Sepia edit of a spray of pale flowers
Flowers,  Monochrome Madness,  Photographic techniques,  Themed galleries

Gallery: seeing flowers in black and white

Henri Matisse

But how do we see them? In all their glorious colours, of course. However photography allows us to see them differently, as it does most things.

I’ve had several exchanges of comments with blogger friends about the merits or otherwise of editing flower shots in monochrome. Some, like me, find the textures and shapes attractive, while others bemoan the loss of colour.

This is also a fun subject to play around with, experimenting with contrast, focus etc. I tend to veer between a very delicate soft effect, as in my feature photo, and the more extreme ‘light on dark’ contrasts of many of the images below. Which do you prefer (if any)? Or would you rather I left well alone and stuck to colour?!

Sharing for Leanne’s Monochrome Madness

Delicate monochrome flowers and twigs

Bougainvillea in the grounds of the Royal Palace, Luang Prabang, Laos


Pale flower with dark centre

In Bandipur, Nepal


Pale waterlily with reflection

Waterlily at the Temple of Literature, Hanoi, Vietnam


Single flower on rocky ground

Fallen frangipani flower, Wat Phou, Laos


Flower with long stamen

Hibiscus, Cayena Beach Villas, Colombia


Single white flower against a mainly black background

Magnolia Stellata in a neighbour’s garden, Ealing


Dramatic double flower with frilled petals

Hibiscus, Villa de Leyva, Colombia


Spray of white flowers against a black background

Apple blossom, Lammas Enclosure, Ealing


White tulip with dark stripes

Tulip in Holland Park, London


White flower and bud against a dark background

Backlit magnolia flower against a dark background

Spray of white flowers against a black background

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