As fascinating as I find the colors of the rocks I have been photographing, sometimes it helps to take the color away to just be amazed by the patterns. This is a macro abstract of Amethyst Sage, evoking thoughts of some fantasy world. I move from seeing a mountain volcano erupting with bats in the night to seeing dragons. I find that geometrical elements can influence the types of images you may see – the sharp points and sharp lines lend themselves to darker responses. What do you see?
Royal Sahara Jasper
While doing some image organization in Lightroom, I came across a batch of photographs I had previously published to my site but somehow got "lost in the shuffle" when I migrated all of my image galleries many years ago. They've been omitted from my Stonescapes series...





I definitely agree that when you pull color out, texture and patterns take the forefront. This is a very interesting abstract. I’m going to be participating in a 4th of July photo “contest” and the theme is “Abstract”. I have to keep something like this in mind. Well done.
I see those two large dark eyes and the nasal area below. Then, … the area that has a somewhat menacing looking smile.
This is great stuff Mark!
For myself, I have yet to find very many interesting black and white conversions within the pieces that I have on hand, … but I am always on the lookout.
Show some more conversions!
Michael
Bats, hundreds of them, inside already and more outside, silhouetted against the openings that reveal the sky. That and a fascinating landscape from above. I see the rivers, mountains, trees and wetlands. I confess that at first I couldn’t imagine draining the color from one of your lovely macros, but it makes a fascinating image.
How unusual and creative to use monochrome for this. Wonderful interpretation.
My first response is definitely that this evokes a landscape of some kind, with dark skies and sharp mountain peaks – I can in fact see everything you describe above, with the bats and dragon shapes, etc. What level of zoom did you use for this photo?