Having a phone camera can be rather nice . . . not always the best shot, but sometimes the most candid and discreetly taken. Everyone has a cell phone, and everyone has cameras in their phones (for the most part). In bad light, blur; in good light, glare. And in perfect conditions, sometimes it is nearly impossible to tell it was taken by a phone.
Black and white can be very difficult if not done properly – contrast has to be there, whether long scale (lots of grey between the blackest black and whitest white) or short scale (little grey between black and white). Long scale images may never reach black or white, and may not work at all. Certain colors work better in b&w with a filter. So much more stuff, it seems to me, needs to be learned when shooting in b&w! I struggle with it. Above is longer scale; below is shorter scale. The red leaves were really difficult to render.
I was quite amused!
I was taking a snap out of the restaurant window of this young woman – she was talking to her friends and had been looking down. As I snapped away, she saw me, and gave me this lovely smile. It really made this photo – and my day. Thank you, whoever you are!
On a beach full of nearly naked teens and twenties, these folks caught my eye . . .
Ink, Yarn & Beer 