Black and white

I've spent the 2015-2016 winter with a variety of projects. One of which was trying an old type of photography.   I had heard that vinyl records and film cameras are now the "newest" things going, so I dusted out my old SLR.  It's an Olympus OM-10 and a good camera.  I had stopped using it when I started traveling.  Carrying the camera, lenses, film and assorted other paraphernalia was just too cumbersome on a plane.  So I picked up a range finder and made do instead.  As time progressed, I did too, and moved to digital. 

I like the immediate  gratification of digital photography after my experiments with both color and black and white film.  I also prefer not having to limit my shots and being able to try different angles at the same location without having to check how many exposures I have left.

It's nice to have the paper copies of what I shot, but now, I have those paper copies that I paid for and am now hesitant to throw away--even the duds. 

Black and white was more challenging than I thought it would be.  It seems to work best for patterns, but makes landscapes look a little dreary.  That could be the fault of the photographer though.  And I caught myself sometimes on a crystal aired, blue sky day, whose colors were lost.

Here are a few samples. 

Willows

A December afternoon, a chilly walk
Through willow trees.  A time to take stock
Of the year's passing.  Time winding down,
Months thrown around like leaves on the ground.
Few days are left on the calendar.

Summer busy walkways, empty of feet.
Just sunlight and seashore, a treat
To be savored before true winter sets in.
A new year is coming, the old one has been
Tossed away to memory.