Yesterday I was lucky enough to spend a bit of time out near a big expanse of water, in Silverdale, WA. Doesn’t being by the water both energize and soothe you? A very powerful and wonderful feeling. I’ve read that a huge portion of the world’s population lives within 50 miles of an ocean coast. I can understand that.

I particularly like this photo because it appears to be black and white (monochrome) but has no adjustment from RGB, is just straight from the camera on a gray late winter’s day. I’m calling it my my Best Post of the Week.

You might check out Outdoor Wednesday, Watery Wednesday, Scenic Sunday, A Piece of Heaven, Weekend Reflections,  Shadow Shot Sunday 2, SOOC Sunday (straight out of the camera) and Skywatch Friday. Lots of photo talent out there! But do browse around here first, perhaps clicking on a new tag or category, or trying a search. Cloudscape, perhaps?

This image is from a visit last year to Ft. Worden in Port Townsend, WA. There’s a tour of what used to be an officer’s quarters turned into a museum, and a closet had these lovely old white clothes hanging in it. I loved the peaceful quality of the light shining on them. No color needed!

Visit Shadow Shot Sunday and Unique Exposures Weekend Challenge (White) for more photo fun, and be sure to browse around Sara’s Fave Photos for something new to you first.

You’ve got to love shades of gray to live in Seattle. This is a little waterfront town, Redondo, right on Puget Sound, the other day when the sky almost looked like snow. It wasn’t all that cold, but it sure felt like winter was around the corner. Coming back to this after a few days, I really like the simplicity of the forms. I’m calling it my Best Post of the Week.

Visit Outdoor Wednesday, Scenic Sunday, Skywatch Friday, Watery Wednesday, Weekend Reflections and Wordless Wednesday for more fun with photos. Please click on the banner above, Sara’s Fave Photos, to see the latest photos here. Thanks!

I’m not sure what to call this hallway I saw in the airport the other day. It certainly looks like waves to me. Since it was practically monotone anyway, I thought I’d go all the way to black and white. Can you see the height of the high heels the woman is wearing? I hesitate to tweak the lighting too much to show them well, as I’m afraid of ruining the mood. What do you think?

Visit Hey Harriet for neat shadows and Weekend Reflections for more reflection photos. A new meme, Sunday Creative, asks for posts with the theme of “Lonely.” I think this qualifies.

If you see only one photo below, please click on Sara’s Fave Photos for a page with a surprise at the bottom.

Years ago I used to shoot TriX film. I learned to develop my own film, make contact sheets, and print enlargements in the darkroom with a red light. Shooting black-and-white film was a great exercise in learning to “see.” I chose better subjects and composed the frame better when I wasn’t distracted by the color.

Now any photo can become black and white, but which ones are actually improved by removing the color? I’ve sifted through the archives a bit and chosen three that seem interesting. But I really want your opinion. Would these be better in the regular, real and colorful way, or does this create a mood that is worth doing?

Visit Thursday Challenge (“Black and White”) for more visions of that theme.

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It’s actually not that easy to take a photo of just green things and have it look good, no matter how wonderful the real place was. I’ve tried many times, believe me. Here’s one I like for you to contemplate, also taken at the Portland Japanese Garden.

It might even look good in black and white or sepia. All right, which do you like better? I think I like the green one best.

This is from December; we had so much unaccustomed snow here in Seattle. This is a view in my backyard of the neighbor’s barn. Even though the photo is almost black and white, there’s some color, too.

For more watery photos, click HERE.