T.H.E . U.R.B.A.N . L.A.N.D.S.C.A.P.E (Part III) – [10 pics]

Dan Bolger · Sep 4, 2007

These are wonderful shots! I agree with many of the other poster about your B&W conversions, they are stunning!

The shots from Vancouver, is that the library in #2 and 7?

Thanks for posting, very enjoyable to view.

--Dan
London, Canada
http://www.flickr.com/photos/d_bolger/
http://www.fotos4you.com/index.php?option=com_gallery2&Itemid=28&g2_itemId=2284

JayMitch · Sep 4, 2007

Awesome. Just awesome.

AARBE · Sep 4, 2007

Your black and white (or monochrome - as you call) are awesome.

The symmetries or the way they are captured also make them marvelous.

Cheers

Rahul

Kathryne · Sep 4, 2007

You have an incredible eye. Excellent series.
--
-------------------------------------------------
http://www.katscan.smugmug.com

just_jimsu · Sep 4, 2007

Emeka,

Once again, well done. Glad you got a chance to photograph in the library. The angles and lighting can keep you busy for quite a while, both inside and out.

I always look forward to your work.

Violadeity · Sep 5, 2007

Emeka U said:
Violadeity said:

1 and 5 are my favorites, definitely...the escalator one definitely
comes close too.

Click to expand...

the first is my favorite, and will make its way to a wall in my home
somewhere!

that's something i really need to get around to....decorating my walls with new stuff. everything i've got up is from like...when i was 10 (granted, i'm 22, so its not THAT bad

)

Emeka U said:
Emeka U said:

overall they're excellent, as usual...and i can never miss an
opportunity to worship your black & white conversions. they're just
so...organic.

Click to expand...

thanks...but you're not really worshiping them are you?!?! lol

haha...perhaps i don't have an altar to them...but they're always some of the best conversions on the forums, and they always strike me as fantastic, and even if i don't know its your post, the images tell me straight away.

Emeka U said:
Emeka U said:

this is a type of photography i've been trying to improve at, and
black & white conversion is an obsession of mine. so i always enjoy
your threads.

Click to expand...

keep at it, you'll get to where you want to be some time soon...and
then you can show us your wonderful creations

i have a ton from a recent trip to portland...but i processed them the same week as a wedding, and had massive issues with CS3/ACR4 crashing on me and not saving the xmp files (still on the beta, shhh!

), so i barely want to even look at them long enough to decide what to post.

Emeka U said:
Emeka U said:

cheers,

Click to expand...

thanks again for stopping by.

Emeka U said:

david

--
'Thank you for flying church of england. Cake or death?' - Eddie Izzard

FLICKR!!! GO!!!!
http://flickr.com/photos/ontheduck

Click to expand...

--
I likes shootin' things with them new-fangled picture-takin' devices!
VISIT OFTEN: http://emeka.smugmug.com (comments welcomed)

--
'Thank you for flying church of england. Cake or death?' - Eddie Izzard

FLICKR!!! GO!!!!
http://flickr.com/photos/ontheduck

Emeka U · Sep 5, 2007

Thanks...

I use a technique provided by Greg Gorman (www.gormanphotography.com). But after that, I fiddle with curves, selective colour and contrast.

I do ensure that I've got a striking composition before attemepting as well. Also...each conversion is unique, and I don't do a bulk conversion for the photos. Each one has its own light, and so needs to be treated individually.

Your photos seem to be on their way. The only thing is that they have too much of the mid tones in there. I like to use the white, neutral, and black sliders on the "selective color" took in photoshop (move only the black level). This will help you to get rid of some of those mid tones that tend to wash out a b&w conversion.

Hope that helps! feel free to ask for clarification if required!

rufusm said:
Great stuff Emeka, I love that glowing escalator.
As always your B&W conversions are well done. I've been using some
various actions of late to nail down a good B&W workflow. My question
to you is 'WHAT THE HECK ARE YOU USING' or have you taken from
different actions to make your own, that seems to be the way I'm
going. Ah the good old darkroom days, it seemed so much easier for
some reason. hehe Take a look, let me know what you think
http://rufusm.smugmug.com/gallery/3319864

http://rufusm.smugmug.com/gallery/3380020

--
http://rufusm.smugmug.com/

--
I likes shootin' things with them new-fangled picture-takin' devices!

VISIT OFTEN: http://emeka.smugmug.com (comments welcomed)

Emeka U · Sep 5, 2007

thanks gobongo...I see things as I like them...which lends itself to the consistency.

Good of you to stop by!

gobongo said:
You have a consistent style, that's very difficult, good work.
--

--
I likes shootin' things with them new-fangled picture-takin' devices!

VISIT OFTEN: http://emeka.smugmug.com (comments welcomed)

Emeka U · Sep 5, 2007

JayMitch said:
Awesome. Just awesome.

more available on the site if you like!
--
I likes shootin' things with them new-fangled picture-takin' devices!

VISIT OFTEN: http://emeka.smugmug.com (comments welcomed)

Emeka U · Sep 5, 2007

Dan Bolger said:
These are wonderful shots! I agree with many of the other poster
about your B&W conversions, they are stunning!

The shots from Vancouver, is that the library in #2 and 7?

you recognize it correctly! I'm not sure what it is about west coast libraries, but they're great!

Dan Bolger said:
Thanks for posting, very enjoyable to view.

thanks...there's more on the site if you'd like to view.

Dan Bolger said:
--Dan
London, Canada
http://www.flickr.com/photos/d_bolger/
http://www.fotos4you.com/index.php?option=com_gallery2&Itemid=28&g2_itemId=2284

--
I likes shootin' things with them new-fangled picture-takin' devices!

VISIT OFTEN: http://emeka.smugmug.com (comments welcomed)

Emeka U · Sep 5, 2007

AARBE said:
Your black and white (or monochrome - as you call) are awesome.

thanks...its all about the contrast for B&W shots

AARBE said:
The symmetries or the way they are captured also make them marvelous.

that's my thing...angles are wonderful if used properly. I particularly like the first shot for this reason.

AARBE said:
Cheers

Rahul

--
I likes shootin' things with them new-fangled picture-takin' devices!

VISIT OFTEN: http://emeka.smugmug.com (comments welcomed)

Emeka U · Sep 5, 2007

Kathryne said:
You have an incredible eye. Excellent series.
--
-------------------------------------------------
http://www.katscan.smugmug.com

--
I likes shootin' things with them new-fangled picture-takin' devices!

VISIT OFTEN: http://emeka.smugmug.com (comments welcomed)

Emeka U · Sep 5, 2007

just_jimsu said:
Emeka,

Once again, well done. Glad you got a chance to photograph in the
library. The angles and lighting can keep you busy for quite a
while, both inside and out.

I know!!! I was quite excited about the place and would have stayed there all day if I could... I also wish I had my tripod, but I don't think that hindered me too much.

just_jimsu said:
I always look forward to your work.

glad to hear it...I'll try not to dissapoint with my next post

thanks for stopping by
--
I likes shootin' things with them new-fangled picture-takin' devices!

VISIT OFTEN: http://emeka.smugmug.com (comments welcomed)

nihao4587 · Sep 5, 2007

Hi, I really like your colore-to-BW conversion. Would you mind showing the PS steps (I understand that each picture may require different effort, but is there is a general way to get closer to the final look you have)?

Thanks a lot.
min
--
'50/50'-NikonD50/Nikkor50mm1.8D
One world, one body and one lens...
http://www.flickr.com/photos/12033493@N04/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/90247736@N00/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/7563572@N03/

davidxyz · Sep 5, 2007

Great eye! Absolutely beautiful and inspiring work.

Emeka U · Sep 5, 2007

nihao4587 said:
Hi, I really like your colore-to-BW conversion. Would you mind
showing the PS steps (I understand that each picture may require
different effort, but is there is a general way to get closer to the
final look you have)?

don't mind sharing it at all...since its not really mine! here's a link to a thread where I explained it some time ago. feel free to ask me for clarification if required.

http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1034&message=21261787

hope it helps

nihao4587 said:
Thanks a lot.
min
--
'50/50'-NikonD50/Nikkor50mm1.8D
One world, one body and one lens...
http://www.flickr.com/photos/12033493@N04/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/90247736@N00/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/7563572@N03/

--
I likes shootin' things with them new-fangled picture-takin' devices!

VISIT OFTEN: http://emeka.smugmug.com (comments welcomed)

Emeka U · Sep 5, 2007

--
I likes shootin' things with them new-fangled picture-takin' devices!

VISIT OFTEN: http://emeka.smugmug.com (comments welcomed)

rufusm · Sep 5, 2007

Thanks for taking the time to offer some suggestions, I've downloaded the Gorman action. Of late I've been using the Diaz action and it's been getting better. You are correct about my midtones, Diaz action has the adjustable sliders and I need to adjust accordingly.

I think where I might be going wrong is in my initial raw conversion, how much do you process before converting to a b&w process, ie: wb, contrast and such? I seem to run out of 'process' to allow a wider latitude for b&w tones to come out. I might try with only wb adjustment and start with a low contrast image and then build it up in the b&w conversion using the sliders for tone control.

Emeka U said:
I use a technique provided by Greg Gorman
(www.gormanphotography.com). But after that, I fiddle with curves,
selective colour and contrast.

I do ensure that I've got a striking composition before attemepting
as well. Also...each conversion is unique, and I don't do a bulk
conversion for the photos. Each one has its own light, and so needs
to be treated individually.

Your photos seem to be on their way. The only thing is that they
have too much of the mid tones in there. I like to use the white,
neutral, and black sliders on the "selective color" took in photoshop
(move only the black level). This will help you to get rid of some
of those mid tones that tend to wash out a b&w conversion.

Hope that helps! feel free to ask for clarification if required!

rufusm said:

Great stuff Emeka, I love that glowing escalator.
As always your B&W conversions are well done. I've been using some
various actions of late to nail down a good B&W workflow. My question
to you is 'WHAT THE HECK ARE YOU USING' or have you taken from
different actions to make your own, that seems to be the way I'm
going. Ah the good old darkroom days, it seemed so much easier for
some reason. hehe Take a look, let me know what you think
http://rufusm.smugmug.com/gallery/3319864

http://rufusm.smugmug.com/gallery/3380020

--
http://rufusm.smugmug.com/

Click to expand...

--
I likes shootin' things with them new-fangled picture-takin' devices!
VISIT OFTEN: http://emeka.smugmug.com (comments welcomed)

--
http://rufusm.smugmug.com/

Emeka U · Sep 5, 2007

rufusm said:
I think where I might be going wrong is in my initial raw conversion,
how much do you process before converting to a b&w process, ie: wb,
contrast and such? I seem to run out of 'process' to allow a wider
latitude for b&w tones to come out. I might try with only wb
adjustment and start with a low contrast image and then build it up
in the b&w conversion using the sliders for tone control.

as a rule I always get my picture to its perfect 'colour' version before moving to the B&W stage. That is I do whatever is required for contrast (curves) and colour (saturation/colour adjustment). As well, if I'm going to do any sharpening or noise removal, I do it before I convert to B&W.

When I do the B&W, I ensure I look at the pic, and decide how dark the initial conversion should be, and then work from there. It's a little difficult for me to explain, but you'll get a feel for what works for you after working with it for a while.

REMEMBER: you can't get a good B&W if the picture wasn't 'good' to begin with!!! That's how I think about it anyway...

--
I likes shootin' things with them new-fangled picture-takin' devices!

VISIT OFTEN: http://emeka.smugmug.com (comments welcomed)

rufusm · Sep 5, 2007

Thanks again for clearing that up regarding the 'pre' process to conversion.
Happy shooting Emeka.

Emeka U said:
rufusm said:

I think where I might be going wrong is in my initial raw conversion,
how much do you process before converting to a b&w process, ie: wb,
contrast and such? I seem to run out of 'process' to allow a wider
latitude for b&w tones to come out. I might try with only wb
adjustment and start with a low contrast image and then build it up
in the b&w conversion using the sliders for tone control.

Click to expand...

as a rule I always get my picture to its perfect 'colour' version
before moving to the B&W stage. That is I do whatever is required
for contrast (curves) and colour (saturation/colour adjustment). As
well, if I'm going to do any sharpening or noise removal, I do it
before I convert to B&W.

When I do the B&W, I ensure I look at the pic, and decide how dark
the initial conversion should be, and then work from there. It's a
little difficult for me to explain, but you'll get a feel for what
works for you after working with it for a while.

REMEMBER: you can't get a good B&W if the picture wasn't 'good' to
begin with!!! That's how I think about it anyway...

--
I likes shootin' things with them new-fangled picture-takin' devices!
VISIT OFTEN: http://emeka.smugmug.com (comments welcomed)

--
http://rufusm.smugmug.com/

T.H.E . U.R.B.A.N . L.A.N.D.S.C.A.P.E (Part III) – [10 pics]

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