Seeing black and white - DPChallenge Forums

Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM

11/29/2004 08:55:09 PM · #26

While it might be frustrating, that serendipity is a large part of the fun of photography. It would be nice to have all the control implied, but the lack of, or surprises make it worthwhile in some ways. Certainly I often expose for a very neutral image, in the hope that I can render something more dramatic after capturing as much information as possible.

I think right now I struggle to see the potential in the images - I'm not well versed enough in the possibilities to see where there is, never mind how to get there from here. I think e301 has it right, that it comes from a lot of evaluation of what has been before to see what could be now.

wewillexplore

Canon EOS-1D Mark II

11/30/2004 11:05:40 PM · #27

Caveat: I know you are not talking about wholesale changes to the entire image.

One way I look at an image if I can't quite see what's possible is to open curves and drag it very dark and very light. Sometimes this shows me how much mood the sky has without committing to any changes. If the sky is completely blown out, this won't show me anything - but if there's detail left, it shows me where it is and how I could achieve it with burning. Same with brightening it til the curve is about as far as it will go. Some of my favorite high key stuff was done doing just that.

Again, I know you aren't looking to change the entire image - but a quick curve can sometimes show me what's lurking in the darkness to be brought out.

M

zeuszen

Canon EOS-1Ds Mark II

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

11/30/2004 11:14:11 PM · #28

Originally posted by mavrik:

... a quick curve can sometimes show me what's lurking in the darkness to be brought out.

This is, I think, an excellent point (and one applicable to more than photography). When we know the limits, we can play with some degree of confidence.

12/01/2004 09:01:01 AM · #29

Originally posted by mavrik:

This is a great point. I usually start by splitting the image in to the 3 channels as individual files and looking at each of the channels for a bit. I should also make a high key and low key version of each just to see what's there. Makes a lot of sense. In many ways this is like using the 'variations' adjustment as a starting point for colour correction - a quick way to help visualise the possibilities - certainly a good suggestion.

12/01/2004 10:47:34 AM · #30

Something else I thought might be useful in the same context of 'going to the edge' I often do adjustments on layers in a very bold way - darker or lighter or just 'more' of whatever I'm working on so that it is easy to see the impact, then use the opacity controls to fine tune the result. Makes editing in a sloppy, heavy handed way very easy.

Prof_Fate

12/01/2004 12:11:33 PM · #31

I think i understand what you are asking, but there is no real answer. The question is "When will I know to make a dramatic change, and what to change?" For a specific photo you might get specific, if conflicting, answers.

For a general answer to apply to all future shots, you first have to answer why i think a shot of mine is average, but voters give it 1s and 10s (or 2s and 9s). Obviously some folks think it is the best shot of hte day, others think it is toilet paper. Who is right?

Neither and yet both. Same with burning the sky or whatever else yo might end up doing. For you for that picutre for now, whatever you do is right. Tomorrow is another day, your perception and knowledge will change and what you will/can/want to do to that same image will change.

As for some concrete advice, just play in PS and see what happens. I pl;ayed and got this grain and tonality by accident. I like it even if others do not, but I did not plan in advance to get this as the end result.