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Which do you prefer? (B&W version or colour version)

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trenthansen

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I took this photo in Dec 2003 with my then brand new DR. My father took me across the street, showed me this barn (in -17Centigrade!) and helped me with the shoot. After some discussion, I've decided to make a B&W conversion... which do you prefer? I used channel mixer monochrome mode for the conversion.

Regards,

Trent



 
Personally, I prefer the color version. To me, the B&W version has lost to much detail in the shadows. I think a B&W rendering would be nice, I just think you need to work on it a little more.

--

Please respect my copyright and do not repost my images. This includes edits that show possible improvements. I appreciate your thoughts and ideas but I want to retain control of how and when my images are seen. Thanks!

It is easier to blame the firmware than the wetware.

If you are a new user chances are good your question is answered in the FAQ at:
http://www.marius.org/eos300dfaq.php

For a gallery of my photographs, see:
http://www.pbase.com/ratphoto

See my profile for my equipment
 
I can probably fix that by adding a higher "blue" percent and lowering the reds and greens in the channel mixer... A number of people have suggested making a black and white version of that photo - I'd be interested in any suggestions you might have.

Regards,

Trent
RATPhoto said:
Personally, I prefer the color version. To me, the B&W version has
lost to much detail in the shadows. I think a B&W rendering would
be nice, I just think you need to work on it a little more.

--
Please respect my copyright and do not repost my images. This
includes edits that show possible improvements. I appreciate your
thoughts and ideas but I want to retain control of how and when my
images are seen. Thanks!

It is easier to blame the firmware than the wetware.

If you are a new user chances are good your question is answered in
the FAQ at:
http://www.marius.org/eos300dfaq.php

For a gallery of my photographs, see:
http://www.pbase.com/ratphoto

See my profile for my equipment
Click to expand...
 
trenthansen said:
I took this photo in Dec 2003 with my then brand new DR. My father
took me across the street, showed me this barn (in -17Centigrade!)
and helped me with the shoot. After some discussion, I've decided
to make a B&W conversion... which do you prefer? I used channel
mixer monochrome mode for the conversion.

Regards,

Trent



Click to expand...
--
Keefe
 
I fooled around with it some. Using the channel mixer method, I prefer:

Red: +140
Green: -20
Blue: +20

I then like going in and using the burn tool to darken the clouds.

--

Please respect my copyright and do not repost my images. This includes edits that show possible improvements. I appreciate your thoughts and ideas but I want to retain control of how and when my images are seen. Thanks!

It is easier to blame the firmware than the wetware.

If you are a new user chances are good your question is answered in the FAQ at:
http://www.marius.org/eos300dfaq.php

For a gallery of my photographs, see:
http://www.pbase.com/ratphoto

See my profile for my equipment
 
at first look I prefer the B&W, but looking again I see the loss of detail in the highlights of the building and in the shadows. If you could bring down the highlights (less red) there and pump the darks bits a bit, it'd be BRILLIANT
--
AJ
http://www.pbase.com/manjade
 
trenthansen said:
I took this photo in Dec 2003 with my then brand new DR. My father
took me across the street, showed me this barn (in -17Centigrade!)
and helped me with the shoot. After some discussion, I've decided
to make a B&W conversion... which do you prefer? I used channel
mixer monochrome mode for the conversion.

Regards,

Trent



Click to expand...
 
trenthansen said:
I took this photo in Dec 2003 with my then brand new DR. My father
took me across the street, showed me this barn (in -17Centigrade!)
and helped me with the shoot. After some discussion, I've decided
to make a B&W conversion... which do you prefer? I used channel
mixer monochrome mode for the conversion.

Regards,

Trent



Click to expand...
 
Given the state of disrepair of the barn, the black & white version creates a stark and somber scene. More impressive.
trenthansen said:
I took this photo in Dec 2003 with my then brand new DR. My father
took me across the street, showed me this barn (in -17Centigrade!)
and helped me with the shoot. After some discussion, I've decided
to make a B&W conversion... which do you prefer? I used channel
mixer monochrome mode for the conversion.

Regards,

Trent



Click to expand...
 
The color version is nice, but lacks a "mood".

The b&w picture seems to have more to it. However, as many have said already, I would play with the settings on the B&W picture a bit more.
 
Hi,

Nice shot, I like the b&w as well, but I agree with the other poster that a sepia might be nice.

If using photoshop there is an action I use on my pics that gives several diffrent options of a pic such as silver, platinum and several diffrent versions of sepia. It is called Thomas Niemann's Tones and is available for download from the download section of http://www.atncentral.com

Cheers

Michael
--
Whenever I feel blue, I start breathing again.

http://photobucket.com/albums/v467/minsky/
 
Just my opinion, but the clouds don't look as good in the B&W. Also, the overall contrast seems to be a little too much. I don't know, it may look better at a larger size. I just don't see quite the tonal range that I love about a good black and white. Again, the final print, at 300dpi may look gorgeous, but the little tiny thing on my screen looks a little too contrasty.

But, that's just in relation to the original. I like the picture. Perhaps a little more work on the B&W would make it better. I normally favor B&W. It's what I prefer to shoot myself. Still, the composition and everything else is very good. And by itself, I like the B&W, but having seen the color, I wish the tonality of the B&W was a little cleaner.

klinux
trenthansen said:
I took this photo in Dec 2003 with my then brand new DR. My father
took me across the street, showed me this barn (in -17Centigrade!)
and helped me with the shoot. After some discussion, I've decided
to make a B&W conversion... which do you prefer? I used channel
mixer monochrome mode for the conversion.

Regards,

Trent



Click to expand...
 
the B&W looks almost IR to me or as if taken with a very dark red filter. I like the effect of red filters on B&W film. Someone mentioned reducing red levels. Can you explain how you do the conversion manually? I have ever only used the "automatic" functions of image editors or actually shot directly in B&W.
 
I found this tutorial and action on the ‘net after talking with a friend about B&W conversions in Photoshop.

The Photoshop action:

http://www.thelightsright.com/DigitalDarkroom/PhotoshopTools/TLRB&WConversion.htm

And here’s the tutorial:

http://www.thelightsright.com/DigitalDarkroom/LearningGalleries/B&WFineArt/B&WFineArt.htm

I used a mixture of the tutorial with my own ideas and my friend's idea to add a channel mixer (from one of his digital photography books):

--------

1 - choose channel mixer from adjustment layers panel at the bottom of the layers palette
2 - channel mixer click monochrome on bottom left
3 - use sliders to play but stick total at 100
4 - tweek brightness using constant slider at bottom
5 - click OK in channel mixer
6 - edit if you need to.

ANSEL ADAMS

1 - increase red to 160, green to 140, lower blue to –200
--------

I ended up with red +100, green +80, blue –80.

Regards,

Trent
 
Also, you can read my BW conversion method post (within this thread) to find more details and links to a great tutorial and photoshop action I found on the 'net.

Regards,

Trent
 
trenthansen said:
I took this photo in Dec 2003 with my then brand new DR. My father
took me across the street, showed me this barn (in -17Centigrade!)
and helped me with the shoot. After some discussion, I've decided
to make a B&W conversion... which do you prefer? I used channel
mixer monochrome mode for the conversion.

Regards,

Trent
Click to expand...
 
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