Techniques Exploration Group: B&W High Contrast

Tamron SP AF 17-50mm f/2.8 Di II LD Aspherical (IF) for Nikon

08/15/2006 10:17:31 PM · #1

Just to let everyone know, we've started the next technique, painting with light.

Feel free to keep exploring B&W high contrast, too - no reason we can't do several at once!

Tamron SP AF 17-50mm f/2.8 Di II LD Aspherical (IF) for Nikon

08/15/2006 10:15:56 PM · #2

Originally posted by _eug:

Just reworked my Self Portrait IV entry which I thought would look good with this technique.

Wow. I think this improves your entry hugely.

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

08/09/2006 02:46:02 PM · #3

I have a few images from the garden this weekend that I did HighContrastB&W.

Melethia

Canon EOS-80D

08/06/2006 12:46:42 AM · #4

It's not black and white, but I did up the contrast a whole lot more than it needed.

Samsung Galaxy S21, S21+, S21 Ultra

08/06/2006 12:41:32 AM · #5

Just reworked my Self Portrait IV entry which I thought would look good with this technique.

Bear_Music

Sony 24-70mm F4 Vario-Tessar T* FE OSS

08/05/2006 10:43:24 AM · #6

Originally posted by levyj413:

Hi everyone. I'm off for a week of hiking in the Alps! Bear, I'm now reading your landscape learning thread. :)

I'm thrilled with how it's gone so far, and when I get back, we'll try something else. Nominations for the next technique? I'll look over the thread when I get back and start a new techniques thread on August 13.

Have fun in the alps! Say hi to the Matterhorn for me if you're anywhere nearby :-)

R.

Tamron SP AF 17-50mm f/2.8 Di II LD Aspherical (IF) for Nikon

08/05/2006 07:35:22 AM · #7

Prof_Fate

08/04/2006 12:24:42 AM · #8

I saw a vintage photo and tried to re-create the effect without knowing what I was doing and got this (as a challenge entry)

A few months later (OK, 15 months) and i have learned a bit. how extreme is always a matter of discussion, but i got created this image and the print is stunning

She has very fair skin and I think that helps - she looks good in any b&w image.

For this thread I played a bit with two shots of my friend Jeremy. For these I think his more serious expression works better.

08/03/2006 11:41:19 PM · #9

Originally posted by levyj413:

One interesting thing is that even saying "high-contrast" leaves the options wide open. You can choose where to make the curve vertical, or where to bring the sliders close together in levels, to make it overall darker or lighter.

VERY, very true...

Tamron SP AF 17-50mm f/2.8 Di II LD Aspherical (IF) for Nikon

08/03/2006 09:34:49 PM · #10

Okay, I've finally made a couple of examples.

First, I redid my Lines II entry, which was originally shot in B&W:

Then I took a color photo of my teammate last night, used the channel mixer to get an interesting-looking B&W version, and pushed up the contrast:

I used levels for the first one. For the second, I used curves, but since I wound up with almost a vertical "curve," levels probably would've worked just as well.

One interesting thing is that even saying "high-contrast" leaves the options wide open. You can choose where to make the curve vertical, or where to bring the sliders close together in levels, to make it overall darker or lighter.

08/02/2006 09:54:28 PM · #11

Originally posted by _eug:

Originally posted by zxaar:

Originally posted by jdannels:
how do you get the screen shot so I can show examples of curves?

Alt+(printscreen button)

It takes to clipboard. Open mspaint and paste it there, use it.

Just out of curiousity... If you're already in an image editing program why open another image editing program to 'use' the clipboard screen shot?
File > New > Image from Clipboard...

Lol, I didn't know you could. That works much better and fast.
I had to open a new in image in photoshop then Edit->Paste and there it was.

08/02/2006 09:46:30 PM · #12

Here are three I did from the same series. I wasn't happy with the yellow color cast and couldn't manage to get rid of it without end up with a blue color cast. So, without further ado, my attempt at high-contrast B&W:

08/02/2006 07:27:13 PM · #13

Originally posted by zxaar:

Originally posted by jdannels:
how do you get the screen shot so I can show examples of curves?

Alt+(printscreen button)

It takes to clipboard. Open mspaint and paste it there, use it.

Just out of curiousity... If you're already in an image editing program why open another image editing program to 'use' the clipboard screen shot?
File > New > Image from Clipboard...

08/02/2006 05:42:20 PM · #14

anyone still doing this exercise?

zxaar

08/01/2006 08:57:54 PM · #15

Originally posted by jdannels:

how do you get the screen shot so I can show examples of curves?

Alt+(printscreen button)

It takes to clipboard. Open mspaint and paste it there, use it.

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

08/01/2006 08:45:45 PM · #16

Originally posted by Kerm:

Would love as many comments on this as possible (on the picture page if that's ok).

I managed to get the grain effect because it was really dark in the room, shot without any flash (thankyou 50mm 1.8!) at ISO 1600. I love the effect.
By sliding the two outcome sliders in a little you can create very dramatic high and low key black and white images.

To me I thought this photo was great as a black and white image but wasn't quite there as a high contrast image since it had very even tones(greys) throughout the zones I believe. I took it into photo shop and added a curve similar to the example shown in this thread and dodged abit on the right side to make it more white. I don't think this photo is better, but maybe a better example of high contrast. Please tell me if I am on the right track.

how do you get the screen shot so I can show examples of curves?

Nuzzer

Canon EOS-7D

08/01/2006 05:44:48 PM · #17

Originally posted by OdysseyF22:

Okay, still working all this out, but here's my second attempt. I think I'm at least closer this time! Desaturated in the Hue&Sat slider, then imitated the curve that Nikonian Ninja showed, then added another curve adjustment to gain more contrast.

I then went back to the original and applied Contrast Masking, ending up making two passes with it. Not entirely sure how it compares to the Curves method, or which I like better, although I'm leaning toward the Masking.

I'd love to know what everyone's take is, which they prefer. Feel free to be brutal :-)

I prefer the top one simply because it doesn't have the clouds showing. Other than that they both seem equal to me.

Ben

Canon EOS-30D

Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM

08/01/2006 07:08:36 AM · #18

Would love as many comments on this as possible (on the picture page if that's ok).

I managed to get the grain effect because it was really dark in the room, shot without any flash (thankyou 50mm 1.8!) at ISO 1600. I love the effect.

My favourite way, and the method i feel works best for me to turn b+w is to use the gradient map, whilst default colours and selected (black and white).
By sliding the two outcome sliders in a little you can create very dramatic high and low key black and white images.
Here;

Fun to experiment.

Canon EF 100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM

08/01/2006 06:48:14 AM · #19

Originally posted by chalice:

Any comments?

I think this is a great example of high contrast and a nice tip to on the levels. i think this photo also lends well to this technique as it brings your eyes attention to the foreground plants and strong shape of the lighthouse.

Here is my attempt at high contrast black and white. They are starling that were flying over my head. Used curves similary as noted before then used the channel mixer to convert to B&W. Its abit extreme but I wanted to make sure I got it right. :)
edit: added original file

Message edited by author 2006-08-01 06:54:25.

chalice

Canon EOS-5D Mark III

08/01/2006 06:16:10 AM · #20

I have noticed that most of the examples of HC photos have involved dark subjects with lighter backgrounds. When following the steps outlined (desaturation; curves adjustment) the light areas tend to wash out and the dark areas gain definition.

When using the process for a picture with a light subject against a dark background I found it necessary to add a levels adjustment (moving the left button to the right) to allow the HC to work without washing out the subject. In my example above, the subject is the lighthouse and the grass on the hillside, not the hillside itself.

Any comments?

Bear_Music

Samsung Galaxy S21, S21+, S21 Ultra

Sony 24-70mm F4 Vario-Tessar T* FE OSS

08/01/2006 02:42:21 AM · #21

Originally posted by routerguy666:

Still playing with a bunch of architecture shots I took this past weekend. Think I finally got the BW look I've been seeing in my head:

So this is low-key bw?

Two levels layers, two curves layers, 1 selective color, 1 channel mixer. 100% on all of them.

That doesn't feel low-key to me. It's a continuous tone image with both black and white in it, with most of the tones falling around zone V and at least the effect of a fair amount of zone VI in lower left, though that's really overlapping spots of V and VII; then the whole thing is processed pretty contrasty to boot. It's a very nice effect btw; good on ya!

R.

violinist123

Canon EOS-6D

Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM

07/31/2006 11:39:30 PM · #22

Still playing with a bunch of architecture shots I took this past weekend. Think I finally got the BW look I've been seeing in my head:

So this is low-key bw?

Two levels layers, two curves layers, 1 selective color, 1 channel mixer. 100% on all of them.

Message edited by author 2006-07-31 23:40:24.

OdysseyF22

Panasonic DC-G9

Olympus 12-45mm /f4.0 Pro

07/31/2006 10:52:29 PM · #23

I then went back to the original and applied Contrast Masking, ending up making two passes with it. Not entirely sure how it compares to the Curves method, or which I like better, although I'm leaning toward the Masking.

I'd love to know what everyone's take is, which they prefer. Feel free to be brutal :-)