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Black And White Landscape (1 img)

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RightRudder

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Often I'm impressed with people's black and white conversions that I've seen posted in this forum. Many times I've tried duplicating the effect but never got quite what I've wanted (not knowing what I want the image to convey is probably my biggest issue as well). Below is another try: I stopped just slightly from entirely converting the image to black and white thus leaving about 10% of the original colour (via layer opacity).

Taken with E-500 ZD 11-22



Exposure: 0.02 sec (1/50)
Aperture: f/11
Focal Length: 15 mm
ISO Speed: 100

Suggestions and Critique are welcomed - thanks.
 
I agree, but the reflection is nice.
 
Wilhelm said:
Large areas of blank sky generally make for boring images.
Click to expand...
Clouds are overrated Wilhelm ;)

Oaky, maybe not. Yes, it certainly is boring if clouds are the sky decor one is looking for.

In this photo though, I actually like the absence of clouds as there's a contrast between the rock and abundently plain sky. I also tried to make the composition embphasize that in a puposely "unballanced" sort of way.

Thanks for your opinion.
 
Rich - do please post your version of the crop, if you have it, that is. I'm curious and I do need help with creativity - if there's any help for that.

As I've replied previously, i tried to emphasize in the composition the contrast between the rock and empty sky in a purposely "unballanced" sort of way.

Thanks if you have the time to post the crop!
 
I don't have the colour one posted - will do so much later in the day and maybe someone can play with the b&w conversion.
 
I do like the image in spite of the lack of clouds. ;-)

I've posted this link in the past to the Radiant Vista tutorial for High Contrast B&W conversions and if you missed it, here it is: http://www.radiantvista.com/tutorials/a-photoshop-reference-high-contrast-black-and-white

One of the reasons I like this method is that it's completely customizable and non-destructive. I use variations of this method for all of my B&W conversions.

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Bill Turner

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Please do not edit my images without asking permission.
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http://www.pbase.com/wmdt131

 
No problem, here it is!

Did nothing more than the crop, but I felt the image lost much of its impact with the large area of open space to the right ... ;-)

The slight rise of the rocks to the right also helps to give some enclosure.
Its a lovely reflection in the water ... nice shot.



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Rich Simpson

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UK Safari Group Member
 
Bootstrap,

thank you very much for the link - will certainly make use of it. Will reprocess the photo tonight based on the tutorial.
 
Rich, your 1:1 crop sure has more impact than my composition.

Later tonight I'll post another version as well, closer to what your crop looks like (i shot these without looking the viewfinder - camera was inches from the top of the water).

Thank you for posting the crop - and i actually like the square look as well.
 
I think the shot turned out perfectly, simple and elegant. I think a more dramatic sky might make the shot a little busy, but I may be wrong. Plus the negative space leads my eye through the shot. Personally, I don't like the 1:1 crop. The only thing I would change if it was my shot would be to clone out the little black rock in the lower right hand corner. That being said, your B&W conversion is spot on.
 
@Ralph - here's the coloured version of the photo (am not sure if the sky colour is "halfway decent" though; it was taken before sun set and not much was going on - very plain indeed).



@Rich - here's a another photo of the same rock from a different perspective. I'm showing this one because it is a little bit closer to the idea in your 1:1 crop where there is less of the cloudless sky. I personally preffer the original mainly because of the perspective (and I kind of like the vast emptiness of the sky).



@Angry Buddha - Thanks for the comments and opinion. You mentioned precisely the things that kindled my interest in the first black and white photo - mainly the simplicity and lack of anything that is overly abundent/busy (the contrast and "edginess" of the rock i like).

Anyways, Thanks To All for your critique and opinions - it genuinely helps me in various ways. Next I'll try the tutorial in Boot's link (thanks again for the link - high contrast b&w conversion is exactly what I wanted to try on this photo and the video is very helpful)

And P.S. - I know i said this before... the ZD 11-22mm is a lot of fun to play with.
 
... some reds or oranges in the sky near the horizon that got lost in the conversion to B&W.

It looks like there weren't any so let me fall in step with other posters here - your conversion is spot on.

Nice capture,

Ralph
 
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