Top 10 WeeklyFstops: Monochrome

The theme this week called for "monochrome" photos and the people delivered. There a number of eye-catching photos but the selections stood out from the crowd and lacked color in a good way. Be sure to check out the new bonus group selected from the Fstoppers community.

The best part to me about black and white photography is that you can't see it with your own eyes. You can predict what will work, but unless you're color blind it is simply a guess. Some cameras allow you to capture directly to black and white, but usually, I'm not willing to forgo the color option altogether.

There are many options for editing a photo from color to black and white. I remember using the Photoshop desaturate feature in the late 90's and that was basically all I used until I was shown the light of the recently revitalized Nik Collection Silver Efex. While I used it for a while for some quick edits and loved the results on the surface, I started to find the limited control and understanding of what I was doing was creating some bad noise and patches in some images I didn't even know to look out for. This eventually lead me to simply learn what I liked and edit them that way in Lightroom. Now I love black and white so much it gets 33% of my Instagram.

Enough about me, let's see the list!

Honorable Mentions

Clayton of Northrups

Great shutter drag, love the couch.

John Crisp

This shot was an eye grabber with the metallic shine and the great shadows.

Bryan Mitchell

I really, REALLY liked the effectiveness of this shot.

Top 10

#10

Rajeev Nedumaran

Thank you for the great example of monochrome without being black and white. It is a very dreamy and ethereal shot.

#9

Evan F Smith

This "foggy forest" shot has some great character to it.

#8

Rosalie Berger

Classic composition, nicely processed, and a great find.

#7

Copper Photo Co.

I for one, am a sucker for a flowing vail.

#6

Jacob Bentzinger

Shadows and peeling paint are a great start, but this shot nails the composition by including just enough and filling the frame. Welcome back Jacob, thanks for submitting again with another killer photo.

#5

Fuji Traveller

Fuji Traveller is also back on the list again with a magnificent shot featuring a stunning reflective railroad track and a mountainous background.

#4

Ryan Downie

I love everything about this shot. It could have easily been my number one.

#3

Natani

My son helps me pick these and he won't let a week go by without a dog photo included. In all seriousness this is just a wonderfully simple and well done shot. Love the detail.

#2

The Crooked Porch Photography

Our number one from a couple weeks ago is right back in good form with this stunning entry.

#1

Jordon McGhee

Pulling off such a complex shot and having it look clean and minimal like this is no small feat. The framing is unique and artistic. I also like the inclusion of the person providing great scale. Congratulations and thanks for joining in on the WeeklyFstop!

Bonus Round

Since "monochrome" is such a popular them I decided to take a look in the Fstoppers community by searching the #fstoppers hashtag. Check out these additional photos from our talented readers.

Vinh

Brittany Jordan

Sean Weekly Wildlife

Bennett Harris Photos

Henthorne

What is This Week's Theme?

For this week's prompt, let's go with:

"Music"

Think concert photos, people dancing, headphones, guitar strings. If that isn't your thing then tell me a song that goes with your photo and why. Music is part of what makes us human. One of my oldest iPods has the following inscription on the back:

Where words fail, music speaks. ~Hans Christian Andersen

I love music as much as photography. Let's see what we can come up with this week!

The hashtag to use is #weeklyFstop. If you are tagging an old shot that is fine, but please try and keep it to one shot picked for the theme per week.

Here are the previous week's results for anyone who may have missed:

1. Leading Lines
2. Bold
3. Color
4. Yours
5. Simplicity

There are a number of people playing every week now which is great! If some of you are so inclined, try and recruit some peers. The more people playing the better our lists will be!

Remember, there is no guarantee posting a photo will result in it being featured. If we get going and you fall short, keep shooting and try and learn from the photos that are selected. We can all learn to like our work a little less sometimes in order to grow. If anyone has any suggestions or ideas feel free to contribute in the comments.

Are you all aware of the ongoing Fstoppers Photographer of the Month contest leading up to the Fstoppers Community Photographer of the Year? Alex Cooke covers how to be selected at the bottom of the above post.

Speaking of the Fstoppers community, are you part of it? Did you know you can have your own portfolio here with chances to be featured on the homepage as Photo of the Day? If not be sure to check it out. If you already comment then you have an account. If not, use the sign-up button and upload some work! Besides uploading your own work and having a portfolio on Fstoppers, making an account allows you to follow your favorite writers and artists so you will be notified every time they publish new photos or articles.