Viewing New Mexico in Black and White
New Mexico has been alive with fall colors; but lately, we’ve all been seeing New Mexico in black and white. We get to see through the eyes of ordinary people, our friends, family, and colleagues, a unique peek at the peripheral lives of New Mexicans. The Black and White Challenge that’s been sweeping the internet lately is a fun photography challenge that everyone can enjoy being a part of. It gives us all an opportunity to share a piece of our lives that isn’t always seen on social media: the everyday things, without people, without stories, without reasons. People all over New Mexico are taking part in the challenge, right now, including many professional photographers.
Where Did the Black and White Challenge Come From?
Black and white photography has always been a source of inspiration and a great way to for professional and amateur photographers to challenge themselves and compete. There have always been black and white photography contests, monochrome photography awards, and black and white photography challenges.
This also isn’t the first time that we’ve seen black and white photo challenges on social media. In August of 2016, for example, there was a hashtag, ‘#challengeacceptedblackandwhite’ on Facebook and Instagram. This one was a little bit different from the current challenge because it involved black and white selfies, whereas the current challenge has a rule that the photo cannot have people in it. If you haven’t taken part in the 2017 Black and White Challenge yet, get some tips for photographers in New Mexico, and give it a try. The rules are:
For the 2016 black and white selfies challenge, many thought the cause was to “show support for the battle against cancer.” It is possible that someone originally had the idea of showing support for those fighting cancer; but if so, that message was lost along the way. The current black and white challenge, much like the last one, does not have a specific cause to support or a known and verifiable source. It is simply a fun challenge that went viral because so many people enjoy photography and appreciate an artistic challenge like this.
What’s Your New Mexico in Black and White?
We wanted to experience your view of everyday life in New Mexico in black and white; so, we’ve scoured social media for the most interesting photos from the Black and White Challenge in New Mexico.
The Black and White Challenge doesn’t have any defined timeline, so you can take part whenever you like. Simply copy and paste the following into your status with each day’s photo, and challenge a new person every time:
Seven days. Seven black and white photos of your life. No people. No explanation. Challenge someone new each day. Day 1 of 7 – I challenge [tag a friend].
Then, come back here and share your view of New Mexico in black and white!
