooting... morning, noon, afternoon and evening, with the shortest possible pauses for sleep and feeding. I wouldn’t call that “eating”; I was alone, so no time to go to restaurants, frozen foods in the microwave and fast food had to suffice. I returned home with a stomach ache, thousands of photographs and the feeling of having barely scratched the surface...
Dedicated to Notre-Dame the Virgin Mary, the parochial church in the village of Échillais was listed on the very first list of Historic Landmarks in 1840 —that’s a good indication of how famous and valuable it is, historically. Its almost square façade categorizes it as one of those very rare churches in the shape of a triumphal arch. Built during the late 1000s and early 1100s, it features a crowd of amusing characters, artisans, jesters, acrobats, viola players and villagers, as well as a slew of monsters and beasts, including some very original ones... The outbuilding you see to the right is a sacristy added in the 15th century.
Nikon Z7, Nikkor 19mm, ƒ/4 PC-E tilt-shift lens, manual focus, FTZ adapter. Gitzo tripod, Benro geared head.
The old province of Saintonge, in the western part of France, is replete with gorgeous Romanesque churches. So, one day in the Fall of 2021, I plunked myself down in a rented house for two weeks, squat in the center of the area, and I started shooting... morning, noon, afternoon and evening, with the shortest possible pauses for sleep and feeding. I wouldn’t call that “eating”; I was alone, so no time to go to restaurants, frozen foods in the microwave and fast food had to suffice. I returned home with a stomach ache, thousands of photographs and the feeling of having barely scratched the surface...
Dedicated to Notre-Dame the Virgin Mary, the parochial church in the village of Échillais was listed on the very first list of Historic Landmarks in 1840 —that’s a good indication of how famous and valuable it is, historically. Its almost square façade categorizes it as one of those very rare churches in the shape of a triumphal arch. Built during the late 1000s and early 1100s, it features a crowd of amusing characters, artisans, jesters, acrobats, viola players and villagers, as well as a slew of monsters and beasts, including some very original ones... The outbuilding you see to the right is a sacristy added in the 15th century.
Nikon Z7, Nikkor 19mm, ƒ/4 PC-E tilt-shift lens, manual focus, FTZ adapter. Gitzo tripod, Benro geared head.
Melbourne_James
New member
Interesting pic!
Blue439
New member
Thanks a lot !
Mediæval bestiary (2021)
Imaginary monsters mix with real ones on this high-relief sculpted capital on the façade of the Saint-Nazaire church in the village of Corme-Royal, old province of Saintonge (western France).
Nikon Z7, Micro-Nikkor 85mm, ƒ/2.8 D PC tilt-shift macro lens, manual focu, FTZ adapter. Gitzo tripod, Benro geared head. Natural light.
