I love color. Lots of color. The more color, the better, and that can often be reflected in my photography.
In my opinion, there’s no such thing as too much color, but every now and then, I find myself drawn to Black & White photography.
Perhaps I was in a monochromatic mood while editing these photos. Due to the weather, I had been housebound way too long and way too much over the previous few months, and in case you didn’t know, I am the furthest thing from a ‘homebody’… don’t fence me in!
Monochrome can refer to a mood that lacks variety, creativity, or excitement. It can also refer to a color scheme that can create a specific atmosphere or emotional impact.
Lacking variety and excitement might describe my life the past couple of months, but change is in the air and so is our Arizona desert weather. Yep, it has been a hot one! Too hot for any outdoor activities.
While editing these images, it was fun traveling down memory lane. Looking back at all the places RV life took us always warms my heart.
With cooler temps upon us and a smile on my face, it’s time to charge up the camera batteries and strap on the hiking shoes. No more monochromatic mood for this gal!
This week, the Sunday Stills photo challenge prompt is “Black & White”. I chose to focus on monochrome photos for this challenge. The look and feel of a photograph can be so vastly different when an image is processed from Color to Black & White. I find the contrast fascinating. AND another photo prompt this week is “Looking Back”. I always enjoy the memories that are prompted from looking at my images from all my travels during years past.
Live Laugh RV 
100 responses to “A Monochromatic Mood”
Stunning!
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Thank you! 🍂
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some of the photos almost feal surreal
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Thank you. I’m glad you enjoyed the photos.
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Nice photos
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Thank you!
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Beautiful photos🌺🌺
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Thank you! 🍂
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Hi Ingrid. I really enjoyed this post because black and white photography has a special place in my heart when the right conditions are met. I just haven’t figured them all out yet 🙂 on my recent road trip I found what I consider to be more opportunities once in the Southwest where bleakness can be exchanged for isolation of shapes, something that black and white exceeds at in my opinion. It also worked for me where there was more color however the color locked contrast and punch but black and white made it more impactful.
You’re leading photo, the cow, the swings by the pier, the church in the Tetons I think, and the reflection really have impact as a result.
I’m glad you’ve taken so well to photography for something to keep your interest.
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Thank you TBG. I appreciate the thoughtful comment. Unfortunately, the camera has been sitting on the shelf the better part of the summer, but I hope to rectify that soon. I intend to play around with ICM photography. It’s challenging to find a variety of compositions since we aren’t traveling and my scenery stays much of the same. So ICM should change it up a bit.
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We like your B&W shots, especially the reflection and your third picture.
Thanks for showing
The Fab Four of Cley
🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂
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Thank you. I’m so glad you enjoyed them.
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Be steely focused – the shot shoots.
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You have posted some lovely travel shots in B&W! Bravo!
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Thank you. So glad you enjoyed them.
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Beyond the world!
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Wow. I love reflections, header and last are superb. 👏
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Thank you, John. I’m a huge fan of reflective photography and did my best to search out those opportunities during our years of travel.
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✧❖◈❋✤♡ 𝒃 𝒆 𝒂 𝒖 𝒕 𝒊 𝒇 𝒖 𝒍 ♡✤❋◈❖✧
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Thank you! 😊🍂😊
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🙏🙇♂️🌟✨💫
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I love colour too, but must say I also love the stillness in your black and white photos. Gorgeous!
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Just now going through Terris’ comments to find peoples posts from last week. I LOVE these so much. WOW. They evoke so much emotion! They are powerful.
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Thank you so much, Kirstin. I struggled finding images that I liked once I turned them into monochrome. Always nice to hear from you. 😊
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Amazing pictures, I really do love them….
I must disagree with the quote though that says monochrome represents a lack of creativity. I believe monochrome brings out the creative in you more, forcing you to bring the best with the limited options you have.
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Thank you and thanks for sharing your insightful view point. You do make a good case regarding bringing out creativity. I found it more challenging to find images that transferred well into monochrome. 🙂
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The photographs address simply amazing. B&W has a charm of its own
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Thank you 🙂
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I meant, the photographs are simply amazing. 😁
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Thank you 🙂🍁🍂
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You have new follower 😃🩵
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I love looking back at our travel photos, too, and reminiscing about all of our RV’ing adventures. I enjoyed your choices of B & W images—they all work well because your compositions are so strong. From the Gulf Coast to the Southwest, you have a wonderful collection, Ingrid!
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Thank you Laurel. I’m so happy we RV’d when we did and have so many great memories and photographs. I hope things in your neighborhood have returned to as normal as possible after the hurricane. I know there are still plenty of areas that will take quite some time to recover 🙏 Here’s to continued travels!
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Nice post 🌺🌺
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Beauty, without apparent colors
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Thank you … 😊
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We love black and white photography because it’s more abstract and artistic. It emphasizes the graphics of the object and clearly shows that it’s an artefact. Another issue is that the internet is full of colour pictures, so it’s difficult to present unique or not similar pictures.
We like your B&W pictures
The Fab Four of Cley
🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂
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Thank you for your insight. I didn’t think about those factors which after consideration, I do agree with. I appreciate the thought provoking comment 🙂🌵🙂
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Hmm my comment did not get posted 😔
Anyhow, all conversions do change our perspective.
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FYI – Some comments need approval before they’ll post. There doesn’t appear to be consistency.😵💫
Yes, any editing as well as conversions to an image can change the overall perspective. 😊
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it sure does change the perspective when color is removed. Is that pic with swing in Florida?Love the reflection photo too !
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Yes, B&W photography does indeed change the perspective. The images containing water were taken along the Texas Gulf Coast … a favorite place that I miss visiting.
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Lovely photos Ingrid!
Dramatic!
The Arizona landscape is waiting for you!
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Thank you, Nancy. I need to grab the camera and go in search of those fall colors. Lucky you that they’re out your front door. 🍂
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I can appreciate the composition and stark beauty of your pics, Ingrid, but I’ve never been a fan of black and white photography. Although I’m in awe of his artistic abilities, I won’t grow up to be another Ansel Adams, that’s for sure. That being said, I really like your photo of the swings!
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Thank you, Mary. I’m with you. Although I appreciate Ansel Adams talent and beautiful images, I’m still partial to colorful creations.
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Great Images, seeing such great images in black and white.
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Thank you! 😊
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Beautiful photo and wonderful framing!
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Thank you, Holly. I appreciate the comment.
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Terrific B & W photos, Ingrid!
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Thank you, Mitzy. It was fun going down memory lane with these images.
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We’re going the opposite direction, too cold and I really just want to be cozy, at home. Monochrome has its time and place and yours are stunning. I hope you get all your colours soon.
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Yes, most northerners are getting ready for those cold winter temps. Here in the desert southwest 🌵 we love our mild winter weather. I am hoping for some color changes in the coming weeks 🤞
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I love color too, but monochromatic has its place. The pictures are amazing! Happy hiking!
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I love B&W well done and these are great examples. Wonderful Ingrid!
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Thank you, Tina. I’m always challenged with B&W photography.
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Thank you, Pam. Hope things are returning to normal and recovering in your neck of the woods.
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Thanks Ingrid! All good here – just still raking! Loving the cooler weather!
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Glad to hear!
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Beautiful monochrome images – I especially love the one with old barn. But I’m glad to hear you’re going to be able to get out about more soon, with the cooler weather. The opposite is true here of course, we tend to stay home more in the winter!
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Thank you, Sarah. Yes, most places folks are housebound during the winter while here in the desert southwest, we are housebound during the summer due to extreme heat. Our weather is finally just the way I like it. 😊
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Hello Ingrid, I have been following you for a couple years now and thoroughly enjoyed the pictures. The attached photo is one a friend sent to me that she took overlooking the bluff on Lake Michigan , behind her house near St. Joseph, Michigan. I was born and raised in Benton Harbor, Michigan but had to move to South Carolina in 1962 at the age of 18. Since then, I have lived in the South but always considered Michigan my home State. My parents took me to vacation in the Upper Peninsula from 1956-1960. We took the Ferry to cross over from the lower to the upper peninsula until 1957 when Big Mac was built. You posted some great pictures during your RV trip to Michigan. Oddly, I never visited the Grand Hotel. I retired in 2005 and, in 2006, I went back to the UP to vacation at Crystal Waters Resort in Crystal Falls, where I had vacationed with my parents. I have been going back there every year since but this year was my last because of health issues. I have always wished to own an RV and travel around the US but I guess I will now just travel vicariously through your pictures and stories. Please keep them coming. Respectfully, John E Lamb, Sr.
PS See Monochrome photo attached to following email.
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Hi John, thank you for taking the time to share your Midwest memories. I love MI and WI and if it weren’t for the difficult winters, we may have settled there, but alas, our children ended up in AZ and we’re all about family. AZ is a great state to call home and we’ve definitely put roots down here, but a part of my heart will always remain in the Midwest. I’m truly missing those stunning fall colors right now. Unfortunately, I can relate to those health issues and the inability to travel like we once did. I’m grateful we enjoyed our RV life when we did. Sending well wishes your way! 😊
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Ingrid,
Here is a Monochrome picture from my Library that is especially significant. My Family 1950
I am one of the twins.
Could not figure out how to attach from my cell phone. Please reply to let me know how I can attach it directly to your personal email.
John
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I don’t believe you can attach a photo here in the comments, but you can directly email the image.
livelaughrv@hotmail.com
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These monochrome images are stunning and convey a suitably eerie mood! 😍 The first one, especially. And I’m a fellow colour enthusiast.
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Thank you, Debbie. Yes, I’ll always be partial to color photography, but I occasionally like the mood B&W produce.
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Beautiful photos, Ingrid. And yes I spotted your RV. I love monochrome as it’s sooo soothing to the eyes.
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Thank you, Sheila. That was such a great spot to camp in our RV. I almost didn’t want to move on.
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Wow!!! Ingrid, these are stunning photos.
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Awww, thank you Egidio. I had a tough time picking which images might transfer well into B&W. I’ll always be partial to color.
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Beautiful B&Ws Ingrid.
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Thank you, Anne.
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We start our journey south to be in Fountain Hills in time for Christmas eve. We will definitely get together for a hike or something! We’ll likely stay to the end of January again.
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That’ll be great. I look forward to a hike and/or photo outing.
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Your images are brilliant, Ingrid! You captured the subject of each photo and the monochrome makes the subject pop! I still have a long way to go to get to where I can create good B&W images. Love the cow and tree shot; the opening shot of the dock is amazing! I’m glad you are heading out soon for more photo ops, my friend!
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Thanks Terri. I went for a walk at the park this morning … first time since May. It was wonderful. Now I’m beginning to mull around some photo outings. B&W photos aren’t my usual go to, but every now and then they fit the mood. Hope to see you in my neck of the woods this winter.
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I remember when all photos looked like these.
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Ingrid, These are fantastic images. I love the way they look in black and white. You saw many amazing places during your RV days.
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Some photos do transfer from color to monochrome beautifully. Hopefully, I picked some good ones. You and I are lucky to have experienced RV travels when we did and we have some great memories.
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These are awesome shots, Ingrid. Who would have guessed they’d look so great in black and white, as I’m sure they’re stunning in color. My favorite is the foggy one with the tree and the bull. It looks very serene.
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Thank you, Liesbet. What’s funny about that cow photograph is that there isn’t much difference between the original color image and this B&W version. It was so foggy that morning that there really wasn’t any color to see. It was a eerie and serene environment.
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I believe it!
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I feel like taken a shot with you😘
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Beautiful pictures!!!
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Thank you!
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I used to take black and white photos back in the film days. I had a college photojournalism class that I loved and we processed our film and used the dark room for prints.
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I had a close friend who did as well. I wish I had joined her, but back then, my interests were in another areas. Do you still enjoy taking B&W photos?
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I haven’t taken any since then. You’ve given me something new to try.
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Glad I could provide a sliver of inspiration. Now that our weather is more agreeable, I’ll be back at our lovely regional parks with the camera on a regularly basis.
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👍🏼
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I wish to take one with you there🥰
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Beautiful B&W photos. I especially like the cow in the mist.
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Thanks … I too like that image and it brings back memories of a very fun and unique morning.
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Beautiful photos as always, Ingrid! BW can radically alter most photos, and has rescued a few of my bad photos. Strap those shoes on and go! 😎😂
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I was at the park first thing this morning and loving ever minute. It felt great walking outdoors instead of indoors on a treadmill. Finally, a reprieve from the heat. I’m sure you’ll be out on your bike regularly now.
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That’s great, Ingrid! I have been on several rides recently. Next week will bring the 80s which means lots of riding, it’s my happy place!
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That’s what I thought. With the nicer weather upon us, you and I will both return to our happy places.😊
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You betcha, Ingrid. enjoy! ☺️❤️
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