NATURE IN MONOCHROME

When one thinks of a monochomatic image, they normally think of a black and white photograph. This is true, however it can also refer to color photographs with a limited range of shades and hues in one color and the results can be more striking than that of a traditional full spectrum photograph. A single color has the ability to create mood that in turn evokes an emotional response from the viewer. This can be a powerful tool in creating nature photographs that are both compelling and inspirational.

By it's very nature, fog or mist offers a muted color palette that is perfectly suited to this type of nature photography. The opening photo of a great egret in flight was taken in a very thick fog that had settled over a glade in Florida. The egret's white color barely shows through the dense, gray fog, giving it an almost ghostly appearance. The image as a whole creates a feeling of calm and serenity.

Sunrise and sunset are wonderful times to capture monocromatic images. When the sun is low to the horizon, the color spectrum leans heavily to the red end, bathing everything in warm golden and red hues. The image below of snow geese taking flight was taken just as the sun crested above the horizon.

Green denotes a feeling of growth and prosperity. Very fitting in this image taken on Washington's fertile Olympic Peninsula.

The image of this elephant family in Kenya was captured at dusk creating it's muted blue tones. The thick dust stirred up by their movements adds to the mysterious and sublime feel of the photograph.

When searching out monochomatic scenes always be on the lookout for inclement weather and unusual atmospheric conditions. This wild burro was photographed in a dry lakebed as high winds stirred up blowing sands.

The overall reddish-brown tone of the photograph below adds to the bleakness of the scorched landscape.

Shades of blue highlight the power of a breaking ocean wave.

Brilliant reds highlight nature's fury as a river of volcanic lava spills into the ocean.

Harmonizing colors of muted blues and greens paint a very placid scene in the image below of manatees swimming in a natural spring in Florida.

Shades of purple at dusk bathe this Canada goose in light that instills the viewer with a sense of calm and peace.