Nathaniel Allenby wrote:
If you've ever seen an incredible image that was all in one color, can you link it, and what color was it? What made it stand out?

Moonrise, Hernandez
by Ansel Adams

Color: selenium
Stands Out Cuz: moon, dark sky, light on the headstones; although that doesn't explain what happens in my chest when I see this. Especially profound in person. I would venture to opine, if you have a bucket list and an in-person viewing of this isn't on it, you'll die without having seen the pinnacle of photographic art.

Toto Photo wrote:
Moonrise, Hernandez
by Ansel Adams

Color: selenium
Stands Out Cuz: moon, dark sky, light on the headstones; although that doesn't explain what happens in my chest when I see this. Especially profound in person. I would venture to opine, if you have a bucket list and an in-person viewing of this isn't on it, you'll die without having seen the pinnacle of photographic art.

God I hate that photo.

Adams wrote:
The situation was desperate: the low sun was trailing the edge of clouds in the west, and shadow would soon dim the white crosses.

Which is why you dodged them in.

Toto Photo wrote:
Moonrise, Hernandez
by Ansel Adams

Alabaster Crowley wrote:
God I hate that photo.

I'm surprised to hear that, especially given so much b&w+ in your port. Why do you hate it?

Toto Photo wrote:
Moonrise, Hernandez
by Ansel Adams

Alabaster Crowley wrote:
God I hate that photo.

Toto Photo wrote:
I'm surprised to hear that, especially given so much b&w+ in your port. Why do you hate it?

I'm surprised that you think that the amount of black and white images in her modeling portfolio means that she likes ALL black and white images.

I have seen this print in person. It's not even a good Ansel Adams photo, never mind being a good photo in general. It's a poor representation of his work, either lacking the printing techniques he was known for, or being so thin in the sky that no amount of dodging and burning would help.

You have every right to like it, and I'm not trying to talk you out of it. But as for being a 'pinnacle of photography' ... It wasn't even a pinnacle of that specific artist.

I can't think of too much photography that only used a single color, unless you count toned BW prints or digital compositions. I'd really like to see a series of images where everything is a single color though. Not that it was altered or toned - every object was painted or dyed that color, or a similar shade. I've seen some demo images and videos like this, but never a proper photo series.

Anybody have some links?

Toto Photo wrote:
Moonrise, Hernandez
by Ansel Adams

Alabaster Crowley wrote:
God I hate that photo.

Toto Photo wrote:
I'm surprised to hear that, especially given so much b&w+ in your port. Why do you hate it?

Zack Zoll wrote:
I'm surprised that you think that the amount of black and white images in her modeling portfolio means that she likes ALL black and white images.

I didn't mean to imply the copious amount of b&w in her modeling port meant she'd like ALL b&w. If I were to rephrase to be more clear I'd write--Dear Alabaster, if your port is any indicator, I see you don't hate all b&w. Given that assumption, if correct, I have a question for you...

Zack Zoll wrote:
I have seen this print in person. It's not even a good Ansel Adams photo, never mind being a good photo in general.

I beg to differ as would everybody else who took part in this auction, from Wikipeida "On October 17, 2006, Sotheby's auctioned a print of this photograph for $609,600.
In fact you and Alabaster are the first two I've met who don't think it good.

Zack Zoll wrote:
It's a poor representation of his work, either lacking the printing techniques he was known for,

Following quotes are all from Ansel Adams Examples The Making of 40 Photographs
AA p41: I placed this luminance on Zone VII, 60 c/ft therefore fell on Zone V and the exposure with the filter fagtor of 3x was about 1 second at f/32 with ASA 65 film.
AA p42: I burn-in the foreground a little toward the bottom of the print I then burn along the line of the mountains, keeping the card edge in constant motion. In addition, I hold the card far enough from the paper to produce a broad penumbra in its shadow; this prevents a distinct dodging and burning line which would be very distracting. I also burn...I then burn...
So what about Ansel's description strikes you as someohow outside of his technique?

Zack Zoll wrote:
or being so thin in the sky that no amount of dodging and burning would help.

When I look at the sky, even in the book, but definitely in person, I see thick dark blacks covering almost two-thirds of the top of the print. Sure he mentions he has to burn it in but nothing special or outside his usual technique,
AA p42: I then burn from the top of the moon to the top of the image with several up-and-down passages.
It couldn't get much blacker,what did you mean by "thin in the sky"?

Zack Zoll wrote:
You have every right to like it, and I'm not trying to talk you out of it. But as for being a 'pinnacle of photography' ... It wasn't even a pinnacle of that specific artist.

AA p41: Moonrise...it is certainly my most popular single image.
AA p43: This photograph has undoubtedly evoked more comment than any other I have made..I am sure that the image would command general interest for the subject alone.

I realize popular opinion isn't always the best arbiter of taste, but for me, in the case of this marvelous photo, I'd have to agree with the masses, with Ansel and with the collectors. I accept for you and apparently Alabaster, that it is not the case. For me, I never tire of looking at it and hope I never will.

Toto Photo wrote:

I'm surprised to hear that, especially given so much b&w+ in your port. Why do you hate it?

It's overrated. It's okay, but it's not that good.

And I have one B&W photo in my portfolio, unless you're talking about my photography.