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New LX3 and some B&W pictures

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tcherna

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Hi all,

I just got an LX3 -- my primary intent was as an upgrade to my G9 for underwater photography. I was invited to a photowalk with some friends, so I decided to take the LX3 as my primary camera just to get familiar with it. As they were shooting film, I decided to emulate by shooting in black and white (standard), in manual mode almost entirely at IS0 100.

I was pretty impressed. Here are some pictures. Tips, comments welcome:







 
Except for #2, they seem to be lacking in B&W tonal range, rather too much mid-gray.
 
I won't comment on composition/subject matter. But I will offer my comments on the exposures of your posted photos. In general they seem underexposed just a bit. Plus, I think they could all use some pop... more contrast, etc. If you didn't do any post processing on those load them up into your favorite editor and see what some playing around yields.

My LX3 will arrive this week. I'll have to see what Standard and Dynamic B&W deliver. My current B&W creation is all done in Photoshop.
--
Mike Dawson
 
Using black and white on the graffiti is a nice idea. More contrast. Crop and contrast the 1st one and I think it will look good.
 
Yeah, I need to explore a bit more about what I can do in post. Normally, I'd be processing color images, but I wanted to think black and white. Is there normally a way to get better contrast using the camera exposure before post, or is that typically done in post (or developing).

tdc
 
tcherna said:
Is there normally a way to get better contrast using the
camera exposure before post
Click to expand...
Have you tried the 'Dynamic B&W' film mode? This is what most B&W lovers seem to have fallen in love with about the LX3. It is a lot more contrasty than the other B&W modes.

--

 
And I'm sure I'll have a lot of dissension in this...

You can't get consistent great B&W direct out-of-camera. Sure, you may hit on one here and there. But I really think that if you are serious about B&W that you shoot the image in color and create the B&W in post processing. If you insist on producing B&W straight OOC then I suggest that you go out and buy yourself a set of colored filters.

Just my personal opinion.
tcherna said:
Yeah, I need to explore a bit more about what I can do in post.
Normally, I'd be processing color images, but I wanted to think black
and white. Is there normally a way to get better contrast using the
camera exposure before post, or is that typically done in post (or
developing).

tdc

--
Click to expand...
--
Mike Dawson
 
I post process every image, colour or B&W.
I shoot JPEG and i always tweak levels and curves.

A small tweak in curves will pop the contrast on these images.
An adjustment in levels can assist tone.

I also dodge and burn my B&W.

usually I convert from colour rather than staright from camera, but i have dabbled with dynamic B&W.

http://fatsgeordiemo.smugmug.com
--
Tony 'Fats Geordiemo' Bruce

Photos, music and dance....
Crazee man crazeeee!
 
I like them, but sometimes its just a matter of taste - for B&W shots on my LX3, I used to use only the dynamic B&W setting, but when I accidentally chose standard B&W, I quite liked the effect, it wasn't as contrasty as the dynamic B&W, but as I said that is just a matter of taste (in my opinion), or possibly just getting used to it?
tcherna said:
Yeah, I need to explore a bit more about what I can do in post.
Normally, I'd be processing color images, but I wanted to think black
and white. Is there normally a way to get better contrast using the
camera exposure before post, or is that typically done in post (or
developing).

tdc

--
Click to expand...
--

'Every portrait that is painted with feeling, is a portrait of the artist, not of the sitter.' Oscar Wilde
 
You can always add contrast and highlights to black and white but i like the pictures posted as they are. Very nice. I like the dense midtones. Have to say haven't bought one(lx3) yet but i'm impressed by the pictures i've seen posted. the pictures all look photographic as opposed to digital imagery.

http://www.paulstonephotography.com
 
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