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02/23/2005 08:33:23 AM · #1 |
Comments on my BRIDGES II entry have pinpointed an area which I would like to improve in my B/W photography. What method do you use or steps do you take to create a dynamic, contrasty tonal range when shooting black & white? I know it when I see it, sometimes I may even take pictures that have it, but with me it's more luck-of-the-draw than accomplished by design. Here's my entry, as well as another from last year (coincidentally also a bridge, but for the B/W challenge). Thanks for the help.
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02/23/2005 09:18:54 AM · #2 |
About the Antietam Bridge: The trees in the background and the rocks in the foreground look slightly fuzzy. I think you could make it look punchier by using unsharp mask. By using a tripod and stopping down the photo could have been improved, maybe, at the time of shooting. I found the sky full of trees to be too distracting, so I guess a totally opposite approach would be to photograph on a foggy day, use a long lense, open up the aperature and blur the trees. Cropping is a good third choice.
I liked the stones in the front of the photo. Usually I like framing trees, but the one across the corner ends right at the end of the bridge, so it kind of 'floats unnaturally' in our subconscious. The tonal variation, brightness, contrast, and light look good to me. I hope some of these are new and useful ideas.
Message edited by author 2005-02-23 09:20:37.
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02/23/2005 09:28:54 AM · #3 |
About the Shenandoah Bridge: The problem here is that the bottom of the bridge is dark and in the shadows, but the rest of the composition - concrete and so on - are light and in the light. I think the shot as it exists now is a pretty good start. The problem is that we want to see texture in everything, and the conditions make it difficult. Use Unsharp Mask to draw out textural detail and sharpen edges. Again, it seems silly to shoot during good light with a tripod, but this might have allowed you to stop down and get a sharper shot. Finally, you can play with Photoshop's curves, Dodge, and Burn features to address these problems. Burning the light areas and dodging the dark ones can reveal hidden details. I hope some of this was new and helpful info.
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02/23/2005 09:45:17 AM · #4 |
How do you do your conversion to BW? Channel Mixer, Film and Filter layers, or a simple "convert to grayscale"? This can really affect the tonal range. I'm not going to address the compositional problems, as there are already some excellent suggestions and I don't think that's what you are after.
Dodge and burn is definitely a part of really good BW, but do remember that it's not Basic Rules compatible. |
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02/23/2005 10:05:10 AM · #5 |
| Good night, srbrubaker, you've been a member for less than two weeks and have left almost 250 comments? Really commendable... great example for all of us. As for your reponse(s) to my question, yes they both are very new, helpful and useful :) You're right, I don't think "tripod" when the light is plentiful, but now I will. Thanks very much for the thoughtful and detailed help, much appreciated. |
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02/23/2005 10:14:26 AM · #6 |
Originally posted by nards656:
How do you do your conversion to BW? Channel Mixer, Film and Filter layers, or a simple "convert to grayscale"? |
Hiya nards, Let me start off by saying I'm a real beginner at photo editing. I'm using the PS Elements II that came bundled with the camera. Both of these shots were originally in color; I have been using the "Remove Color" function in Elements to convert to b/w. Not sure, but I don't think Elements even has Channel Mixer. Any suggestions for a better way to convert to b/w? (That is, besides the obvious of upgrading to the full-blown version of PhotoShop -- bear_music has suggested that already while helping me with another photo, and hopefully I'll do so soon!) Thanks much. |
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