A year ago, Leanne and I were chatting and she mentioned it would be fun to start a weekly monochrome challenge. We brainstormed for a title of it and came up with MMC. I do love the “madness” of it all….more like organized chaos lol. But on a serious note, I can’t believe it’s been one year since this fun challenge started. Truly incredible! And of course Monochrome Madness would never happen without all the hard work Leanne puts in on this challenge every week, so a huge “THANK YOU” to Leanne! We really appreciate it! 🙂
The challenge asked that we share our favorite image from last year plus (if we wanted) a gallery of some of the year’s past images. The image I chose to share is of the Palace of Fine Arts in SF. I chose it because of the perspective and light, plus I kind of like how I processed it. It was the first time I used my 14-24mm lens, and I was amazed what I could see with it.
A gallery of some of my previous MMC images is included below. Enjoy and thank you for participating!
Before Me
For the entire gallery, please check Leanne Cole’s blog.
March 3, 2015 at 2:07 am
Laura I really enjoyed going through some of your MM photos, whilst loving all of them there were a few that really struck a chord with me and Ive commented… Just lovely 🙂
March 3, 2015 at 8:59 am
I really appreciate you taking the time to go through the photos and leave comments. Truly. I can’t believe it’s been a year. It was so fun. Thank you.
March 3, 2015 at 2:15 am
I can’t believe it has been a year either Laura, some wonderful images here, I’ve loved doing this with you, it has been wonderful.
March 3, 2015 at 8:59 am
Thank you leanne. Me too. I loved the weekly challenge. It kept me going!
March 3, 2015 at 2:27 am
Amazing photos! I love how one can feel the atmosphere just by looking at them. 🙂
March 3, 2015 at 8:59 am
I’m so glad I can convey some sort of emotion. Thank you!
March 3, 2015 at 2:33 am
An awesome achievement and lovely photos 🙂
March 3, 2015 at 8:59 am
Thank you so much! It was a fun year.
March 3, 2015 at 3:48 am
Congratulations for this amazing achievement!! Because of this initiative: I discovered several sites that I continue to follow and I can see since yesterday their own presentation of their 1 year MM :-). Great initiative!!
March 3, 2015 at 9:00 am
Thank you Arret. I’m so glad you found some sites that you enjoy. 🙂
March 3, 2015 at 4:13 am
Have enjoyed your blog ever since I found it 🙂
March 3, 2015 at 9:01 am
Thank you Alex. I appreciate you following and enjoy yours as well. 🙂
March 3, 2015 at 5:05 am
Beautiful work
March 3, 2015 at 9:01 am
Thank you!
March 3, 2015 at 5:55 am
Can’t believe it has been a year. I have enjoyed it very much.
March 3, 2015 at 9:01 am
I know…it really has gone quickly. I’m glad you’ve been participating too!
March 3, 2015 at 7:02 am
It’s nice to remember some of your amazing images, wonderful gallery.
March 3, 2015 at 9:02 am
Thank you so much. I really appreciate it!
Pingback: Day 2: Top 5 Monochrome Madness | The Shady Tree
March 3, 2015 at 7:37 am
I love seeing all of these beautiful images! A whole year of MMC I can’t believe it. What a pleasure to get to enjoy your work for the past year, and your comments too!
I remember the image you did for the first week, well maybe it was the first week I saw MMC. A lone oak tree with hills behind. It was stunning. You are very diverse in your subjects which makes it so fun to learn and enjoy your work. Thanks for sharing so much!
March 3, 2015 at 9:06 am
Thank you so much Carrie! I’ve enjoyed this past year so much and it’s been fun getting enjoying each other’s progression in photography. I’m amazed you remember my first image! I was so lucky to get that one. I think I took it when I first started photography, although I reprocessed it later lol.
March 3, 2015 at 12:25 pm
Well, it left an impression on me 🙂 I have always wanted to have an opportunity to capture an image like that. There are always power lines, more trees or the background is distracting…one day it will happen.
March 3, 2015 at 2:48 pm
Those are the best types of photos…when they are passionate! We only see that and not the power poles or whatever. It’s kind of like happiness in life…it’s not perfect but what we make of it.
March 3, 2015 at 3:24 pm
Here, here!
March 3, 2015 at 8:02 am
Reblogged this on Amazing Fine Art.
March 3, 2015 at 9:08 am
Thank you very much for the reblog!
March 3, 2015 at 8:16 am
Absolutely stunning work Laura. This work by Leanne has been amazing, it’s just a great way to showcase so much talent and get turned on to other amazing blogs!
March 3, 2015 at 9:07 am
Thanks so much Mark. She has worked very hard on this every single week. I love finding people through it too. 🙂
March 3, 2015 at 8:20 am
Fun isn’t it to look back over a year to remember where we have been.
March 3, 2015 at 9:07 am
Sure is! Thanks Robert.
March 3, 2015 at 8:32 am
Fantastic review of your monochrome year, Laura. Beautiful work.
March 3, 2015 at 9:07 am
Thank you Jane. It’s a fun challenge! 🙂
March 3, 2015 at 9:41 am
I really like the tangled coneflower pic!
March 3, 2015 at 9:45 am
Thank you Michael! That one was a fun one. I did most of it in photoshop, sent it to myself in an email and then used Tangled FX on the iPad to create that tangled middle. Now I have Topaz Glow so I wouldn’t have to do that in the future. Just all fyi! lol
Pingback: MM52: Monochrome Madness One Year On | Leanne Cole PHOTOGRAPHY
March 3, 2015 at 10:06 am
Great choices for your gallery. I have enjoyed all your photos this past year. Thanks for initiating this with Leanne. Warmest wishes.
March 3, 2015 at 4:12 pm
Thank you so much Andrew? :-). I appreciate your comments this year!
March 3, 2015 at 9:10 pm
My pleasure Laura
March 3, 2015 at 10:24 am
Thank you both, you both are an inspiration to me. You both have such talent as do the participants. I get new ideas everytime. Love these photos…
March 3, 2015 at 10:32 am
You are so sweet to say Ritva, thank you. It’s fun to see everyone’s growth too. I love your images…they are uniquely YOU and that’s something I aspire to. It’s wonderful how we can all inspire each other.
March 3, 2015 at 12:25 pm
we are like a mutual admiration club, thanks for your sweet words, they do wonders to my ego 😀
March 3, 2015 at 2:47 pm
LOL! Well, if we don’t gush, who will??? 🙂
March 3, 2015 at 10:26 am
Wow one year! How fab to see these images again Laura! 😀
March 3, 2015 at 10:33 am
Amazing isn’t it…I mean the one year. Thank you!
March 3, 2015 at 10:35 am
😃
March 3, 2015 at 11:19 am
Gorgeous compilation!
March 3, 2015 at 2:46 pm
Thank you! It’s fun to see a bit of the last year all in one place.
March 3, 2015 at 1:49 pm
Beautiful selection of images Laura, you are a very talented photographer. So grateful to you and Leanne for creating this feature, great to have the inspiration to make black and white images and to see the work of other photographers. 🙂
March 3, 2015 at 2:51 pm
Why thank you Katie! I think I’m improving and honestly, seeing everyone else helps me a great deal. It’s always nice to have inspiration and help from fellow photographers. 🙂
March 3, 2015 at 3:56 pm
This is a gorgeous sample of all the work you did this year!
March 3, 2015 at 4:10 pm
Thanks Pam :). It really was a fun year!
March 3, 2015 at 4:50 pm
Awesome shots and wonderfully grand vision. =) Congrats.
March 3, 2015 at 6:20 pm
Much obliged! 🙂
March 3, 2015 at 7:06 pm
It’s been the best year Laura – sharing our love of Photography and MM.. and getting to know you! 🙂
Your work is wonderful and I love the works you’ve showcased here… The one that stays in my memory is ‘Surfer Girl’.
So good that you and Leanne started all of this Madness 🙂
March 3, 2015 at 8:50 pm
Thanks Robyn….I’m glad I’ve gotten to know you a bit too!
March 3, 2015 at 7:43 pm
A definitely mad fiesta for sore eyes 🙂
March 3, 2015 at 8:50 pm
Love that! Thank you. 🙂
March 3, 2015 at 9:40 pm
What can I say except how you have inspired me!!! Thank you (and Leanne) for Monochrome Madness or I my vision may never have come to the fruition it has here on WordPress. Your images are so beautiful and your technique is perfection!! A beautiful gallery Laura and your top photo of the Palace is so classical!! It reminds me of those architectural sketches from the 1800’s. Also the butterfly and the lone tree are favourites!!
March 4, 2015 at 8:32 am
Aww thank you Hannah! It’s great to inspire each other here isn’t it!
March 4, 2015 at 8:48 am
tis!!
March 4, 2015 at 4:09 am
Happy Anniversary Laura. You and Leanne show that monochrome can be just as dramatic and beautiful as color. Please keep sharing them. -Max-
March 4, 2015 at 8:33 am
Thanks Max!
March 4, 2015 at 5:10 am
Happy Anniversary, Laura. I’ve really enjoyed this series since I found it last year. Many thanks to you and Leanne and keep up the good work.
March 4, 2015 at 8:35 am
Thank you Robyn. It’s a fun challenge. I love seeing what everyone does.
March 4, 2015 at 10:13 am
Congratulations on a full year of Monochrome Madness. I’ve loved the photos and the few times I participated were fun. I love the picture of the Palace of Fine Arts. Lovely.
I haven’t forgotten about my goal to write a sci fi story for that amazing photo you took. I have to go back and find that. I’ve been busy with a book we’ve had some interest in. But I want to do it! I’ll let you know when I get to it.
Cheers,
Nicci
March 4, 2015 at 10:38 am
Thank you for your support of my photography Nicci. :). No worries about when you get to your new book project but do keep me posted. What photo was it that you were going to use? I forgot lol. I think this cold I have has killed some brain cells LOL.
March 4, 2015 at 11:14 am
LOL! Bundle up! Encroachment. You’ll notice I didn’t mention it specifically in Twitter because I am hogging it to myself. 😉
March 4, 2015 at 2:39 pm
LOL
March 4, 2015 at 12:10 pm
Congratulations to you and Leanne. It’s one of my favorite things about the week. Cheers!
March 4, 2015 at 2:39 pm
Thank you Elen!
March 4, 2015 at 5:28 pm
breathtaking imagery!
March 5, 2015 at 11:53 am
I have enjoyed your many fine monochrome photos i Leanne’s madness – your favorite is great, I like the perspective too. But my favorittes among your photos are “Enlightenment” (the light!), Tangled Coneflower (The wonderful composition). And most of all: The last one of the amazing tree and adventurous and dramatic sky!
March 5, 2015 at 3:02 pm
Thank you very much! I like the tangled coneflower too. That one seems to be a favorite as well as that gnarly tree. Who knows what Will be in store for Year 2!
March 5, 2015 at 6:06 pm
Fantastic work.
March 5, 2015 at 6:11 pm
Thank you themofman. I appreciate it.
March 7, 2015 at 1:20 am
It’s been a very interesting year, Laura — there was always something to learn (even those weeks that I didn’t participate 🙂 ) Beautiful gallery picks here from this year. I’m looking forward to the next 52 weeks!
March 7, 2015 at 7:00 am
Thank you so much Anita. I learned a lot about black and white and tried different styles of black and white throughout the challenge just to see what I liked. I think I’ve decided that I like variety lol. See you next year!
March 7, 2015 at 7:12 am
Oh yes, as you’ve shown, there’s a lot of variety in monochrome too. 🙂
March 7, 2015 at 7:25 am
🙂
March 9, 2015 at 9:31 am
Oh, how I love each of these photos, Laura, but the Palace of Fine Arts is just spectacular. I remember seeing it when you first posted it and commenting on it then! What a wonderful challenge MM has been for so many. For me, it opened my eyes to the possibilities of B&W photography and allowed me to spread my wings. Congratulations on the first year!
March 9, 2015 at 11:15 am
Thank you so much Stacy! I really love how the challenge has made me see light better. Here’s to a new year starting tomorrow !
March 9, 2015 at 11:52 am
You’re very welcome, Laura! I wish I had more time/images to contribute 😦
March 9, 2015 at 2:23 pm
I understand completely!