Discover the Black and White World of Instagram
We are always in search for inspiration.
We're waiting to get inspired to create the perfect piece of art, to build the next big thing or start a project we always dreamed about. We are curious to know what inspired our favorite artists, as if we could achieve the same results if we followed the steps of their creative process. Chasing for inspiration in the never ending world of social media platforms can sometimes be counter-productive. The key is to start doing something. Not tomorrow or next week, but today. Once you commit to getting started, momentum carries you. As Pablo Picasso, one of the most important figures of the 20th century, claimed "inspiration exists, but it has to find us working."
As long as we don't forget that taking action is the most important part of the creative process, we should take advantage of the incredible content that is published online every single day. Living in the world where we are able to closely follow the work of our favorite artists, and get inspired by simply scrolling through the feed of our favorite social media platform is an incredibly unique experience.
We decided to share the work of some of our own favorite artists that we discovered and follow on social media. We hope you'll find them as inspiring as we do.
DANIEL TJONGARI
An unlimited source of daily inspiration, Daniel Tjongari is a fine art photographer from Surabaya, Indonesia.
For him, photography is both an art and a science.
We are constantly amazed by his immaculate technique which he developed while studying the work of Ansel Adams, who is widely regarded as one of the most famous American photographers of all time. Daniel learned about Black & White Zone Systems, a photographic technique that helps determine the optimal film exposure and development, originated with the black and white sheet film. Adams described this technique as a " codification of the principles of sensitometry, worked our by Fred Archer and myself at the Art Centre School in Los Angeles, around 1939-1940."
After mastering the craft at the Brooks Institute of Photography in the USA, Daniel offered the world his own perspective and emotional experience of the places he photographed. He has an incredible eye for dramatic landscapes, which is evident in this impeccable image from East Java, the province in Indonesia.
Daniel Tjongari, "2900 meter above the sea" series
The photo was taken at the altitude of 2900 meters above the sea level, looking at the sun rising from the east. The dark, textured mountain tops give the image a strong structure, while the thick layer of fog adds a bit of mystery.
The influence of Ansel Adams, one of the best landscape photographers of the last century is evident in Daniel's work. Smart use of the sharp focus and the entire photographic grey scale make his images feel realistic and powerful.
Daniel Tjongari, "The Journey to The Nature" series
We found the series of photographs from Daniel's journey to the Bromo Tengger Semeru National Park in Indonesia especially fascinating. It is located in the southeast of Surabaya, and is the only conservation area in Indonesia that has a sand sea, which makes it a stunning location for photographers. Daniel captured his unique experience of the volcanic complex within the caldera of an ancient volcano Tengger.
When incredible light and excellent framing come together, you get a stellar image like this one. The quality of the sunlight shinning down on the mountain tops gives the image a soft and hazy atmosphere.
The tall, dark mountains direct our attention to the luminous clouds at the center of the image.
SELVY NGANTUNG
When looking at the striking images by Selvy Ngantung, one might see more than just the clean, minimalistic and beautiful style. Her photographs contain so much meaning and emotion that they almost feel haunting. She even addressed it on her website by calling her body of work "A world of isolation". The feeling of solitude and scenery that seem completely detached from the rest of the world is something she chooses carefully. "Isolation is my ritual to reveal beauty and uniqueness, and lead the attention in ethereal ambiance" says Selvy about her work.
Selvy uses simple central compositions with a sharp focus on a specific object she is photographing, making the rest of the image look surreal and other-worldly. The physical space around the object blends in, without any distinct traits which you could use to recognize the environment with. That space, light and textures are merely an artistic element which she uses to reveal her own vision of the world, not it's accurate representation.
Selvy Ngantung, "Lucidity"
Selvy Ngantung, "Crushed 05"
Selvy Ngantung, "Crushed 05"
More often that not, the few objects she shows are the only thing that gives us direction and shows us the setting of the image. The linear forms of tree trunks that define the space are preventing this photograph from looking completely surreal. The elements guide our eyes in the right direction, making the rest of the image blurry and less important. The only thing that matters is the feeling it evokes, not the objects it represents.
None of this would be possible without the incredible technique Selvy possesses. The subtle use of longer exposure gives the image a mysterious, haunting feel. The contrast between the soft, misty waters and the sharp structure of the brigde make for a great image. Not all landscape photos have to represent grand scenes to be successful. As Selvy Ngantung showed us in her work, an intimate landscape with an old, rusty dock in a river can be just as captivating and intriguing.
Noel Bodle
Fine art photographer Noel Bodle shows us that you can make an incredible shot with a few simple elements, if you just pay attention to what really matters. Minimalist photos might look simple, but they are very difficult to achieve. Noel embraced this style of photography and used it's absence of definition and direction to his advantage. Our eyes are naturally drawn to simple lines, geometric patterns, contrasting colors and lone subjects. This photographer from United Kingdom mastered this style of photography and we just can't keep our eyes off of it.
Noel Bodle, "Pett Levels"
Noel takes great care in choosing the subjects he captures and accentuates his shot on one or a few similar objects. There aren't any distracting elements in the background so our eyes are fixated on the main subject. The mist creates a dramatic atmosphere and hides all distractions. We are left with a few simple elements, and a raw idea and imagination of the photographer.
Noel Bodle, "Rise and Fall"
The Black & White technique is perfectly suitable for landscape photography. With lighting as the main focus, monochromatic tones can set different moods. If done right, this technique proves to result in images more impressive than those with rich, colorful backgrounds and several objects in focus. The contrast between the water captured with long exposure, and the dark tones of the shoreline make for an impressive scene.
Noel Bodle, "Walking the Beach"
Noel also uses people as visual elements for his almost abstract images. The gentle texture of the light sand creates a surreal setting, while our view is drawn to the dark figures that almost look like they are floating. When it comes to minimalist photography, photographers prefer to capture silhouettes rather than detailed, realistic depictions of people. Our emotions and gestures can sometimes break the concept of minimalism.
Pierre Pellegrini
Pierre Pellegrini is a Swiss photographer who specializes in long exposure fine art photography. If you are as amazed by his work as we are, check out the interview we did with him in 2011. You can read about his creative process and inspiration in more detail, as well as a couple of valuable tips he wanted to recommend to photographers alike. We decided to feature him again in this article because his work continues to inspire us.
Pierre Pellegrini, "The Passion Of The Photographer"
If you go through Pierre's selection of photographs on his instagram account, we are sure you will notice how extraordinary his compositions are. The use of negative space is an integral part of his photography. A subject that is well placed doesn't have to be large to leave a big impact on the viewer. The figure of a man standing in the middle of the lake is an incredibly dynamic addition to the scene, and it is the focal point of the image. Yet, the symmetry, lines and curves of the mountains in the background are the element that draws the viewer in. The lonesome figure wouldn't be as impactful if it wasn't set in relation to other elements around him. Building a relationship between the elements in your composition is essential for telling the story.
Pierre Pellegrini, "Waterworld Par or Future?"
As we mentioned, Pierre has an abundance of incredible photographs made with long exposure. The end result is subtle and not entirely noticeable to the untrained eye, but it makes a significant difference. This incredible technique is what makes the water look so surreal, almost like it's a thick layer of fog enveloping the strongly built structures. These incredible shots demonstrate the value of patience in photography.
One more thing
We are always on the lookout for amazing photographers who value the technique of black & white photography, so feel free to send us recommendations! It is a great honor for us to have such incredible artists featured on our page, and we are already making plans for a new post that will feature top 10 B&W Photographers on Instagram! Stay tuned and send us your favorite photographers on Instagram!
We showcase exceptional images on our Instagram and Facebook account every day, so if you are in search for content that will inspire you to pick up the camera and go shoot, you're in the right place. Follow us on Instagram -> @photographyoffice and Facebook -> PhotographyOffice to discover the most impressive black and white photographers in the world and acquire their masterpieces!
