Today I took my little adventure buddy to see the cherry blossoms at Brookside Gardens after the rainy morning. Honestly, it was awesome.
Read moreCherry Blossom Time! | Maryland
I absolutely LOVE cherry blossom season! These beautiful blooms are so iconic in the DC area and there’s always such a buzz this time of year! It is an early peak bloom this year, and while I love the beauty of these trees surrounding the Tidal Basin, I do NOT love the crowds, traffic, impossible parking and fighting to get photos. (plus the NPS requires permits for any commercial photography, so family sessions are not easy!)
The good news is cherry blossoms are not just at the Tidal Basin. I love exploring and finding blossoms nearby. These were at a local park here in Montgomery county. And this is a great tree locator to know where the trees are in Montgomery County (and this one for DC). The tricky part is they don’t all bloom at the same time, so I always want to check before planning session based on the map!
The Why Behind Black and White
With every session I deliver, I turn a portion of the photos black and white. Here's how I determine what I turn black and white and why!
1. To focus attention
Sometimes there is a lot of color and elements going on in the photo and the black and white helps focus the attention back down to the person or central focal point of the photo.
2. To show the emotion
There is something about black and white that conveys an emotion and feels deeper and more timeless in black and white. (especially if the subject is not looking at the camera)
3. Great contrast
If there is great contrast in a photo it is even more exaggerated in black and white and gives more power to the overall photo.
4. To hide bad lighting or color
Sometimes black and white is the answer to conceal bad or mixed lighting. If the DJ goes too crazy with colored lights or there is a hard mix of warm and cool light, black and white takes away that issue instantly!
5. Give something a timeless feel
Black and white is often associated with "old" since that is once all there was! Black and white often feels more timeless and that it could be 1800 or 2018 and if still feels the same.
