Gallery: monochrome curves
Curves are so emotional
Piet Mondrian
The world is full of curves. A bend in the road; a gently drooping flower; the arch of a bridge; a spiral staircase. Animals curl up to sleep or to feel safer. Leaves gradually unfurl. The wind shapes a sand dune daily into new curves, and with time water does the same to hard rocks.
For the photographer curves are a blessing. They lead the viewer’s eye into and through the image. They can be as simple as an arch or take the form of an S, a spiral or a complete circle.
For Ann Christine’s Lens Artists Challenge on the topic I’ve trawled my archives to find examples from both the natural and the man-made world. And to emphasise the curves I’m presenting all my shots in black and white. A few were shot that way; the remainder were converted using Silver Efex Pro.
The natural world
Wahiba Sands, Oman, at sunset
The City of Rocks, New Mexico
Flamingo feeding at the Salar de Atacama, Chile
Swan on the Round Pond in Kensington Gardens, London
Emerald Tree Boa in Jersey Zoo
Elephant in Chobe National Park, Botswana
New fern emerging, Monteverde, Costa Rica
Climbing plant in the Quiet American Bar, Hoi An, Vietnam
Man-made curves
The Tulip Staircase in the Queen’s House, Greenwich, London
(the staircase in my featured photo is in the Cape May lighthouse, New Jersey)
Sage music venue and Tyne Bridge; the view from Gateshead, north east England
Gateshead Millennium Bridge, north east England
Above the entrance to the Galleria Umberto I in Naples, Italy
San Giacomo Maggiore in Bologna, Italy
In the Central Post Office, Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon), Vietnam
Two from New York City: the Chrysler Building and the Guggenheim Museum
Hand rail in Tallinn, Estonia
At an art exhibition in La Conner, Washington State
And to finish, some of the most sensuous curves of all, Rodin’s Kiss
In the museum devoted to his work in Paris
50 Comments
dilnatalking
Loved your post
Sarah Wilkie
Thank you, glad you liked it 🙂
Forestwood
My eye was really caught by that tulip staircase! Fantastic. Although it must be a little tiring to walk it if you had to do each day!
Sarah Wilkie
Thanks Amanda, that staircase is certainly a stunner!
Pingback:
Wind Kisses
Wow. A wonderful collection as always, and to have them in black and white brought even more emotion to the photos. The lines and curves more pronounced. You have traveled so many wonderful places. And the photo of the shell sign from La Conner brought a smile to my face. How on earth was that tiny town on your adenda? Donna
Sarah Wilkie
Thanks so much Donna, glad you liked the B&W presentation 🙂 La Conner was a convenient stopping off point on our route back from Friday Harbor to Seattle at the end of our WA road trip. We drove via Deception Pass, where we did a brilliant boat trip under the bridge, and stayed the night in La Conner. There’s a good hotel on the main street and a wonderful little art gallery, the Museum of Northwest Art, which is where I saw that shell. It isn’t a sign, it’s a work of art by Kelly O’Dell. She works in glass and other media and is inspired by her passion for the environment and concerns about the preservation of threatened species. There were several of her ammonites and they were my favourite things in the gallery!
rkrontheroad
These are all so striking in black and white. Not having been to Oman, the dunes took my breath away!
Sarah Wilkie
Thanks Ruth 🙂 If you like deserts (as I do) Oman is amazing – not just the classic dunes of the Wahiba Sands, as here, but the vastness of the Empty Quarter!
Smitha V
I like how you start the post, talking about curves being everywhere and providing the examples of curves. Then came the pictures. It made me go ‘Woah!’ The curve of the crane’s neck, the sanddunes in Oman, new fern in Costa Rica and elephant’s trunk – all such amazing pictures. Of the manmade ones, I’ve see the ones in Italy and Vietnam. Sarah, all these photographs are simply wow!
Sarah Wilkie
Wow, thank you – what a lovely comment! It’s great to hear when someone is this taken by my photos. I’m blushing 😊😊
Sandy
Outstanding selection of photos Sarah. I particularly liked your featured photo and the sand dunes shot.
Sarah Wilkie
Thank you Sandy 🙂 I took that featured photo ages ago but I’m rather fond of it and this theme gave me an excuse to show it off!
Tina Schell
Marvelous collection Sarah – clearly you’re drawn to curves! Way too many favorites to single any of them out. I also liked your choice of B&W for these. Nicely done!
Sarah Wilkie
Thanks Tina, so glad you liked them 😀
SoyBend
Nice choice to show these in black and white, Sarah! I especially liked the curves in the flamingo photo and in the Tulip Staircase.
Sarah Wilkie
Thank you Siobhan. That staircase seems to be a favourite with most people but I confess I’m especially pleased with the flamingo so I’m happy you picked him out 😀
Leya
Absolutely stunning, Sarah! I had to sit with them for a long time…again and again. Gorgeous in B&W and it is impossible to choose…But, I think I looked some extra minutes at the Tulip staircase. So well photographed – perfect. And also perfect to finish with the kiss – curves in its first interpretation.
Sarah Wilkie
Thank you Ann-Christine – I have to say I loved hearing that you lingered over them like that 😀 That staircase is amazing to photograph, from any angle! And you’ve spotted my intention in finishing with the Kiss!
Leya
♥♥♥
Leya
♥
Amy
I’m in awe with your curve selections, Sarah. These images are beautifully captured. Love all of them. 🙂
Sarah Wilkie
Thank you so much Amy 😊 Glad you enjoyed them!
Heyjude
Such beautiful curves. You have a great eye.
Sarah Wilkie
Thank you for the compliment Jude 😊
Rose
All of these images are gorgeous in black and white. Wow.
Sarah Wilkie
Thank you so much Rose 😊
thehungrytravellers.blog
Love the Oman pic at the top – stunning!
Sarah Wilkie
Thanks so much – I know you’re another fan of deserts!
Sofia Alves
Good decision on going black&white, just made your wonderful photos even more precious.
Sarah Wilkie
Thanks Sofia 😊 As I said to Margaret below, I started off with just a few B&W ones and then decided it would look better if all were converted!
restlessjo
Beautiful! So much shared beauty, Sarah. I had to smile at the ellie!
Sarah Wilkie
Thank you Jo, I know like me you always love an ellie 🐘
lisaonthebeach
These are beautiful, Sarah! I think my favorites are the snail exhibit, and the Tulip staircase 😊
Sarah Wilkie
Thanks Lisa 🙂 That shell was one of several in the exhibition, all beautiful and all modelled on real nautilus shells I believe. And the Tulip Staircase is even more beautiful when you see it, so if you’re ever in London …!
lisaonthebeach
😊 Thank goodness for your photos! …almost like being there 😁
Sarah Wilkie
❤
Andrea R Huelsenbeck
Thank you for sharing your curvaceous shots!
Sarah Wilkie
Thanks Andrea – I had fun putting the album together!
bushboy
Just filled my morning with a wow after wow while scrolling from photo to photo. Lots of wows Sarah 🙂 🙂
Sarah Wilkie
Thank you Brian, I’m glad you enjoyed them 🙂
JohnRH
Wow. Outstanding monochromes. Too many faves to name, but the opening staircase and ‘natural world’ were great starters.
Sarah Wilkie
Thank you John 😊 That staircase is an old favourite of mine, I was glad to have an excuse to use it!
maristravels
You really have found a lot of curves in your archives and your ability to see them is just as impressive. Good on ye!
Sarah Wilkie
Thanks so much Mari 😀 A lot more got left out when I realised I was starting to overdo it!!
kzmcb
Some stunning curves, Sarah. You’ve travelled so broadly.
Sarah Wilkie
Thank you – yes, we’ve managed to get to more than a few places, but plenty more left to explore!
margaret21
A lovely – and comprehensive – selection. I think presenting them in B/W definitely emphasised those curves.
Sarah Wilkie
Thank you Margaret 🙂 I started off with just a few B&W ones and then decided it would look better if all were converted – making more work for myself in the process!
margaret21
Your choice 😉 But a good one.