b+w or color? - DPChallenge Forums

Sony DT 11-18mm f/4.5-5.6 Aspherical ED Super Wide Angle Zoom

03/11/2004 12:48:04 AM · #1

Found this semi-old photo of a pigeon I really liked and can't decide if I like the black and white or color version better. To me they are very different photographs. What do you think?

ChrisW123

Canon EOS-1000D Rebel XS

Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS

03/11/2004 12:52:21 AM · #2

They are completely different you're right. I kind of like the bw one better because the contrast makes the bird stick out more in the photo. The color is nice, but since the background doesn't really add anything to the shot (just a machine, etc.), I think it has too much "emphasis" in the color shot.

faidoi

Pentax K10D

Pentax DA 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 AF

03/11/2004 12:55:14 AM · #3

What about a desatuaration of the background version. I like the colors in the pigeon, but the contrast of the background on the monotone looks really nice.

Background looks too busy in the color version.

Message edited by author 2004-03-11 00:55:57.

03/11/2004 12:55:54 AM · #4

The B/W treatment appears to be less busy in the background and the bird seems to 'pop' out of the background! My vote is for B/W.

Sony DT 11-18mm f/4.5-5.6 Aspherical ED Super Wide Angle Zoom

03/11/2004 12:56:38 AM · #5

Think I'm preferring the b+w too. At the time I thought it was cool to have the pigeon in its unnatural environment. The fact that the orange was so bright further highlighted this juxtaposition and also matched the pigeons eye color. The more I look at however, I realize that orange looks awful with the purple markings on the pigeon. I do like that it is stepping on the caution tape though. I have some other pigeon shots from the same day with normal sky and sea and pier backgrounds but I didn't find them as interesting. Everyone has normal pigeon photos :) Maybe I will edit it to make the background less saturated....

edit: lol. i just wrote what faidoi recommended before I even say the comment! :)

Message edited by author 2004-03-11 00:57:18.

03/11/2004 12:56:42 AM · #6

Originally posted by faidoi:

I thought that too faidoi, but in this instance, I think it might end up looking gimmicky...

Sony DT 11-18mm f/4.5-5.6 Aspherical ED Super Wide Angle Zoom

03/11/2004 12:59:22 AM · #7

What was funny about the b+w is that I desaturated with the channel mixer and the effect I liked best was about 80% blue channel. Usually the blue channel is the worst of the channels and I use the smallest amount of it.

03/11/2004 01:04:26 AM · #8

Originally posted by JasonPR:

Have you tried the Hue/Saturation technique involving two H/S layers? Much more controll over the end product...

Sony DT 11-18mm f/4.5-5.6 Aspherical ED Super Wide Angle Zoom

03/11/2004 01:07:32 AM · #9

No, haven't tried it, how does it work better? I usually do the monochrome channel mixer to start then play with the color balance on the black and white then desaturate again.

Pentax DA 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 AF

03/11/2004 01:25:07 AM · #10

Originally posted by JasonPR:

No, haven't tried it, how does it work better? I usually do the monochrome channel mixer to start then play with the color balance on the black and white then desaturate again.

Damn, can't find the thread that I got the pointer (and link to digidan) from. Anyways:

1) Make a Hue/Saturation layer using the 'Color' blending option.

2) Make another Hue/Saturation layer using normal blending and slide the Saturation slider all the way to the left.

3) Go back to the first Hue/Saturation layer and slowly (so PS can make adjustments and you can see them) slide the Hue slider back and forth till you get an effect you like.

Don't ask me how it works though....

faidoi

Pentax K10D

03/11/2004 01:31:25 AM · #11

Originally posted by TooCool:

Originally posted by faidoi:
What about a desatuaration of the background version. I like the colors in the pigeon, but the contrast of the background on the monotone looks really nice.

Background looks too busy in the color version.

I thought that too faidoi, but in this instance, I think it might end up looking gimmicky...

Yes, too gimmicky :P

edit:
Image
Duplicate background 1
Mask pigeon
Inverse selection
Erase out pigeon
Duplicate background 2
Background layer 1- Action (Digidan B&W)
Background layer 2 tweak level of pigeon
Flatten

Probably a faster way, but that's what I did. Not basic editing legal but incase anyone wanted to know.

Message edited by author 2004-03-11 02:06:04.

Canon EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS STM

03/11/2004 01:36:06 AM · #12

Originally posted by faidoi:

Yes, too gimmicky :P

Told ya :-O

KarenB

Canon EOS-70D

03/11/2004 08:57:04 AM · #13

Originally posted by TooCool:

Originally posted by JasonPR:
No, haven't tried it, how does it work better? I usually do the monochrome channel mixer to start then play with the color balance on the black and white then desaturate again.

Damn, can't find the thread that I got the pointer (and link to digidan) from.

Black and White thread containing b&w conversion link

Canon EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS STM

03/11/2004 11:05:39 AM · #14

That was the thread Karen. Thank you for that. I now feel kinda dumb though because I actually saw that thread while looking, but didn't think it was the right one because the link to digidan says 'channelmixer' in it. That threw me off.

KarenB

Canon EOS-70D

03/11/2004 02:43:24 PM · #15

Easy for some information to get lost in some threads. Happens all the time. I only knew because I bookmarked it. :P

Message edited by author 2004-03-11 14:43:45.