“I don’t want to call myself a professional wildlife photographer, because the term has expired. I don’t want to call myself a publisher, because I am a professional wildlife photographer. I don’t want to be only a photo trainer, or an app developer or a writer. I want to call myself an artist, but what qualifies one to become one? I don’t believe I am an artist yet, but one day perhaps I would be able to create something that I am proud enough of. In the meantime I just want to enjoy what I do” – Heinrich van den Berg
I don’t want Heinrich van den Berg’s quote to advocate that I am a professional photographer. I am not a professional in any shape or form, and I definitely don’t make apps either, I struggle to download them! It’s simply a quote from my favourite wildlife photographer that appeals to me. For me, the quote can be summed up as a ‘journey’. My personal journey relates to the experience and accumulation of pictures I have taken during my two years as an aspiring photographer. Photographs capture more than words, they recall the senses and emotions and bring back the flood of energy and excitement in that exact moment of time. I have this same feeling during the post-processing stage where I get to experiment with editing techniques. A photograph holds tremendous power, which is determined by the beholder, and it is this perspective of the viewer that holds the power.
My photographic journey was evident once scrolling through over 7000 photographs. I could see over time how my perspective has changed and in some ways how it has been rediscovered. One thing that is constant is my love of monochrome. Black and white not only uses texture and tone to tell a story but it has the power of changing the story which invites the viewer to experience the photos instead of just seeing it. For me, colour can be distracting, while black and white tonal contrasts allows you to focus on light, shadows and shapes which make it easier to focus on the subject. It infuses character and depth of field, which lures the viewer to the expression of the photo rather than just seeing the subject. Each image will be interpreted differently by its audience.
Below is a collection of images converted to black and white that I have had fun experimenting with – have a look and decide what each one means to you and whether you enjoy this style – each one offers something different from the use of white space to images that use grey to those that I have purposely made darker for effect. Scroll on to see part 1 of my photographic journal…
White Space
Tonal contrast of a buffalo bull, here I used the brush tool to overexpose and create space. ( Canon 600D + 55-250mm, 1/250 sec at 4.5f; ISO 200)
The Gowrie Male has a vantage point from a Marula Tree. Low light conditions work well in monochrome. (Nikon D4 + 300mm f2.8 lens; 1\640 at f5.6; ISO 1250)
A Yellow Billed Hornbill perched on a buffalo thorn. Depth of field highlights the subject. (Canon 600D + 55-250mm lens; 1/640 at f5.6, ISO 400)
Post processing can be a time consuming process, with a lot of trial and error. It look me a couple of times to get this image of the Styx Male to a point where I was pleased. (Nikon D4 + 300mm f2.8 lens; 1\640 at f5.6; ISO 500)
The Mashaba Female and a Marula tree. (Nikon D4 + 300mm f2.8 lens; 1\800 at f5; ISO 640)
A vulture scans its surrounds. (Nikon D4 + 300mm f2.8 lens; 1\2500 at f5.6; ISO 500)
High key elephant bull. (Canon 600D + 55-250mm, 1/250 sec at 4.5f; ISO 200)
One of the most incredible sightings I have had of a leopard in a tree. The Young Mashaba Female in her jungle gym. (Canon 600D + 55-250mm, 1/250 sec at 4.5f; ISO 200)
A pair of African Hawk-Eagles. (Canon 600D + 55-250mm, 1/1600 sec at 5.6f; ISO 100)
The sand helps make a soft image of the Styx Male. (Nikon D4 + 300mm f2.8 lens; 1\640 at f5.6; ISO 500)
Shades of Grey
I found a fixed 300mm lens tough to use in a environment where we get fairly close to animals. I played around with composition with the Styx Break away Pride. (Nikon D4 + 300mm f2.8 lens; 1\500 at f5.6; ISO 500)
I felt this view added some sort of juxtapositioning to the male cheetah on a prominent fallen down Marula tree. (Canon 600D + 55-250mm, 1/250 sec at 4.5f; ISO 200)
Textures
Natural black and white of a zebra skin. (7D + 70-200mm f2.8 lens; 1/800 at f4; ISO 250)
Elephants bring out beautiful texture. (Nikon D4 + 300mm f2.8 lens; 1/640 at f5; ISO320)
Shapes, lines and texture are brought out by the tonal contrast.(Canon 600D + 55-250mm, 1/250 sec at 4.5f; ISO 200)
Black Space
The Piva Male emerges from the dark. A long post process, using an under exposed brush tool. (Canon 600D + 70-200mm f4.0 lens; 1/640 at f5.0; ISO 200)
Highlighted and textured ivory. (Canon 7D + 70-200mm f2.8 lens; 1\500 at f5; ISO 640)
Hippo Yawn. (Canon 600D + 55-250mm, 1/500 sec at 5.6f; ISO 200)
Young male rhinos gently nudging one another. (Canon 600D + 70-200mm f4.0 lens; 1/250 at f4.0; ISO 1600)
I find photographing rhino extremely difficult. I tried underexposing in camera when there was harsh light on the rhino’s face. (Canon 600D + 55-250mm, 1/250 sec at 4.5f; ISO 200)
Experimenting with side lighting. (Canon 600D + 70-200mm f4.0 lens; 1/125 at f4.0; ISO 1600)
The Tutlwa Female on a granite bolder. There was a distracting background, I decided to try the brush tool and underexpose. I found this highlighted her unusual body posture. (Canon 600D + 55-250mm, 1/320 sec at 5f; ISO 400)
A Portrait of a male Majingilane. (Canon 600D + 55-250mm, 1/600 sec at 4.5f; ISO 200)
One small step for the Piva Male… Maybe too much? There are shapes and lines in this image that I find difficult to capture in wildlife photography. (Canon 600D + 70-200mm f4.0 lens; 1/320 at f4.0; ISO 200)
Half a portrait of the Mashaba female. (Nikon D4 + 300mm f2.8 lens; 1\640 at f5.6; ISO 500)
Highlights
The Tutlwa female stalking in short grass. (Nikon D4 + 300mm f2.8 lens; 1\800 at f3.5; ISO 1250)
Black and white of a male cheetah in dappled light. (Nikon D4 + 300mm f2.8 lens; 1\640 at f5.6; ISO 500)
Monochrome of one of the Sparta young males in morning light. (Nikon D4 + 300mm f2.8 lens; 1\640 at f5.6; ISO 500)
Nanga the protector and the instinctively curious one. (Canon 600D + 70-200mm f4.0 lens; 1/320 at f4.0; ISO 200)
My first sighting of one of the Fourways coalition peeping over red grass and interested in a herd of buffalo. (Canon 600D + 70-200mm f4.0 lens; 1/320 at f5.6; ISO 1000)
Guinea fowl feathers are well highlighted in black and white. (Canon 600D + 70-200mm f4.0 lens; 1/600 at f4.0; ISO 400)
On the on the complete opposite end of the subjective scale, are my photos too far from reality? What would they look like in colour? Is black and white dated or timeless? Let me know what your thoughts in the comments below, I’d love to know.
Written and Photographed by: Don Heyneke
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I think photographers (artists) like Ansel Adams have made b/w timeless. I also think it takes a special eye to see what shots look best in b/w and that you have that talent. I think my favorite of the ones you shared is the Sparta young males in morning light. You can really study his face and his brothers head seems like a mirror image.
Hi Leslie, thank you for your insightful response. I like how you took note of the mirror image. I completely agree with you, Ansel Adams has timeless black and white landscape photography. It is almost if he paints with light.
Monochrome really enhances the photo sometimes. Textures can really stand out in black and white. I would be really curious to see the same photos in color. Big cats, zebras, elephants, rhinos make great subjects. There are so many beautiful monochromes in this series. I really like Tutlwa on the granite boulder with the black background. She looks very fierce.
Brain, I like how you have taken note of how textures can be enhanced. There are a couple of the above images I really liked in colour, notedly the Nanga and the curious one and the half portrait of the Mashaba female. Any images in particular you would like to see in colour?
Love what you’ve created with your black and white photo’s.
Stunning and evocative … brings me to the stillness inside myself as i view them – really lovely – thank you.
Thank you Linda, glad it brought out a positive emotion for you.
These are very, very good!! No…they are not too far from reality at all. Gives a different perspective on reality; the details we either can’t see or miss. Some of these would be good in color. But, I love the B&W…B&Ws are timeless!! They will never go out of style! You’ve got some amazing photos here!!!
Kim, I really like your take on the photos. The idea is to give the viewer the opportunity to interpret the subject/story of an images in his or hers perspective. However I do believe it is important that they don’t loose a feel of reality.
Awesome stuff Don!! Love that Piva pic! Insane! Keep up the good work!
I am in awe at the power these monochrome images hold that offer a strength , intensity and depth of its subjects that color can not match. It forces one to stare and not glance into the eyes of majingilane male knowing full well the fierceness of this predator while there seems to be a curiosity in his piercing eyes. The moodiness of the Styx male is my favorite although it was no easy choice.
Thank you for sharing these moments in time with such precision and thought.
Bernice you have taken a insightful approach to the images you mention. I have the same feeling with the mood is the photo of the styx male.
Stunning – to portray the animals in mono!
Thank you Eleta!
Great Post Don and a fascinating array of images. There are many that I like, however I feel the Zebra texture is so beautifully done so that one is my favourite. I also love the use of white space in many of your images. What are some of your thoughts and inspirations for photography that you are wanting to experiment with moving forward in 2015?
Thanks Rich, and thanks for the help. I am thinking of going on the opposite end of the scale and focusing on marco photography with intense colours. What are your thoughts? Anything else trending in the photographic scene for 2015?
Stunning, stunning, stunning! Thanks for sharing.
Wow! I’ve just started experimenting with b&w, turning some of my shots from my recent stay at Londolozi into monochrome – and you’ve inspired me, Don! I’ve always wondered if there a right way and a wrong way to do b&w, I think you convincing show that there’s not; that it’s all about personal preferences -and emotions! Thanks, Don!