There is something magical about black and white photography. This shot of a black London Phone box, looks as if I had stepped back in time to the 1940’s, but this shot was taken near Charing Cross in 2012.

I love the medium. I think I first fell in love with it through my father’s photographs. He was an enthusiastic photographer whenever time allowed. He had several cameras that he used, and I wish I knew which one had taken some of  old photographs. Many of the photos are in bad shape and I didn’t want to manipulate them to make them look better. My father would have loved what you can do with photo editing these days. His world was a darkroom, rolls of film printed on Ilford paper, and a handy light meter he wore around his neck. Those were his tools. He used a Rollei, a Minolta, and finally as life progressed, he bought a treasured Leica. Time though was not going to be kind, and he did not get a proper chance to use the beloved Leica.

My father’s self-portrait in Black and White- ShSheldon

He tried studio shots using the kitchen lamp and me as his model.

portrait of the author in Black and White- Susan Sheldon Nolen

I love the mood of black and white photography and even though colour has some fabulous aspects to it, black and white still to me, tells a story better. It’s probably why I fell in love with pen and ink drawings.  It doesn’t matter what the subject is I just love writing with light.

I found this little car in Oxford.  I have no idea the make or model, and I couldn’t get a full shot of the car as it was crammed into a little garage.  I am sure the owner would not have appreciated me climbing in to see the back of the car and perhaps discover the make and model!

Black and White photograph of the author’s dream car- Susan Sheldon Nolen

I haven’t quite learned the knack of keeping raindrops off my lens yet, and the proof is in this photo of London with the clouds about to tip down. ( The spoldge on the left bit was a massive raindrop!)

Black and White photograph of the London Eye in the rain-susan sheldon nolen

You can pop from a romantic walk along the river to a more ominous looking Art Deco building with just the moods created by black and white photography.

photograph of the Art Deco Building along the river Thames-susan sheldon nolen

My father really captured a mood in this damaged photo of me as a young teenager. ( I’m not really sure how these photographs got so badly damaged, but they did. ) The camera can lie though. I look very unhappy here, but it’s more than likely I was tired of posing. I remember it was late at night, we had just had a massive discussion on freedom or some such troubling topic. I was tired and ready to go to bed. But….the camera was on the kitchen table and I only found out years later, that he had snapped this photo whilst pretending to clean the lens!

I have loads to learn about black and white photography, but I am having heaps of fun just trying it. This London Calling Shot was taken at night, on my desk, with just my old Anglepoise lamp to highlight it.

Black and white art shot of London Calling- We’re in this together- photographer Susan Sheldon Nolen

I love Fox Terriers and little treasures from the 1930’s. I decided to make my WordPress Logo, from the old inkwell on my desk. This shot was also taken at night.

Photograph in black and white of the author’s desktop, ink pen, inkwell, and tube tickets. Susan Sheldon Nolen

I have loads to learn about photography and I have to say, I am loving every minute of it!  One of these days, I will try a class in film and darkroom skills. The idea of hanging the wet paper in a room just lit with a red light, just sounds…so romantic!