Another free week this week. I like these weeks, I like having the freedom to try things and doing what I want. As you can see, I am back to doing some architecture.
I’ve been trying ON1 Photo RAW 2025 for over a month now, but I haven’t really tried it with my long exposures or architectural images. It was time I did.
I did use some presets and I decided to try the ones that imitate black and white film. Those of us who used to do film will remember that different films produced different results. I was a Illford user, and I also liked the Kodak BW400CN. However, for this post I used lots of different ones. I also added a pale cream to most of them as well.
Here are the results.
I quite like the results and think I might have to try seeing what else I can do with my architectural images.
Next week is another theme week, and our host is Dawn from The Day After and for Monochrome Madness #37 she wants us to do Modes of Transportation. That should be a good one I think.
Participating in Monochrome Madness
If you would like to participate in this challenge, please post photos on your blog and use the tag Monochrome-Madness, then we can all use the reader to see what you post.
You can also leave a pingback, do they still call them that? Basically, you put a link to the host’s monochrome madness post in your post, and it leaves a link in the comment section.
Don’t forget to check out the Monochrome Madness page. On this page, the next theme is announced and there is also all the information for participating. Please go and check it out. Click on the Monochrome Madness heading in the menu.
These are great Leanne! I have been Trying the On1 for a couple of weeks now, and so far it’s cool. I have always been a bit frustrated with black and white conversions in Photoshop as it just seems tough to get the look a want sometimes. I’ll need to try one with the On1 software. Thanks for the wonderful post and the learning.
Thank you Tim, great to hear you like ON1, I really enjoy using it. Doing them in ON1 is a bit different in that you develop first then do the conversions, add either a preset or use the black and white effect. Lots of options. You’re welcome.
Nice! Whenever I have taken pictures of the marina, I have always thought later that how cluttered the picture looks. May be I will try changing to monochrome and see the effect. My entry is here:
https://flightsofthesoul.wordpress.com/2025/06/20/just-snacking/
That’s interesting, I love marinas, though I like taking photos when the water is still. Thank you PR.
These modern buildings work well in black and white, and I like the cream filter you’ve added to many of them, although I tend to go in the other direction and use a slight selenium tint! I’ve used this free week to showcase a few shots from Sicily: https://www.toonsarah-travels.blog/gallery-seeing-sicily-in-black-and-white/
Thank you Sarah, I like that cream tone on them. I look forward to looking at them.
Nice ones, I like the framing on the last one, and the feature image is also my favorite.
Thank you Ritva.
hello leanne,
wonderful selection of images you have chosen for the challenge. I really like them especially the 2nd, 3rd and 5th.
many greetings robert
Thank you so much Robert.
Your architectural shots are always striking: almost other-worldly. Here’s my madness for this week. Not a tructure in sight! https://margaret21.com/2025/06/18/a-morning-with-the-deer-of-studley-royal/
Thank you Margaret.
Great work! Thanks for sharing.
Thank you.
Love these Leanne. On my trip next week I have decided to only use monochrome and it seems criminal given the highly saturated hues of the outback at the moment – reds greens blue skies – but monochrome makes me focus on shape texture light shadow and is a creative challenge. I’m looking forward to it.
Thank you Kate. Why don’t you do both Kate, shoot in raw and jpeg, then your raw will be colour and your jpegs will be black and white. Could be interesting to see the differences. Monochrome is great for those. Let me know how you go.
Yes Leanne I will do both but I’m only posting to Instagram with monochrome – but my galleries on the website will be whichever works best once I have time to process. I can’t imagine the drone footage in monochrome would be riveting although I haven’t tried it so …it would be a bit of post processing but what a lovely rabbit hole to fall down 😊
I don’t use instagram much anymore. I will look out. I don’t have a drone, decided I didn’t want one. It will be interesting to see what they will be like. It is a great rabbit hole.
I’ve had a drone for awhile but only getting into it more now – I’m getting my license next month and then can use it more for work. I don’t feel legitimate without a licence so bit the bullet
I thought about getting one but you have to get the licence etc and I thought I don’t think I want one, so I didn’t pursue. good luck with yours.
Here is mine for this week. https://wanderingteresa.com/hong-kong-in-monochrome/
A successful experiment Leanne. Really makes the buildings stand out
Thank you Brian.
I think these worked well and I love that first picture with the stick like building
Thank you so much Beth.
Nice B&W 😃😃😃. I have tried On1 a few years ago but the DxO tools are pretty much ingrained in my workflow. With the exception of some Abode filters I could easily leave Lightroom.
Thank you Ted. I don’t have those, I thought about getting them, then I watched a video that said if you want to get away from Adobe, then DxO weren’t good. I just want to see if I can stop using adobe, I hate how they are putting the price up and there are things that just don’t work as well in it anymore.
We used film in school. I was an illford fan also. I love watching my stuff develop. I also hated watching some develop… lol. The experience taught me just how patient Ansel must have been dodging and burning his way to fame.
I have to admit I hated the dark room, it used to do my head in when stuff didn’t work. I love digital so much more. He must have been so so patient, he was amazing. I have met people who love the darkroom and what you can do, not me.
Yes. I am strictly digital now too. I doubt I could come close to manipulating a negative the way we can with data. Shooting film for three years cost a bunch, but it also taught me to get it right in camera.
Film was expensive when I did it and I would assume it is way more now. I would never go back.
Great combo – archtecture and still water. And you capture them so wonderfully, Leanne.
Here is my free madness today: https://picturesimperfectblog.com/2025/06/17/singles-and-doubles/
Thank you so much Elke.
A good variety
Thank you Sue.
Awesome Leanne. I especially like your cover photo!
Thank you Anne, I think you liked that part of the city, right near the Webb Bridge.