That One Time I Took My Leica Into The Woods And the Rain

In early 2016, a few friends, my wife and I went adventuring around Lighthouse Park and Horseshoe Bay area. Despite it being pouring rain, I took my Leica out and proceeded to take photographs of our hike. Thankfully the trees around us blocked most of the rain but it was still a bit slippery (wearing shoes with little grip = bad idea) and very moist. Through it all, I felt like I was able to get some neat photographs of an area that is normally not captured in black and white.

The Immensity of Trees

While I photograph a majority of the time in black and white, I truly feel that there are times when colour is the approach I want to take. The tone of an entire image, or even set of images, changes when using colour or black and white.

I know there are times when we photographers have said that we change colour images to black and white when they're kinda sucky and "black and white will save it". Not to me. Black and white is a language... a language of photography. Colour is another language. Just like languages, different tones and expressions can affect the mood of the conversation and/or... photograph. 

To me, black and white is not a crutch to lean on nor is it a "style" I choose. To me, it's a way of thinking and a way of seeing the world... 

Then I see a lush forest with a brilliant green and think to myself "I can best express this feeling I get from this moment using colour." 

The images were all taken during a recent rainy/cloudy/overcast hike around Lighthouse Park in Vancouver. 
Nikon film camera + Ektar 100 film (scans adjusted to a Portra setting)