You may have noticed some of my photos from Iceland are in black and white. There is a valid reason for this.
When I went in 2009, a friend of mine challenged me to shoot exclusively in B&W. This was a good thing – it took me out of my comfort zone, and forced me to look at photography in a new way. A lot of black and white images are created when the colour image is considered not ‘good enough’ and converting it is seen as a way to improve it. However when you think about black and white before firing the shutter, it does change your approach to photography.
Iceland is full of contrasts – white snow on black volcanic rock; smooth glassy water and rough landscapes, the old ‘fire and ice’ label is much trotted out but is also apt when you consider the geothermal heat just below the surface in places. Shooting in black and white serves to enhance these contrasts and introduces one of its own (black vs white).
Here is a selection of some of my favourite monochrome images from that trip. You can see more (and buy prints) at nickminers.com/svart_hvit, and if any of you are in the area, you can see some of them on display at the Harris + Hoole café in Rickmansworth High Street.
Click on the images to view full size.
Church at Prestbakki
Shelter in Steingrimsfjarðarheiði
Skull at Ísafjörður fjord
Drying fish at Önundarfjörður
Wave breaking at Öndverðarnes
Puffin on the cliffs at Látrabjarg
A lighthouse at sunset, Patreksfjörður
The stroke of midnight, Patreksfjörður
Stunning photographs. Can’t decide if my favorite is the lighthouse at sunset, Patreksfjörður or the church at Prestbakki. You are very talented and I so appreciate your filling in for Frances. I’ll be following you at your website.
Thank you Kim! The pressure is on to keep by blog updated now! 🙂
I reserve a special place in my heart for black and white…. and your photos offer intriguing glimpses into the essences of Iceland. I think my favorite here is Shelter in Steingrimsfjarðarheiði which carries such an ancient theme of human determination and survival. Thanks for sharing…. with someone living in the Tropics.
That’s my favourite too, Melissa. I found that discovering signs of civilisation in the most remote places only served to emphasise the remoteness. Thanks for your comments!
I thought the drying fish were bats…
Awkward…
I’m sure the fish didn’t mind