I ♥ Faces - Week 13 ~ "Dramatic B&W"

This week over at iheartfaces they are looking for; 

"... B&W photos that are dramatic, sensational and/or moody in the way they are presented. Please don't just enter a typical portrait photo that has been converted to B&W. Something about your entry must catch our eye as being dramatic or moody for it to be passed along to the Guest Photographer Judge as a top entry for them to choose from."


So what is the definition of 'dramatic'

• suitable to or characteristic of drama; "a dramatic entrance in a swirling cape"; "a dramatic rescue at sea"
• sensational in appearance or thrilling in effect; "a dramatic sunset"; "a dramatic pause"; "a spectacular display of northern lights"; "it was a spectacular play"; "his striking good looks always created a sensation"
• ...marked by power and expressiveness and a histrionic or theatrical style; "a dramatic tenor"; "a dramatic soprano" 

Other words that came back were flamboyant, striking and effective.

My biggest struggle this week has not been to define 'drama' so much though, but to define what a 'typical' portrait is and then NOT use one! I predominantly take photos of life happening around me, I seldom pose my kids, or anyone else's and if I do, I aim for the 'atypical'. I have a wealth of wonderful photographs that look awesome in B&W. Some are more 'striking' than other, some more 'atypical', but many, many are, at the end of the day, just converted portraits! So this has proved to be REALLY tough to choose the 'right' picture. Do I go just for a striking B&W where the drama is in the editing? Do I go for a portrait where there is drama happening in the shot (which typically has a less dramatic B&W effect)? Do I go for a picture with lots of emotion and try to convey drama that way? Or do I try to get all of those things in, AND have one of my best, most well taken, crisp shots, because after all - this IS a competition!!


So, WOW ~ tall order! Too many of the pictures I might like to a have used have children in who I do not have permission to post to the web :(   Having got it down to about a dozen possibles, I decided to save the one that I really wanted to use, as it fits well with another upcoming theme in the next few weeks, so you will get to see that soon enough :D


In the end I've gone with this one because it does actually tick a lot of the boxes in terms of defining 'drama' and 'atypical'! It's not my favourite photo, but I do like it for it's energy ~ DD was dancing the way only small boys can! :D

If you're interested to see the pictures that almost made it here you can check out my set on Flickr ~ Black & White ~ some of them are there, or you can CLICK HERE to see them all in one post :D

For more dramatic B&W's this week, don't forget to check on over at I ♥ Faces, there's bound to be some 'striking' shots this week! 


But before you leave PLEASE leave your comments ~ good or bad, I'm thick skinned and it all adds to my education :D ~ THANKS!