Three Black and Whites

While searching through google images for black and white photographs, these three grasped my attention.  Although the subjects are completely unrelated, the feeling they evoke is uniform.  A romantic, yet mysterious and dark emotion is portrayed.  The subjects - a crow, a cat, and a women - have been all viewed at one point as "evil" or seductive.  The essence of foreboding seeps from each image and gives them the intriguing quality that originally lept at me.

Why this class?

Recently, I have developed a keen interest in photography (although it has always interested me) and have been eager to explore it.  I was given a sony H5 digital camera last Christmas, but still dont know how to really use it to its fullest.  The simplicity of manual and black and white photos is highly attractive.  My expectations include image composure, developing, camera functions, and a new artistic insight to film taking.  I guess my goals are to complete these expectations and leave the class with the knowledge to work on my own and a portfolio of beautiful photographs.