Black and White Landscape Photography Online –Prints at Imagekind
Black and white landscape photography provides the art world with beautiful pieces
showcasing the wonders of the natural world. Photographers, since the invention
of the camera, have been intrigued with capturing the stunning essence of the environment
that provides for and sustains human life as we know it. Majestic mountains and
cascading waterfalls to massive canyons with awe inspiring rock formations, nothing
found in nature is to small or insignificant to be expressed within the frame of
a camera.
Ansel Adams is one of the names that most people think of when referring to amazing
black and white landscape photography. From the early 1900's until his death in
later years, Adams was in the forefront of environmental awareness, photography,
art and development of new techniques. His portfolios of the way nature looks without
massive human interaction were key in supporting legislation to protect and preserve
the world around us. Some of his most well known photographs were taken in Yosemite
National Park and are incredibly true to the natural beauty that surrounded him.
Adams was a master at capturing movement, shadow and texture within his photos,
as is apparent in his piece entitled “El Capitan”. Visualization is a technique,
co-created by Adams, used within
black and white photography to measure the light values within a shot before
taking it so that the end product is better than it might have been otherwise. The
use of this technique is obvious within Adams own art, as well as within photographs
taken by countless others after him.
Another talented artist within the world of black and white landscape photography
was inspired by Ansel Adams and gave the art community many of his own important
contributions. Clyde Butcher, while still being influential to this day, created
many impressive pieces involving nature from the mid 1900's onward. After he began
shooting in the swamps of Florida, Butcher left the world of color photography for
that of black and white. “Billies Bay” is just one of many brilliant photos that
show off Butcher’s skill with the play of light through different elements, whether
it be water or the branches and leaves of different plants.