Post your best Black and White Photo

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Lars

Tounis: To me the mountain picture seems a bit dark, but it could be my screen, which is not calibrated at all... I would prefer a bit more contrast in the (dark) midtones.

Lars

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At work I can see what you are talking about, but at home it looked great (i.e., the shadows looked good with a lot of contrast and detail). I know my work screen is a little flat, dull, and dark.

Thanks for the nice comments.
Lars, it does look ok on every screen I could test today but I can see what you mean when the brightness of my IPad is a bit lower.
Maybe someone with more knowledge in monitor calibration than I have has a better answer.

Here are a few recent black and whites photos.

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-g..._2_fused-2.jpg

Thought this one looked like people walking in the snow the way it had bent the trees. (Maybe I'm just seeing things)
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-J...07D_031009.jpg

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-l...029044-2-4.jpg

Nice shots Jayson, especially when you view your blog with the colored photo next to it:D

PS: your direct link in your signature doesn't work:rolleyes:

Here is one attempt from me. Canon 400D, Tamron 17-50, 2.8 (nonIS), at 50mm and f3.5. Feel free to suggest improvements for PP enhancements. I have used the green filter in Aperture, and improved the contrast a little.

Lars

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Sheiky

Nice shots Jayson, especially when you view your blog with the colored photo next to it:D

PS: your direct link in your signature doesn't work:rolleyes:

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Thanks Jan! Also, thanks for the heads up...I fixed the link. I am in between websites at the moment and haven't moved back to the original blog address.

Liking these B&W's, great stuff guys.

This is my favorite black and white image I've come up with so far, taken with 6D and Zeiss 50mm Planar at f/2.8.

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8382/8...a5eb9849_b.jpg
2013_04_07_0231_upd_bw by dthrog00, on Flickr

Thanks for viewing.
Dave

Yep, I really like this one too Dave, very good 3D effect. I would probably consider cropping a bit of stuff on the left hand side and lining the cherubs eyes up on a vertical third for a bit more drama.

Not many B&Ws lately!

This isn't the traditional car show shot, but I like it.

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8392/8...1b628cba_c.jpg
2013_04_21_0363_upd_bw by dthrog00, on Flickr

Here's an alternate take on some abandoned playing cards I took a while back.

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8262/8...3e6b90d3_c.jpg
2013_03_23_0434_upd_bw2 by dthrog00, on Flickr

Thanks for viewing.
Dave

Nice bokeh in the first one Dave and I like the minimilism of the cards... tells a story.

Some people have said this could be a selfie, but I'll let you make your own mind up.
[img]http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8523/8...97bc2b3c_b.jpg
Dogue_2 by Steve's Life, on Flickr[/img]

Thanks for viewing.

Here's another b&w grumpy face for the thread ...

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8119/8...10075775_b.jpg
Lucky by Denise Trocio ( www.dtrociophotography.com), on Flickr

Thanks Steve!

Denise - Lucky does have a solemn look in that one.

Dave

Here is another from Saturday.

http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5470/8...eb58c73b_b.jpg
Dent de Morcles by Tounis_9, on Flickr

Steve and Denise, those images really highlight the expressions of dogs....amazing. Those clouds hanging onto those peaks are incredible Tounis.

Here are a couple from me:
A local surfer in San Diego getting ready to plunge into the water...
[img]http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8118/8...de7f6978_b.jpg
Surfing on the Moon by ernogy, on Flickr[/img]

Self-shadow of me hiking in Death Valley for sunrise...
[img]http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8539/8...54a7950d_b.jpg
Mesquite Sand Dunes Death Valley - Zebra Hill Hiker by ernogy, on Flickr[/img]

Wow, some nice ones on this page.

I think I might be living my hair dreams through this dog.
[img]http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3826/9...7d7de81f_b.jpg
Afghan_2 by Steve's Life, on Flickr[/img]

Thanks for viewing.

Turned a couple shots black and white. I couldn't decide if color or BW worked better for these.

http://www.alderimages.com/img/s10/v...21584361-4.jpg

http://www.alderimages.com/img/s9/v92/p1832293459-4.jpg

http://www.alderimages.com/img/s10/v...29602262-4.jpg

A couple 100mm walk around images where I thought the shapes lended themselves well to black and white. I also have color versions for each.

http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3708/9...fb7ea43e_b.jpg
2013_08_10_2616_LR_upd_bw by dthrog00, on Flickr

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7442/9...99b22ebc_b.jpg
2013_08_10_2657_LR_upd_bw by dthrog00, on Flickr

Thanks for viewing.
Dave

Here is a B&W conversion on the Pemaquid Lighthouse in Maine:

http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5321/9...d5511cc5_o.jpg
small-6246 by kayaker72, on Flickr

Thanks for viewing...Brant

Impressive BW photographs. I really enjoyed looking at each photo as they have a real individuality and feeling to it. Thanks for sharing these. Here are my shots.

The Three Musketeer Girls
http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2837/9...c872032a_b.jpg


Girls Having Fun
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7336/9...6035d651_b.jpg

Here are a few snaps from the Camp Muir day hike on Mt Rainier. The hike gains 5000 feet from the parking lot to the camp, which sits at just below 10,200 feet. We had generally decent weather, but it can be unpredictable (thus dangerous) as the last photo shows. http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/l...pse7908cea.jpg http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/l...psf8e2266b.jpg http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/l...ps111b2ed4.jpg http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/l...ps3930b9f6.jpg

Patrick...love the feel B&W gives those images....

Thanks. I recently caught another airing of the Ken Burns National Parks documentary and was inspired by all of the old photos :).

I did my yearly visit to the Buckley Old Engine Show. It is one of my favorite things to do, and look forward to it every year (sad life, aye). I tried to make everything look vintage, but baseball hats kind of messes that up.

Here are a few from last week (if anyone has any comments on how to improve the B&W antique picture look, please comment... I have LR3 to process, but I do not have PS):

Edit: After posting, I see #2 could use some cropping... the horizon is too centered.

http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3780/9...fd050b90_c.jpg
Steam Train-5462 by westmichigan, on Flickr

http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3672/9...1d2967a4_c.jpg
Steam Tractor Plowing-5577 by westmichigan, on Flickr

http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5472/9...e6c611e8_c.jpg
Old Town -5496 by westmichigan, on Flickr


http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3821/9...b90c8c34_c.jpg
Buckley Old Engine Show-5406 by westmichigan, on Flickr

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7354/9...49f1c389_c.jpg
Old Town Scene-5479 by westmichigan, on Flickr

Pat, for me 2 & 3 are particularly great. The dust, steam, and smoke combine for a terrific effect.

Thanks Patrick. I like the ones with the smoke. When the steam engines use a lot of power, they really belch out a lot of smoke. So it seems more realistic. I had some of the train with a lot of black smoke, but the foreground was not as nice - so I weeded those out.

I don't think I've ever submitted a picture to this particular thread, I figure this one is good enough to be my first. Another shot of my friend Matt performing in his band.

http://i.minus.com/ib0GKHzUz6HO6E.jpg

I converted some of the pics I took during the Summer to Black & White lately. Here are three examples, all taken more or less at the same place (but not on the same day).

http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5457/9...e8f0867f_b.jpg
Dent de Fenestral by Tounis_9, on Flickr

http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3723/9...4131345f_b.jpg
Dents du Midi by Tounis_9, on Flickr

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7438/9...cc2a98d4_b.jpg
Tour Salière by Tounis_9, on Flickr

I like the last picture best. I like the contrast and the sky. It looks very dramatic. The first image could perhaps benefit from some more contrast? But it is matter of taste, I guess. It would be interesting to see image 2 in colours. I suspect that there is a brilliant blue sky...

Lars

Thanks for your constructive criticism Lars. I'm still learning how to use black and white, so it's really useful to get some advice.

You suspect well for the second image, but somehow the other colors weren't so great. I prefer the B&W version by far.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by conropl

I did my yearly visit to the Buckley Old Engine Show. It is one of my favorite things to do, and look forward to it every year (sad life, aye). I tried to make everything look vintage, but baseball hats kind of messes that up.

Here are a few from last week (if anyone has any comments on how to improve the B&W antique picture look, please comment... I have LR3 to process, but I do not have PS):
Edit: After posting, I see #2 could use some cropping... the horizon is too centered.


Steam Train-5462 by westmichigan, on Flickr


Steam Tractor Plowing-5577 by westmichigan, on Flickr


Old Town -5496 by westmichigan, on Flickr



Buckley Old Engine Show-5406 by westmichigan, on Flickr


Old Town Scene-5479 by westmichigan, on Flickr

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Pat, the tone certainly looks vintage. If possible, you could consider adding some film grain or texture which might enhance the vintage appearance.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Joel Eade

Pat, the tone certainly looks vintage. If possible, you could consider adding some film grain or texture which might enhance the vintage appearance.

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Joel:

Thanks for the feedback... it really is appreciated. And I totally agree with you.

I do not have Photo Shop (but will some day). My processing is through Light Room 3. They do not have textures or any presets for film grain in LR3, but I will look to see if I can find some to down load. I will check out the grain sliders to see if I can find a combination of settings that will do the trick. The grainy look is something I have to work on more because I think that will work better as long as I do not get to heavy handed with it.

Thanks.

Since I take the liberty to comment other's pictures, I might as well post some myself. Here are two from this summer. I tried to think B/W when I chose the motives, although they were quite nice in colour as well.

Feedback is wellcomed.

Lars

Attachment 1997

Attachment 1994

Here is one of some wild elephants crossing a stream. Taken during a recent trip in Sri Lanka.
I hope you enjoy it!
Attachment 1998

I really like B&W images, these are from Wartburg Theological Seminary in Dubuque, IA.

http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2877/9...2686543f_b.jpg
2013_09_14_3686_LR_upd_bw by dthrog00, on Flickr

http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5545/9...2cb461f2_b.jpg
2013_09_14_3706_LR_upd_bw by dthrog00, on Flickr

Thanks for viewing.
Dave

I really like the first one, Dave.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by DavidEccleston

I really like the first one, Dave.

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I agree. There is a lot of distortion, but it works.:)

Thanks guys. I was ok with the distortion, there was a big hill I needed to shoot from.

Dave

Great work Dave

I'll post another B&W landscape here, since it had some success on Flickr.

One of the most impressive mountain in the Mont Blanc massif, the Grandes Jorasses (4208m). The north face of this mountain is the most famous, but the east face isn't bad either.


http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5343/9...a4780958_b.jpg
A world of rocks by Tounis_9, on Flickr