Everything is blooming most recklessly; if it were voices instead of colours, there would be an unbelievable shrieking into the heart of the night.
Rainer Maria Rilke
Spring is the most colourful of seasons so how can we best capture its wonders in monochrome? The colours of spring are special to us as we transition from the muted, often monochromatic tones of winter to a vibrant explosion of life and renewal. So what happens if we remove those colours from our photos?
That’s the challenge set for us this week by Dawn for Monochrome Madness. For me spring = flowers. So in response I have gone back through my spring photos from the last few years to find some flowers with enough structure and definition to work well in black and white – or so I hope! Tulips seemed to be among the most successful, magnolia too. Blossom was harder but I did try a few.
Do these work, I wonder? I do like how the monochrome treatment brings out the structure and details of the flowers. But on balance, I think I’d prefer to celebrate the spring in colour! Nevertheless, it was a very interesting exercise.
All of these shots were taken between 2021 and 2025, in my local area. They were edited with Nik Silver Efex Pro, from colour originals. However as most were from my archives, many of those ‘originals’ would previously been edited with Nik Color Efex Pro!
Tulip in a vase
Centre of a tulip
Magnolia
Magnolia Stellata
Another magnolia …
… and yet another!
[they’re my favourite of all the wonderful spring-time flowers]
Blossom on a street tree
More street tree blossom
Blossom in the rain
Crocus
Catkins
And a final magnolia!
39 Comments
Annie Berger
Some can almost be mistaken for architectural drawings, Sarah!
Rose
These are beautiful Sarah. I’d love to have a room covered with all of these flowers on canvass. I especially liked the ‘tulip in a vase’, both ‘blossoms on a street tree’, and ‘blossom in the rain’.🩷💮
Sarah Wilkie
Oh that’s a lovely comment, thank you Rose 😊
Alli Templeton
Even if you do prefer the colour versions (which I can understand as Spring is all about nature bursting into colourful life), this was indeed a worthwhile exercise. They’re still a beautiful group of shots, and to me they put the flowers in almost a scientific light, where it becomes about the detail, the individual parts of the flower and how they work together. You appreciate nature, as always, although this time not for it’s glorious technicolour, but for all it’s genius. I love the minute detail of the catkins, and without the colour you’re forced to appreciate that, and it’s amazing. So well done for rising to another interesting challenge, Sarah. And have a very Happy Easter! 🙂
Sarah Wilkie
Oh, thanks so much Alli 😊 Yes, I did feel that the monochrome editing brought out different aspects of the flowers, such as the structure and overall ‘design’. I do always say that using B&W forces you to look differently at your subject, so this is proof of that! Happy Easter to you and your family 🐣
Alli Templeton
🙂
Easymalc
Excellent Sarah!
Sarah Wilkie
Thank you Malcolm 🙂
Suzanne
The header and the street tree are amazing, the first because of it’s dreaminess and the second for it’s sharper detail. As I’ve always stated, B&W photography is a favourite of mine so enjoyed your work, Sarah.
Sarah Wilkie
Thank you Suzanne 🙂 I’m pleased you like that tulip in particular!
the eternal traveller
We’ve just had a month in Japan. The trees were stunning and every time we thought they couldn’t get better the next ones were amazing too. We also saw lots of magnolias and Japanese/Chinese quince in flower – so pretty.
Sarah Wilkie
Oh yes, Japanese trees and gardens are really special 😀
Leanne Cole
Many flowers that you know when they are flowering it is spring, like the tulips and magnolias. Stunning Sarah.
Sarah Wilkie
Yes, there are certain flowers that as well as looking gorgeous are also special to see because they mark the arrival of spring 🙂 Thank you Leanne!
Kymber @booomcha
Your black and white photos are stunning! I really like them a lot.🌺
Sarah Wilkie
Thank you so much, I appreciate the compliment 😊
Kymber @booomcha
It’s my pleasure.
Egídio
Macro is the way to go. Excellent!
Sarah Wilkie
Thank you Egidio, that’s exactly how I felt about the challenge 🙂
restlessjo
The street tree is my favourite. You’ve done a great job, Sarah, but I’d far rather see them in their natural beauty xx
Anabel @ The Glasgow Gallivanter
Your tulip header looks wonderful in b&w – the others also look good but, as I’ve said to others on this challenge, colour would be better!
Sarah Wilkie
Thank you Anabel, that was one of the ones I was happier with 🙂
Sarah Wilkie
That’s interesting Jo as it wouldn’t be one of my top picks – I prefer the blossom in the rain, the stellata and the last magnolia, perhaps because of the contrast levels. But I agree about seeing their natural beauty 🙂
Amy
Stunning photos of spring in black and white, Sarah!
Sarah Wilkie
Thanks so much Amy 😊
Monkey's Tale
Your feature tulip is wonderful, but I’m glad spring is colourful. 😊 Maggie
Sarah Wilkie
Thank you Maggie 🙂 That tulip is a recent shot, I expect I’ll be featuring my colour version in my end of month Changing Seasons round-up!
margaret21
I do think that magnolia and tulips both respond quite well to monochrome, and these images prove that/ But as you say, Spring is above all the time for colour
Sarah Wilkie
Thank you Margaret 🙂 I felt some of these shots worked quite well as images but I still missed the colour in many of them! I was happiest with the header tulip, the last magnolia and the stellata, and the blossom in the rain.
margaret21
Rain is always good in b/w. And yes, I tend to agree with you.
kzmcb
I think several of those work. The blossoms and magnolia are very good.
Sarah Wilkie
Thank you, I’m pleased you think so 🙂 I was happier with some of the magnolias than others!
Sue
You have presented a wonderful ode to spring blooms in monochrome, Sarah!
Sarah Wilkie
Aw, thank you Sue – that’s a lovely description of my post 😊
Sue
Oh, good!
Dawn M. Miller
These are gorgeous!
Sarah Wilkie
Thanks so much Dawn 😊
Anne Sandler
Brilliant Sarah!
Sarah Wilkie
Thank you Anne 🙂