Bill Buchanan, HonPSA, FGDC  

Untitled by Bill Buchanan, HonPSA, FGDC

July 2026 - Untitled

About the Image(s)

Happy Independence Day!!

I'm in the process of writing a book on Composition based upon fifty plus years in Photography. This image was shot on July 3, 2026 at a local mall. It was converted to Monochrome in Lightroom Mobile. The chapter title is, "Let There Be Light: Mastering the Soul of Every Photograph"


This photograph was taken under a pergola at midday. The sun turned the slatted roof into a pattern of strong, repeating lines. What drew me in was not only the wooden beams themselves, but the second set of lines they cast onto the pavement below ??” lines made entirely of shadow.
One important note: the color version of this scene is noticeably weaker than the black-and-white rendering. In color, the graphic power of the lines and shadows is diluted. The image only comes alive when reduced to tone, shape, and contrast. This is a useful reminder that some scenes are best seen ??” and composed ??” in monochrome from the start. Visualization is not only about where you place the camera, but also about how you choose to render light and shadow.

6 comments posted

Jack Florence Jr   Jack Florence Jr
Very good, considering a "last minute" shot. I like images like this, for the reasons you state, and they do tend to render particularly well in black and white. If there's one thing I would change, I wish the background wasn't so sharp, but this is something we don't have much control over with the phone camera.   Posted: 07/05/2026 22:54:09
Bill Buchanan   Bill Buchanan
I've been thinking about how difficult it would be to eliminate the background. It's all straight lines.   Posted: 07/05/2026 23:19:15
Stephen Levitas   Stephen Levitas
(Group 32)
The b/w is great, both the beams and the shadows. Too bad about the middle area, that adds nothing to the composition. Perhaps you can use it as an example in your book of what to watch out for when composing. I wondered if it would be possible to just crop away the entire middle third of this image, but I think a revisit to the site would be more advisable.   Posted: 07/12/2026 00:51:32
Steven Jungerwirth   Steven Jungerwirth
Agree with the comments above - all the lines/angles create interest and guide viewers' gaze. High contrast B&W is perfect! Agree the background is distracting and doesn't add to the image. It lessens the impact of the photo.   Posted: 07/12/2026 11:37:04
Susan Pellegrino   Susan Pellegrino
I am so focused on the shadows and the lines and patterns they create that I didn't even notice the background until I read the comments of others. Like you, I prefer monochromatic shadow photos. Plus, in full color, the background would have most definitely been distracting.   Posted: 07/12/2026 18:27:03
Kieu-Hanh Vu   Kieu-Hanh Vu
Hi Bill,
In this image, you have broken the composition effectively. The column in the middle of the scene seems to violate the traditional rules of composition but it produces good result with all the criss-cross shadows from the ceiling beams on the top down to the floor. Although the background seems busy, the green hedge does acts as a barrier to prevent the viewer's eyes from wandering past that area.
Your conversion to B&W is a great choice since shadows become key visual elements without the distraction of color. It's an excellent image! It can also be used as a practical tip on how to break the rules of composition effectively in your upcoming book. Thanks for sharing your great image!   Posted: 07/13/2026 20:50:14

 

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