Flowers in Monochrome

When I transitioned from colour photography to black-and-white, I felt a sense of loss for two of my favourite genres: autumn foliage and gardens.

Obsession

Every year, in early October, I would embark on a pilgrimage, camera gear in hand, to the regions north of Toronto, known worldwide for their stunning autumn colours. Some areas of Algonquin Park, filled with sugar maple trees, were beyond description. I also worked on several projects capturing the magic of special gardens where colour played a significant role.

Lost work

As I delved deeper into black-and-white photography, I left my colour work untouched in a folder for many years. I attempted to promote my colour and monochrome images, but it didn’t resonate. About a year ago, I rediscovered that folder filled with flowers and leaves and decided to try something I believed would not work. I removed all the colours and treated those images like my other black-and-white works. The results exceeded my expectations.

Dahlia

Light, contrast and shapes

Black-and-white photography is distinctive in that it conveys mood and tells a story solely through shapes, shades, and contrast. I had always thought this didn’t apply to the breathtaking colours of a maple tree in full orange/red or the vibrant hues of a well-planned garden. I was mistaken. Check out how the early morning sunlight catches the petals of the Dahlia in the photo to the left. Brilliant!

Super Powers

Once a flower's colour is stripped away, its shape emerges more vividly. When we look at a rose, we often focus on its brilliant colour, but have you ever noticed its nuances and the way it reflects light? Did you overlook the unique shading and forms of the stems and leaves? It turns out that flowers can be equally magnificent with or without colour.

Common Yarrow

Autumn

I experienced the same revelation with my autumn captures. While the colours are jaw-dropping, these scenes can be just as captivating in shades of gray. This approach encourages you to see the shapes and textures that might otherwise be lost amidst a colourful backdrop.

A field of clover

Beauty

I present these monochrome flowers not to deter you from appreciating the beauty of a lily or a daisy, but rather to challenge you to look beyond their vibrant distractions. This allows you to appreciate their shapes, contrasts, and subtle nuances that would otherwise go unnoticed.

~Kevin