Our weekend assignments in Photo 101 advise us to look back, mull, dwell, take action.
This morning some thousand-plus runners in the Syracuse Half-Marathon ran through my Syracuse city neighborhood of Eastwood, and I took a lot of photographs with my iPhone 6. Indeed, I posted a handful already today.
I think I’ll offer more, after consideration of composition, color, shape and cropping. I’ll call this my editing lesson.
Oh, yes, we also were instructed to use a different style gallery. That I will do, too. In a slideshow.
And now for my Post 3 of the Black & White Challenge thrown down by PriorHouse.
Black-and-white stands out for this runner.
I think the black-and-white adds to the drama of this moment.
I now tag Wormy, from Love Marriage Worms. We met during Nano Poblano in November, and it’s been a strange and marvelous blogship since. Wormy has run marathons, by the way, so I thought this was particularly appropriate.
Do you agree with my crops on these running shots? What do you think about people who will run 13.1 miles in 17 F? How does the black-and-white shot look in comparison to the color photographs?
Mark Bialczak 
You got some amazing shots, Mark. I think your eye for which to make B/W is spot on, too. 🙂
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Thanks, Rachel. The BW challenge was great fun!
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I would take running a half marathon in 17 degrees any day over running it in 95 degrees. Perfect time of year to run, if it’s not icy. 🙂
Love the contrast in the color photos. Especially the “tube” shots.
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I like walking better in the heat, for some reason, Fannie, more than the cold. I recover faster in the AC, maybe. Thanks for the kind words on my tube shots. I like them!
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Artistically, black and while does capture the moment best. That’s why Alfred Hitchcock used that technique in “Psycho.” But it’s a colorful world and the runners in red and green really made the setting sing. Loved your photos.
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Thank you, Judy. The runners wore some colorful gear on this cold day, thankfully.
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Excellent photos Mark. i like the vertical tube of runners – the sky really makes the picture pop. I also like the the B/W of the runner – makes it seem more timeless. Well done.
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Thanks, Paul. I’d like to get a real photo of that vertical tube on that wall.
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I admired your cropping job and your focus on the runner. You also showed a lot of detail in your photograph. I liked all of the above, best and most diplomatic answer, Mark! smiles!
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Great answer, Ambassador Robin! 🙂
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I like the black and white, maybe because it makes it feel more timeless, and that’s how I feel when I’m having a good run – like the clock stopped ticking and time doesn’t matter, and the world is really reduced to black and white because it’s just me and the pavement.
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Great description of your personal relationship with running, Jay. Hey, you should be a writer. Wait a second …
Yes, the black-and-white photo really strikes me as dramatic here, too.
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Looks like fun!
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If you’re a runner, Amy!
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It’s that time of year already – I bet it comes round really fast for the runners. I like the B&W photo a lot.
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Thanks, Rachel. Yes, doesn’t it seem like just a while ago we had last year’s runners?
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well marly mark (if I may call you that) – I love what you did with the runner and in a way – it is helping beta feel for your photographer side – and your choice of having the funner right where she is near that white car really does have that harmony with her b & w outfit (esp. the large headband) and the b & w of the car. I feel a nice tension with the cars faced the opposite direction – but the real spotlight of the photo – for me at leafs – I noticed on my third take as I was soaking up the tasty porches – which also look cool in b & w – but then I noticed the 4 houses seem to go from small to larger – in the same direction as the runner and it is just a great shot all around. I bet this running woman would love to have this shot –
and speaking of these brave runners – wow – they must be super tough to run in that cold….brrrrr
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and the “tube of runners” shot is my fav front he slideshow
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🙂 Drastic crops are becoming more fun for me, too, Y. I better not overdo them.
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🙂
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Thanks for your wonderful eye, Y. I can hope that somehow this runner can spot my blog here, and I’d gladly send her this shot digitally. All of your points on the photo are well taken. I love the way the houses point her on her way in their size. That is awesome. Have a great day. 🙂
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well she just might need upo finding it sometime – and I did not look at your tags, but as I am sure you know cos your techy, but if you tag the date/race name, etc. – that might help her find it – good day
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I tagged the race name, I sure did, Y.
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but of course…. have a good day Bialczak
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You too, Y. 😉
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I very much like the gallery presentation, Mark. You’re learning so much by taking this class. I need to be taking notes. Love the B&W. 13.1 not in rain, sleet, sun or snow….hot or cold. Two miles and that is it, thank you.
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Yeah, that’s a long run in perfect conditions, Aud. Two miles that is. 🙂 This class is really getting me to practice good photo principles here. It’s the last week. Holy cow.
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i like the contrast of the bw shot, and as for the running, i’m a better walker and watcher )
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Me, too, Beth W and W. 🙂
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Are they insane?! Who runs in that kind of weather? What good is physical health if you’re not of sound mind? Maybe after they run they can cool off with a nice polar bear plunge.
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Yeah, cold. We have bodies of water for the plunge, too, Mark.
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Good choices for each … The tutu wouldn’t have stood out as much in b&w. The angle you took the shots from definitely helps highlight movement and speed. At 17 degrees it’s easier to pick up the pace than at 87 degrees!
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They all were booking, it seemed to me, Jim. No slackers. 🙂
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They all look good so I’m going to say the cropping was a good move. My favorite of the bunch is the black and white though. Something about the white car in it…
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The dark shirt of the runner and white car look really good in black and white compared to the color shot, Marissa. You have a good eye. 🙂
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And I didn’t even take the picture!
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Oh, I forgot. I did! 🙂
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I love black and white. I don’t know if it’s just me…but I see more detail in black and white. And I love runners who run in 17 temps. I admire that.
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I know, right? On the black-and-white and the runners’ spirit. I wouldn’t run in 67, MBC.
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I dreamed for years and years of running. Kept trying, and kept getting injured. I now do the treadmill pretty regularly, haven’t had the dreams since I’ve stuck to this. 🙂
And the black and white was great with the runners. I love a runner’s picture all by themselves….there’s something about a group of runners that doesn’t seem right….it’s so ….solo.
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I like all of your runner’s theories here, MBC. Very singular.
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Love the shots, the crops Mark, and even the photo of the guy who looks like he’s wearing a green tutu! ❤
Diana xo
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Isn’t that the most, Diana. I wanted to see who would comment on that get-up first. You win!
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Yay – I win! Yippee! 😉
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Great shots! I love sports photography and will often play with black and white.
As for running in 17F weather – my record was a half marathon at zero degrees. Brrrrrr!!!!
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You ran 13.1 miles in zero degrees, Michelle? Why? Answer: It was too cold to stop. Ba-da-boom. You are a goddess. If a bit … See Hollie’s comment here about runners for a smile.
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Good one, Mark!!!
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I’m leery of people who run at all…but running in 17 degrees is just nonsense!
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You’re funny, Hollie. Let’s sing Elvis’ “Suspicious Minds.” Thought of the day: “I’m leery of people who run at all …” A-plus from me. 🙂
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Thanks, Mark! I love getting A-pluses! And now I’m singing Suspicious Minds!
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My favorite Elvis song. Just beats out “I Can’t Help Falling in Love with You.”
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I like “I can’t help falling in love with you,” and his “unchained melody” best.
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“Unchained” is forever great, though the Righteous Brothers have first stake on it, Hollie.
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I hadn’t heard of this Photo 101 challenge before, but I like it, and you’ve executed it very well!
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Oh, and one of those pics reminds me of something awesome: my friend Jeff Symonds (we grew up next to each other in Penticton, BC, Canada) just WON an Ironman event!
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Congratulations, Jeff Symonds! That is very cool, Dave. I’d be oh-for-three in that one. Well, maybe I remember how to ride a bicyle because you know the old saying.
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Thanks, Dave. My Syracuse blogging buddy Jim McKeever of Irish Investigations told me about it, and I’m glad he did.
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Great shots, Mark. For some reason, I like the color ones better. Maybe that’s because I’M SO SICK OF THE LACK OF COLOR AROUND ME IN STILL WINTER-Y BOSTON. I’d like to run as far as I could when I’m outside in 17 F, too.
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Yes, the black dirt on the white snow … Ugh. Here, too, Ann. I was challenged for five posts, and I am finding the best shots that I can in the editing process.
If I were a running man, 17 F would light a fire under my tail, yes, Ann, it would.
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