A 7 days black & white photography challenge

A couple of weeks ago, I was invited to participate into a photography challenge on Facebook.

I generally don’t fall for this type of time-consuming, productivity killing, social media activity. But, I must confess, when I started seeing those black & white pictures popping up here and there on my Facebook feed, I was a little jealous. I really hoped that someone would challenge me. And, thankfully, my friend Michael did.

Photography challenge: just pictures, no explanations

The photography challenges goes like this: “Seven days, seven black-and-white photos of your life, no people, no explanation. Challenge someone new every day.”

I love the concept of taking snapshots of our day-to-day life. Among my friends’ pictures, I have seen some beautiful and very creative images of street corners, empty lots, city signs… I decided to make it my chance to see the beauty in my surroundings. From the view on the Rhône & Saône rivers that delight me every time I cross a bridge in Lyon, to my kitty snuggling at my feet as I was reading in bed, I have so many opportunities to witness heart-warming sceneries. Making a point to snapping a shot of them just helped remembering to be present with them.

Oh wait, mindfulness at its best. Right?

Then you get the option to use your creative brain into “making the picture pretty”: composition, shape (I’m a sucker for the 16:9 frame), color (guess what, even with black & white there is room for creativity – hello vintage Silvertone filter)… With a little consistency, the result can be pretty sharp.

Finally, the absence of words to explain what the images are about, leave a lot of room for intuitive storytelling and viewers’ imagination.

This photography challenge was a very refreshing experience, it added a little bit of creativity in my days. And if I only could nominate one person while in the challenge, today, I would like to nominate every one of you whom would like to give it their best shot (no pun intended).

And don’t hesitate to put a link to your public profile in the comment, I’ll be happy to go and cheer on your masterpieces!

Photo : Lyon, France, November 2017