Sunday Stills Monthly Color Challenge: Into the #Black

Welcome to the Sunday Stills monthly color challenge! To acknowledge the month of October and the Halloween season, I thought we could explore various subjects that feature the color black. Images in black and white and monochrome are also encouraged but not required.

“To see in color is a delight for the eye, but to see in black and white is a delight for the soul.” – Andri Cauldwell

Out of the Blue and Into the Black

“October Country…That country where the hills are fog and the rivers are mist; where noons go quickly, dusks and twilights linger, and midnights stay.” ­–Ray Bradbury

October night skies put on a great show with supermoons and other cosmic phenomena.

moon
October’s Hunter/Harvest Moon

Looking up at the dreamy Northern Lights.

night sky
Aurora, Winthrop, WA

Another Space-Ex Satellite launch seen over San Diego skies.

Space EX launch
Image courtesy of my daughter
Got moonshine?

Don’t forget the moonshine! 😊

Yellowstone’s Black and White Perspectives

I recently shared images of our first-ever trip to Yellowstone National Park in its Autumn glory, showcasing its orange and golden hues. I edited these photos and converted them to black and white.

“Black and white creates a strange dreamscape that color never can.” – Jack Antonoff

My brother snapped this image of their early morning walk to Yellowstone’s Grand Prismatic Springs. No editing necessary for its monochrome hue and dreamy quality.

boardwalk yellowstone
Image courtesy of my brother
Mammoth Hot Springs

Yellowstone’s Mammoth Hot Springs’ otherworldly landscape also appears in monochrome.

“Dare to live the life you’ve dreamed for yourself. Go forward and make your dreams come true.” — Ralph Waldo Emerson

The Season for Black Decor

“You can have any color, as long as it’s black.” – Henry Ford

The season of Autumn and Halloween officially kicks off my need for over-the-top home decorating, which lasts well beyond Christmas. We stopped at an antique store in Bozeman, Montana, where I found this moose and tree candleholder. I added the wooden figures and pumpkins.

seasonal table decoration
Dining Table Decor
Harvest decor

Even the birds are decked out in shades of black and white.

There were plenty of Canada Geese dreamily floating on Lake Spokane, seen during this week’s walk along our local Centennial Trail.

geese

This raven (seen at a dining spot in Yellowstone) acted tame, so people would throw it scraps from their lunches. It was successful.

raven
Yellowstone Raven
gray swatch

Inspiring Photo Challenges This Week

Each week, I find additional inspiration from my fellow bloggers’ photo challenges. I enjoy incorporating these into my Sunday Stills weekly themes.

Sunday Stills Photo Challenge Reminders

The Sunday Stills weekly-themed photo challenge is easy to join. You have all week to share and link your post. Please use your own original images, whether new or from your archives.

  • Remember to title your blog post a little differently from mine.
  • Please create a new post for the theme or link to a recent one.
  • Entries for this theme can be posted all week.
  • Tag your post “Sunday Stills.”
  • Don’t forget to create a pingback to this post so that other participants can read your post.
  • I also recommend adding your post’s URL to the comments.

If you are participating in the photo challenge, I look forward to seeing how you interpret this week’s theme! Creativity is encouraged, so please share your own photographs (old or new), poems, original short stories, and music inspired by the theme.

Join me next week as we explore Autumn (and Spring) Plant Life. And if you haven’t yet, please visit my new challenge, The Flower Hour Photo Challenge

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118 responses to “Sunday Stills Monthly Color Challenge: Into the #Black”

  1. […] More of Terri’s Color Challenge: Black, and/or Black and White. […]

    Liked by 1 person

  2. of course I love your Yellowstone images. Especially the mammoth. The aurora was fascinating to see. They are much like snowflakes, aren’t they? And every second changing. But my favorite is your super moon and how it appears to be hugged by the tree. .

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thank you, Donna! I had fun with that moon shot, such a fleeting moment!

      Liked by 1 person

  3. […] Sunday Stills – Monthly Color Challenge – Black. She’s got some fabulous photos. Several of her photos reminded me of how fabulous our skies are. […]

    Liked by 1 person

  4. The aurora is spectacular, Terri!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thanks, Sofia! I felt so lucky to catch this one in Northern Washington last year. Very high Kp index.

      Liked by 1 person

  5. Stunning photos, Terri – especially the lights

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thank you, Toni. I will never get tired of seeing the aurora. This was super intense too.

      Like

  6. I love black, and that Northern Lights image is spectacular in all its glory. 🙂 x

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Black is such a statement contrasting color that makes all other colors pop, right Debby? Black is a great neutral for decorating. I was so lucky to frame the aurora against the autumn maples.

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Absolutely Terri! My wardrobe consists primarily, half black and the other half bold and bright, and of course, a bit of leopard. 🤣 Oh ya, that is a magnificent zero-in my friend. 🥰

        Liked by 1 person

      2. Gotta have the leopard ❤️😁

        Liked by 1 person

      3. Always! 🤣🥰

        Liked by 1 person

  7. This is such a lovely bird and the photo is great too

    Liked by 1 person

  8. […] Join Terri’s Sunday Stills Monthly Color Challenge: Into the #Black […]

    Liked by 1 person

  9. Oh wow, Terri! The first three are my favourites!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thank you, so much, Anne-Christine! The moon on the branch was a fun capture!

      Like

  10. I adore your first photo! Black and white photos show such detail and crispness. And, the candleholder is a stunning piece. What a great find, Terri.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thank you, Eugi! The candle holder is something I can leave up all year. I live in pine tree and moose country 😁

      Like

  11. What a great find in that antique store, Terri. Would you happen to know how old the candle holder is? I can see it’s going to last well past Halloween and beyond Christmas, given the fir trees and mooses. I often look for vintage Christmas items, but some of it is priced well beyond my price range. If only I’d kept some of the Christmas decor from my childhood days.

    The moon capture is excellent, sitting on that tree branch. You would have had another great capture if you’d had it hanging from the same branch.

    Have a great week.

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Thank you, Hugh, it’s great to see you back! That moon moved so fast I was lucky to get the shot.
      I bought the candle holder at an antique store but no idea of its age. Its very sturdy and the moose are overlaid in wood. I paid a whopping $35! I can leave it up all year with seasonal colored candles.
      Glad you’re back to the blog world. Hope you had a great break!

      Liked by 1 person

    2. Or had a ghost behind the moon, or a man with a camera!

      Liked by 1 person

  12. […] Sunday Stills Monthly Colour Challenge: Into the #Black I started looking for black birds, these I found in my archives. I was happy to find this […]

    Liked by 1 person

  13. Nice variety in the galleries, but my favorite is your opening set with those gorgeous night skies.

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Thank you, John! The skies know how to put on a show.

      Liked by 1 person

  14. […] Sunday Stills Color Challenge: black […]

    Liked by 1 person

  15. […] facade covered in murals/street art painted by various local artists. Sharing this for Terri’s #SundayStills – October’s color theme: black or black and […]

    Liked by 1 person

  16. […] I am joining Terri’s Monthly Color Challenge for October:  Black and/ or black and white. […]

    Liked by 1 person

  17. The geese floating in the blue water are my favourite of all. Also, I love the monochrome path. Amazing post, Terri.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thank you, dear Hazel. There were a lot of Canada geese out last week enjoying the sunshine.

      Liked by 1 person

      1. My pleasure, Terri. I’m enjoying your place watching through your photos.

        Liked by 1 person

  18. you’ve got some amazing shots! Brava!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thank you, I appreciate your visit.

      Liked by 1 person

  19. Great photos for the theme.

    Liked by 1 person

      1. Tuesday I’ll publish my dreamy post. : )

        Liked by 1 person

  20. […] Terri’s Sunday Stills Monthly Colour Challenge: Into the #Black […]

    Liked by 1 person

  21. I like your collection of photos for the black-and-white challenge Terri – my favorites are the woodpecker, the moon and the Aurora shots. That is some moon balanced out there on the branch! The Aurora is in festive Christmas colors in the night sky. I like the harvest decor as well. I haven’t put anything out yet – I had better get going on it. For me, once the weather turned coolish (thankfully), I’ve been getting out and walking as much as possible. Today I came home from walking and did some outside painting – just perfect weather for that. For my post, I combined a few old B&W shots of moi, plus a creature that is black and white. A skunk? A zebra? I will keep you guessing ’til it posts at 11:00 p.m.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thank you, Linda! The moon was a fun catch. I would like to see woodpeckers here. That one was from Sacramento. We get the Northern Flickers here all winter but they’re not as woodpeckery 😁. I’ll have to remember my aurora shots for my December clr theme.
      I’m glad you’re out walking, it rained here all weekend. I walked on the trail on Thursday, our last 80 degree day of this year. Can’t wait to read your post!

      Liked by 1 person

      1. I like when people capture the moon or the sun in a sunset in fun pictures. I’ve seen people take a picture making it look like they are holding the sun in their hands. We have Flickers, but I hear them more than I see them. We have rain for four days at the weekend and into next week. Since we have a nice week this week through Friday, I’ll get every mile I can for now.

        Liked by 1 person

  22. Wow, Terri, you have some gorgeous images! That harvest moon! Oo-la-la! and your Northern Lights are amazing! (I love your brother’s image at Yellowstone, too!) Here’s my offering this morning, from Hawaii! Playing in Light Room – Black and White in Hawaii – Cats and Trails and Garden Tales

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thank you, Susanne! The moon was a fun capture. I must have 500 shots of the two wild northern lights shows from May and October 2024. At some point they all look alike 😆

      Liked by 1 person

      1. How nice! Just oull one out whenever you need it! 😄

        Liked by 1 person

  23. […] I’ve already shared a few times from our trip to Hawaii last month, but I thought I’d take another look for this weeks’ Sunday Stills Color Challenge, #Black & White. […]

    Liked by 1 person

  24. Wow! What an amazing gallery, Terri.

    Liked by 1 person

  25. Thank you, Joe! I just replied to Tina who lives on Kiahwah Island and never sees auroras. Glad to help. 😁 2024 was a bonanza for auroras, this year, sightings here have been a bust.
    I chuckled at your road story and the raven! He was probably hoping for some food. Glad you were rescued. Nice shot!!

    Like

  26. Terri,

    Your Northern Lights picture is a “10.” I’ve never seen them, so thanks! Black and white photography is fun, but getting it right is tricky. You did very well. Your raven reminded me of a picture I took during a camping trip in our mountains. I got trapped on a road in a windstorm, and there was no one but me and a raven on the road. Eventually two mountain men with a chainsaw rescued me before the raven said “Nevermore.” Have a great week! Joe

    Liked by 1 person

  27. You know I’m insanely jealous of your northern lights Terri – your images are the only way I see them! Also loved your brother’s and daughter’s images this week – quite a family affair! Nicely done.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thank you, Tina! I’m glad we had several sightings last year. Bust for me this year. I have enough images to last forever. One day I’ll see them in Finland or northern Canada. I also hadn’t planned to share both family pics, but “dreamy” defined the misty Yellowstone pic. Fun themes this week!

      Like

  28. I so love the moon photo Terri. A wonderful gallery of black in photos. That Yellowstone Raven looks like it has had a hard day 😂

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thank you, Brian! It was a quick and lucky capture. Seemed like the raven was a juvenile. They all looked like they ate good but I doubt salty human food is good for them in the long run! 😞

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Any human food isn’t good for any bird or animal

        Liked by 1 person

      2. Agree! I’m glad I have a backyard full of sunflowers gone to seed now. Fall/winter birds like finches and juncos have just been sighted today, hooray!

        Liked by 1 person

      3. Goodbye sunflower seeds 😂

        Liked by 1 person

  29. That woodpecker is adorable! He’s wearing such a cute little red beanie! Your brother’s photo from Yellowstone is outstanding! Such a perfect capture.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thank you, Janis! The woodpecker was one of my first bird pics from my then new camera. And…that’s when Liesbet stayed with us in 2017. Good times!

      Like

    1. Thank you, Lisa. The Kp index was 9 or some off-the-chart measurement up in the northern Cascades of Washington. Perfect timing as we there for a wedding 😄

      Liked by 1 person

  30. […] Terri thought we could explore various subjects that feature the color black. Images in black and white and monochrome are also encouraged but not required. […]

    Liked by 1 person

  31. Teri, I love how you framed the moon shot, and the Aurora speaks for itself. Beautiful presentation.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thank you, Suzanne! The moon was lucky and everything cooperated. The moon moved quickly and was obscured by the trees within 5 minutes. Luck is 50% of photography, at least in my case!

      Like

  32. Beautiful photographs! That Hunter’s Moon was awesome! Your moose candle holder was a great purchase. I love it with the orange candles. Beautifully done.
    The monochromatic Yellowstone shots are fabulous.
    Happy Fall!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thank you, Nancy! I caught that moon by chance! I’m glad you like the candle holder. Its 2 feet tall. It came with green candles which I can use for Christmas. It was a fun find and ridiculously inexpensive considering it was hand-made out of cast-iron. The moose bodies are wood overlay.

      Liked by 1 person

  33. Terri, what a beautiful post! The October moon took my breath away! And I love Yellowstone in black and white.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thank you, Beth! The color black seems to make any other color pop!

      Liked by 1 person

  34. I can’t seem to say enough how much I enjoy your bird photos, Terry, and your landscapes here are beautiful. The Harvest Moon hardly looks real. And awesome monotone photo from your brother – it runs in the family!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Aww, thank you dear Diana! I usually use my camera for bird pics, but the raven was very close. The geese were well-lit, too. My mom’s side of the family are artistic.

      Liked by 1 person

      1. You inherited the genes. 🙂

        Liked by 1 person

  35. Wow, you framed that moon perfectly!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. I did, thanks! It moved fast, too!

      Liked by 1 person

    1. Thank you, LL, sorry your link/comment landed in my spam folder 😦

      Liked by 1 person

  36. I love the quote from Andri Cauldwell… what a marvelous perspective. The soul has its own color palette probably unique to each person too.

    Wonderful and skillful photos. I enjoyed the photo of Old Faithful and many thanks to your brother. I see that photography talents run in the family…what a fantastic photo of the Prismatic Springs….magical!

    And as I may have mentioned a time or two, it gladdens my heart to see Canada geese wherever they roam. I loved seeing them in a leisurely swim at Lake Spokane. Thank you, Terri, for the challenge and inspiration.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thank you, Suzette! I prefer color, especially this time of year, but the color black creates such amazing contrasts. My grandmother was a painter…our family has countless paintings of hers hanging in our homes. I feel blessed to have a good eye for composition. Canada geese loved wintering in Sacramento (where I lived for 30+ years). It was a thrill to watch flocks of them ascend and descend into the lakes. I never got good pics then.

      Liked by 1 person

      1. You are blessed indeed with beautiful talents, Terri. Thank you for sharing your work and for encouraging others.

        Like

      2. Aww, shucks, Suzette. Thank you!

        Like

  37. Lots of variety here Terri. My favorites are the woodpecker, the raven, and your brother’s dreamy Yellowstone photo! Here’s mine this week: https://grahamsisland.com/2025/10/12/black-and-white-some-in-color/

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thank you, Graham! I had fun selecting images for the post. I like when the birds come ready with black and white colors.

      Liked by 1 person

  38. […] This week’s Sunday Stills color challenge theme is ‘Black (and/or) Black-and-White.’ See more responses here. […]

    Liked by 1 person

  39. All lovely photos, Terri! Happy Sunday. 😊

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thank you, John! Back at ya!

      Liked by 1 person

  40. Shooting B&W film is a true challenge. One never knows what they’ve got until you get the shots back weeks later.

    Fortunately, technology has made it much easier.

    Love the Raven!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thank you, Wayne! I took photography in college (1982). Loved it but working with film, camera and light room was tedious. I actually did OK with many shots. Glad you liked the raven. There were flocks of them patiently waiting for diners to drop crumbs.

      Liked by 1 person

      1. did you know a flock of Ravens is called an “Unkindness”?
        I swear some of these names need to be changed. Maybe a “Cloak” of Ravens?

        Liked by 1 person

      2. Yes, so funny. They congregate around the entire area of the Old Faithful Geyser complex. They seemed quite kind!🖤

        Liked by 1 person

      3. kind and ….very smart~

        Liked by 1 person

  41. I love these, Terri 😍 the Northern Lights are magical, the seasonal images are lovely and your brother’s photo is wonderful.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thank you, Cathy! When my brother shot that, it was early August. They went super early. He said the mist covered the colorful spring. Its a cool Pic for sure!

      Liked by 1 person

      1. It really is!

        Liked by 1 person

  42. These are beautiful photographs, Terri.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thanks so much, Robbie! Finding black and using B&W photography is a challenge for me also.

      Liked by 1 person

      1. I sometimes convert pictures to B&W. It can be fun.

        Liked by 1 person

  43. What a collection. And love the quotes, too.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thanks, Jacqui! The L-A theme of dreamy worked well with mine today. One quote that included “dreamy” had already been chosen before I knew their theme. Dreamy works with “worddreams,” right? 😄

      Liked by 1 person

      1. I missed that until you mentioned it. Yes!

        Liked by 1 person

  44. The pictures are great, your whole family must be talented photographers with keen eyes.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thank you, Peg! What a nice compliment–amazing what cell phones will capture!

      Liked by 1 person

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About Me

I’m a former university adjunct Professor and retired recreation & parks practitioner living in North-Eastern Washington State near the Idaho border. Second Wind Leisure Perspectives is my blog about living a leisure lifestyle, including photography, friends, fitness, and fun.

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