Found my black & white settings (for now...)

deednets · Feb 7, 2020

I have been clumsy at best in the past when it comes to black & white conversions - or in-camera black & whites.

Had a play with the in-camera settings a couple of days ago, a public holiday here in NZ, and found that the following settings are actually working for me, for portraits and also other stuff.

Acros G
Shadows -2
Highlights 0

I played with the highlight settings a bit but found that 0 actually works best for me. The shadows I had a play all the way from -2 to +4 and only liked -2.

I know Acros is meant to show deep shadows but I don't actually like those much (read: not at all!!).

So what do you think?

Deed

Bobo Hodls · Feb 7, 2020

deednets said:
I have been clumsy at best in the past when it comes to black & white conversions - or in-camera black & whites.

Had a play with the in-camera settings a couple of days ago, a public holiday here in NZ, and found that the following settings are actually working for me, for portraits and also other stuff.

Acros G

Shadows -2

Highlights 0

I played with the highlight settings a bit but found that 0 actually works best for me. The shadows I had a play all the way from -2 to +4 and only liked -2.

I know Acros is meant to show deep shadows but I don't actually like those much (read: not at all!!).

So what do you think?

Deed

That's beautiful.

I'd be interested in how you like the green filter in general over time (applied to different subjects).

I mainly apply a color filter in post, green-ish or purple-ish as colors dictate.

--
...Bob, Bovina NY
.
"Well, sometimes the magic works. . . Sometimes, it doesn't." - Chief Dan George, Little Big Man
.

Bobo Hodls

Explore Bobo Hodls’s 5,812 photos on Flickr!

www.flickr.com

http://www.bobtullis.com

.

deednets · Feb 7, 2020

Bob Tullis said:
deednets said:

I have been clumsy at best in the past when it comes to black & white conversions - or in-camera black & whites.

Had a play with the in-camera settings a couple of days ago, a public holiday here in NZ, and found that the following settings are actually working for me, for portraits and also other stuff.

Acros G

Shadows -2

Highlights 0

I played with the highlight settings a bit but found that 0 actually works best for me. The shadows I had a play all the way from -2 to +4 and only liked -2.

I know Acros is meant to show deep shadows but I don't actually like those much (read: not at all!!).

So what do you think?

Deed

Click to expand...

That's beautiful.

I'd be interested in how you like the green filter in general over time (applied to different subjects).

I mainly apply a color filter in post, green-ish or purple-ish as colors dictate.

--
...Bob, Bovina NY
.
"Well, sometimes the magic works. . . Sometimes, it doesn't." - Chief Dan George, Little Big Man
.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/bobtullis/
http://www.bobtullis.com
.

I took mainly portraits where the G works really well with skin tonality and simply left it on to see how it would work on other subjects.

Will need to do some hard thinking as to how a green filter does what for the colour filter array on the Fuji’s

Deed

SpeedyNeo · Feb 7, 2020

Not sure about the settings, but that photo is really good.

Thanks for sharing!

deednets · Feb 7, 2020

SpeedyNeo said:
Not sure about the settings, but that photo is really good.

Thanks for sharing!

Thanks for your kind comment!

I had struggled with the - in my opinion - way too deep shadows in Acros. I started a thread a coupld of years ago where I stated that I simply "don't get it" ...

But then, now and again I see some beautiful b/w shots and wonder what exactly it is I am not getting ...

The Across+G and the -2 for shadows I find suits what I do much better than the standard Acros - or any other b/w for that matter.

Deed

deednets · Feb 8, 2020

Bob Tullis said:
deednets said:

I have been clumsy at best in the past when it comes to black & white conversions - or in-camera black & whites.

Had a play with the in-camera settings a couple of days ago, a public holiday here in NZ, and found that the following settings are actually working for me, for portraits and also other stuff.

Acros G

Shadows -2

Highlights 0

I played with the highlight settings a bit but found that 0 actually works best for me. The shadows I had a play all the way from -2 to +4 and only liked -2.

I know Acros is meant to show deep shadows but I don't actually like those much (read: not at all!!).

So what do you think?

Deed

Click to expand...

That's beautiful.

I'd be interested in how you like the green filter in general over time (applied to different subjects).

I mainly apply a color filter in post, green-ish or purple-ish as colors dictate.

Will see whetehr I can find a model who doesn't mind me posting some shots as I found portraits that is skin tones to work really well.

In the meantime Eski will suffice ... (plus some blue/green stuff)

Deed

Truman Prevatt · Feb 8, 2020

Bob Tullis said:
deednets said:

I have been clumsy at best in the past when it comes to black & white conversions - or in-camera black & whites.

Had a play with the in-camera settings a couple of days ago, a public holiday here in NZ, and found that the following settings are actually working for me, for portraits and also other stuff.

Acros G

Shadows -2

Highlights 0

I played with the highlight settings a bit but found that 0 actually works best for me. The shadows I had a play all the way from -2 to +4 and only liked -2.

I know Acros is meant to show deep shadows but I don't actually like those much (read: not at all!!).

So what do you think?

Deed

Click to expand...

That's beautiful.

I'd be interested in how you like the green filter in general over time (applied to different subjects).

I mainly apply a color filter in post, green-ish or purple-ish as colors dictate.

In B&W film photography a green filter works well with browns, tans, etc. It is often used in outdoor portraits since it gives a soft and pleasing rendering of skin and softens the local contrast.

Here is one I took a long time ago - 44 years ago to be exact - using a green filter.

Clearly the green filter softened the rendering of the image of the puppy in the same way since Acros is somewhat on the harsher side whet comes to B&W film and the camera simulation reflects that.

However, green is really a specialized filter for B&W and not used nearly as much as yellow (8), minus blue (12) and dark yellow unless of course you do a lot of outdoor portraits of people or puppies.

I would say you really nailed the dog - great shot.

--
"If you learn only methods, you’ll be tied to your methods, but if you learn principles you can devise your own methods." Ralph Waldo Emerson
___
Truman
www.pbase.com/tprevatt

guitarjeff · Feb 8, 2020

deednets said:
Bob Tullis said:

deednets said:

I have been clumsy at best in the past when it comes to black & white conversions - or in-camera black & whites.

Had a play with the in-camera settings a couple of days ago, a public holiday here in NZ, and found that the following settings are actually working for me, for portraits and also other stuff.

Acros G

Shadows -2

Highlights 0

I played with the highlight settings a bit but found that 0 actually works best for me. The shadows I had a play all the way from -2 to +4 and only liked -2.

I know Acros is meant to show deep shadows but I don't actually like those much (read: not at all!!).

So what do you think?

Deed

Click to expand...

That's beautiful.

I'd be interested in how you like the green filter in general over time (applied to different subjects).

I mainly apply a color filter in post, green-ish or purple-ish as colors dictate.

Click to expand...

Will see whetehr I can find a model who doesn't mind me posting some shots as I found portraits that is skin tones to work really well.

In the meantime Eski will suffice ... (plus some blue/green stuff)

Deed

Beautiful. I'd say that classic old XF 35mm 1.4 isn't hurting this situation any, lol. I used to own it and wish I had never gotten rid of it.

deednets · Feb 8, 2020

guitarjeff said:
deednets said:

Bob Tullis said:

deednets said:

I have been clumsy at best in the past when it comes to black & white conversions - or in-camera black & whites.

Had a play with the in-camera settings a couple of days ago, a public holiday here in NZ, and found that the following settings are actually working for me, for portraits and also other stuff.

Acros G

Shadows -2

Highlights 0

I played with the highlight settings a bit but found that 0 actually works best for me. The shadows I had a play all the way from -2 to +4 and only liked -2.

I know Acros is meant to show deep shadows but I don't actually like those much (read: not at all!!).

So what do you think?

Deed

Click to expand...

That's beautiful.

I'd be interested in how you like the green filter in general over time (applied to different subjects).

I mainly apply a color filter in post, green-ish or purple-ish as colors dictate.

Click to expand...

Will see whetehr I can find a model who doesn't mind me posting some shots as I found portraits that is skin tones to work really well.

In the meantime Eski will suffice ... (plus some blue/green stuff)

Deed

Click to expand...

Beautiful. I'd say that classic old XF 35mm 1.4 isn't hurting this situation any, lol. I used to own it and wish I had never gotten rid of it.

I re-bought the 35/1.4 but think that this time I will keep it.

Deed

deednets · Feb 8, 2020

Truman Prevatt said:
Bob Tullis said:

deednets said:

I have been clumsy at best in the past when it comes to black & white conversions - or in-camera black & whites.

Had a play with the in-camera settings a couple of days ago, a public holiday here in NZ, and found that the following settings are actually working for me, for portraits and also other stuff.

Acros G

Shadows -2

Highlights 0

I played with the highlight settings a bit but found that 0 actually works best for me. The shadows I had a play all the way from -2 to +4 and only liked -2.

I know Acros is meant to show deep shadows but I don't actually like those much (read: not at all!!).

So what do you think?

Deed

Click to expand...

That's beautiful.

I'd be interested in how you like the green filter in general over time (applied to different subjects).

I mainly apply a color filter in post, green-ish or purple-ish as colors dictate.

Click to expand...

In B&W film photography a green filter works well with browns, tans, etc. It is often used in outdoor portraits since it gives a soft and pleasing rendering of skin and softens the local contrast.

Here is one I took a long time ago - 44 years ago to be exact - using a green filter.

Clearly the green filter softened the rendering of the image of the puppy in the same way since Acros is somewhat on the harsher side whet comes to B&W film and the camera simulation reflects that.

However, green is really a specialized filter for B&W and not used nearly as much as yellow (8), minus blue (12) and dark yellow unless of course you do a lot of outdoor portraits of people or puppies.

I would say you really nailed the dog - great shot.

I started with the Acros Standard, shooting some portraits. Didn't like it at all. The went through yellow and red, more because I wanted to see how the images would be rendered.

Had some surprisingly acceptable shots then when I turned the Acros to Acros+G. Found that I could use almost all shots without much work except maybe levels.

Left the Acros+G in place and then shot some pics of Eski and found that maybe I am eitehr colour blind even looking at B&W images - or I simply like the rendering much better than any of the other B%W modes on the X-T3 I used for the shots shown here.

Dunno will dig a bit deeper into how the colour filter array of X-Trans works when paired with a green filter. Any theories around that??

090931ea584346dbaebabf928bcebe2a.jpg.png

An awful lot of green, wouldn't you think? But how does this respond to a green filter shooting B&W? Too tired now to think about this ...

Deed

baobob · Feb 8, 2020

After many trials I produce my BW only with silver EFEX Nik Plug in (PS and LR), the fact that you keep in BW the colors allows to get excatly what you desire (shadowsd, sky, grass, ...) plus some bonus (vignette, sepia, ..)

Shinyschnapper · Feb 9, 2020

I have my XT2 setup to custom settings on the Q menu that way I have quick access to the scenes I want.

B&W portrait is set to Acros & G

B&W landscape is Acros & Y

B&W city/street is Acros & R

Colour landscape is Vevia

Colour outdoor portrait is Pro Neg High

Colour indoor portrait is Pro Neg low

Colour everything else is Classic chrome.

all the above are tweaked, shadows, highlights, colours, WB etc for each recipe.

scst48 · Feb 9, 2020

Shinyschnapper said:
I have my XT2 setup to custom settings on the Q menu that way I have quick access to the scenes I want.

B&W portrait is set to Acros & G

B&W landscape is Acros & Y

B&W city/street is Acros & R

Colour landscape is Vevia

Colour outdoor portrait is Pro Neg High

Colour indoor portrait is Pro Neg low

Colour everything else is Classic chrome.

all the above are tweaked, shadows, highlights, colours, WB etc for each recipe.

,These settings make good sense. Would you be willing to share shadow and highlights
for each recipe

Thank you

Shinyschnapper · Feb 9, 2020

scst48 said:
Shinyschnapper said:

I have my XT2 setup to custom settings on the Q menu that way I have quick access to the scenes I want.

B&W portrait is set to Acros & G

B&W landscape is Acros & Y

B&W city/street is Acros & R

Colour landscape is Vevia

Colour outdoor portrait is Pro Neg High

Colour indoor portrait is Pro Neg low

Colour everything else is Classic chrome.

all the above are tweaked, shadows, highlights, colours, WB etc for each recipe.

Click to expand...

,These settings make good sense. Would you be willing to share shadow and highlights
for each recipe

Thank you

Of course, I’m out at the moment but when I get home I will share.

LarsRost · Feb 9, 2020

I love Acros and use + G for portraits. However, in my opinion the problem is underexposure and not overly strong, shadows. Of this reason I always dial in +2/3 EV when shooting +G and add +1 in shadows to bring back some of the contrast. I prefer +Y for landscapes or urban/street photography. Sometimes I even use + R for more drama, but only for photos without people.

.lars

El Vuelo del Escorpion · Feb 9, 2020

Wondrful dog photos!

Besides the usual settings (Film, Sim, Shadows, and Highlights) I have found that tweaking the White Balance is also an amazing way to get some interesting looks from camera. Look at this examples for instance. I was not able to get this results in camera just playing with the usual settings:

--
Óscar
Weddings & Couples https://mallorcainlove.es
Landscape https://500px.com/fingers1971
IG https://www.instagram.com/mallorca.in.love/

Óscar Lagarrotxa Photography

Photographer based in Mallorca (Spain) Weddings, Events, Life Style and Real Estate.

www.oscarlagarrotxa.com

deednets · Feb 9, 2020

Shinyschnapper said:
I have my XT2 setup to custom settings on the Q menu that way I have quick access to the scenes I want.

B&W portrait is set to Acros & G

B&W landscape is Acros & Y

B&W city/street is Acros & R

Colour landscape is Vevia

Colour outdoor portrait is Pro Neg High

Colour indoor portrait is Pro Neg low

Colour everything else is Classic chrome.

all the above are tweaked, shadows, highlights, colours, WB etc for each recipe.

Canyongazer · Feb 9, 2020

They look flat to me,Deeds.

deednets · Feb 9, 2020

El Vuelo del Escorpion said:
Wondrful dog photos!

Besides the usual settings (Film, Sim, Shadows, and Highlights) I have found that tweaking the White Balance is also an amazing way to get some interesting looks from camera. Look at this examples for instance. I was not able to get this results in camera just playing with the usual settings:

--
Óscar
Weddings & Couples https://mallorcainlove.es
Landscape https://500px.com/fingers1971
IG https://www.instagram.com/mallorca.in.love/
http://www.oscarlagarrotxa.com

Ah, yes WB in black and white, another option to get a certain look. I have to admit it's all trial and error when I start playing.

Interesting shots you have here, must have a look at them later on a larger screen.

Deed

deednets · Feb 9, 2020

LarsRost said:
I love Acros and use + G for portraits. However, in my opinion the problem is underexposure and not overly strong, shadows. Of this reason I always dial in +2/3 EV when shooting +G and add +1 in shadows to bring back some of the contrast. I prefer +Y for landscapes or urban/street photography. Sometimes I even use + R for more drama, but only for photos without people.
.lars

It was the first time I shot ooc B&W that I didn't discard the images straight away.

Will checkout Acros+R for City some time.

Thanks

Found my black & white settings (for now...)

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