Gallery: seeing Madagascar in black and white
Madagascar is a colourful country! The landscapes are beautiful and for the most part lush and green. The wildlife is often colourful too. And in villages and towns there are lively markets, while hotel grounds are planted with pretty flowers.
And yet, I can never resist the temptation to experiment with black and white edits, and I think I’ve found enough photos among all those I took there that might work. Here they are; see what you think. There’s an emphasis on landscape and architecture but there are a few iconic wildlife species too.
Sharing for Leanne’s Monochrome Madness, as usual. And also as usual, all were shot originally in colour and edited with Nik Silver Efex Pro.
My feature photo is of a local fisherman on the lake in front of the Iharana Bush Camp where we stayed near the tsingy plateau.
Tree frog seen on a night walk in Park VOIMMA near Andisibe
The infinity pool at Mantadia Lodge
Above the gate to the Royal Palace in Antananarivo, usually shortened to Tana
The central railway station in Antananarivo
In our hotel in Antananarivo
On the wall of our bedroom at the Litchi Tree hotel, near Montagne d’Ambre National Park
Baobab tree, French Mountain, Diego Suarez
You’ve seen this one before, in colour, but I think it works well in monochrome too
Frangipani flowers in the grounds of our hotel in Diego Suarez
You’ve seen this one before too, in the same post about asymmetry
Palm leaves, Eden Lodge on Baobab Beach
On Baobab Beach
Traditional fishing boats off Baobab Beach
Derelict hotel in Diego Suarez
Cocoa pods in a spice plantation near Ankify
Roots of a baobab tree near Eden Lodge on Baobab Beach
Black and white ruffed lemur, Lemur Island, Andisibe
I visited Madagascar in October/November 2023
44 Comments
Pingback:
SoyBend
The simple petal structure of the Frangipani stands out well in black and white. They have such an intoxicating scent!
Sarah Wilkie
Thank you, yes, I love frangipani both for their looks and scent 🙂
Leanne Cole
Great collection of images Sarah, I keep thinking I like that one, then I see another one I love, so I love them all.
Sarah Wilkie
Thanks so much Leanne, I’m pleased you like them 😊
Amy
Beautiful in BnW, Sarah! Love the frog and the Baobab tree especially.
Sarah Wilkie
Thank you Amy 😀 That tree seems to be emerging as a general favourite!
Teresa
My faves are the Baobab tree and the Baobab beach. But all wonderfully captured in b&w.
Sarah Wilkie
Thank you Teresa 🙂 The baobab is proving popular!
grandmisadventures
Stunning pictures! What an incredible country 🙂
Sarah Wilkie
It really is! Thanks so much for the lovely feedback 🙂
Ju-Lyn
My mouth is still gaping at your series – just spectacular, Sarah. I have never seen baobabs like these, and you have captured the frangipani with such deftness & sensitivity. I love the art found at your hotels – and that infinity pool.
Sarah Wilkie
Thanks so much 😊 Madagascar has some wonderful baobabs (we were told there are eight different species, seven of them endemic). And that pool was lovely both to look at and swim in!
bluebrightly
You have a great eye for black and white; this proves it. 🙂 I’m immediate drawn to the palm leaves – you may know I love leaves and graphic, repeating lines or shapes so that one attracts me eye first. Both hotel décor photos are terrific, too. And the frog! There’s an animal we always want to think of in color but it makes a vivid black and white.
Sarah Wilkie
Thank you yet again 😊 Yes, I can see the leaves would appeal to you. The frog is a nocturnal one so the colours weren’t very obvious, but I’ll share him in colour in a future post for sure!
Brad M
The B&W adds an element of antiquity to the photos, as if you were photographing Madagascar during the very early part of the prior century. Nicely done.
Sarah Wilkie
Thank you, that’s an interesting idea, I like it!
wetanddustyroads
It’s a fact that some photos simply stand out more in B&W. That baobab tree is lovely and so are the frangipani flowers. My favourite, however, are the fishing boats – beautiful!
Sarah Wilkie
Thanks so much 😊 As I said to Marie below, I took so many photos of those traditional boats coming and going. I plan to do a separate post some time about the activity on that beach.
restlessjo
I do love the baobobs!
Sarah Wilkie
Thanks Jo – they’re very photogenic, aren’t they?!
restlessjo
Beautiful!
pattimoed
Beautiful gallery, Sarah. Lovely images. The lemur and baobab tree images are stunning.
Sarah Wilkie
Thank you Patti 😊 I’m finding this interesting – usually there’s a clear favourite image in my galleries but this time people are highlighting different ones. You’re the first to mention the lemur, which is one of my own favourites!
Anonymous
Fine series! A ‘portrait’ with many facets. 🙂
Sarah Wilkie
Thank you ‘anonymous’ – please reveal yourself so I can thank you by name!
Mike and Kellye Hefner
These are such beautiful photos, Sarah! I love the frangipani flowers and the palm fronds, but who wouldn’t love an adorable tree frog? I’m with Phil and Michaela, the tree on the beach is quite terrific!
Sarah Wilkie
Thanks so much Kellye 😊 I’m glad you like the frog (see my reply to Sue below) and that little tree!
the eternal traveller
Beautiful shot of the frangipanis.
Sarah Wilkie
Thank you – they’re beautiful flowers 😀
the eternal traveller
They are pretty and they have the most divine scent. My parents used to have a large tree growing in their garden.
Marie
Don’t they work well. I particularly love the 2 boats….
Sarah Wilkie
Thank you Marie 😊 I took so many photos from the beach of those traditional boats coming and going! The resort shares the beach with a small fishing village, which they support in a number of ways, including building a school for the children there.
Sue
Well done! I especially liked the tree frog, the Baobab tree and the fishing boats….
Sarah Wilkie
Thanks so much Sue 😊 I have a video clip of that little frog which I’ll share in due course.
Sue
Oh, cool, I’ll look forward to that….how’s poorly leg?
Sarah Wilkie
Improved a tad but still on antibiotics 😞
Sue
Well, I’m hoping not too much longer now
Anne Sandler
It’s always good to try images in black and white. You did well!
Sarah Wilkie
Thank you Anne, your feedback is always appreciated 🙂
margaret21
You’ve chosen your subjects well. I definitely wasn’t pining to see these in colour.
Sarah Wilkie
That’s good to hear, thank you Margaret 😀
thehungrytravellers.blog
Love the way your shot captures the wind in the palm trees. But probably the star is the single tree on the beach – guess it’s the surprise element which is so appealing
Sarah Wilkie
There were several of those trees there and they looked really sweet (can a tree look sweet?!) I’ve tried to identify them but without success so far.