luvmypets Loc: Born & raised Texan living in Fayetteville NC

Every year my best friend and I take a motorcycle trip. These photos were from our West Virginia trip in 2010. The train is one of the Cass Railroad engines. The reason I am posting this today is because I have been playing around with this photo in b&w.

I like both the color and b&w but have finally attained the strong contrast I have been trying for for a while.

Enjoy!!

Leicaflex Loc: Cymru

The Black and White has good definition and works for me.

luvmypets Loc: Born & raised Texan living in Fayetteville NC

Thank you for looking!! I love b&w and will make a copy of a color photo to turn b&w. Some photos just look better b&w.

dickwilber Loc: Indiana (currently)

Many years ago, I realized I didn't "see" in Black & White. I love the work of B&W artists; I read the tomes of Ansel Adams, et al, but it didn't take. When viewing a potential image I could never envision it in black & white - I can't see in Black & White!

Your b&w rendering of the engine is excellent. Again it shows the value of digital. Take the picture normal, and decide when viewing on the monitor whether to make it a monochrome. A. Adams never had that option, but we do! Viva digital.

And nice job luvmypets!

Jay Pat Loc: Round Rock, Texas, USA

Well done!!!
Great subject, too!!
Pat

willard3 Loc: In the Bajío, Méjico

What software did you use for the b&w? It has nice contrast and depth.

Steven Gotz Loc: San Lorenzo CA

I have the same problem, but I discovered that even though I shoot RAW, I can set my camera to think it is shooting Black and White.

That helps me not only see the image that way and still have the choice later, but lately I have been trying it out and finding that it helps me see the contrasts in the image in the viewfinder better. Which makes my color images better.

You might want to give it a try if you have not already done so. I have one of my buttons set up to give me the black and white before I shoot the color. When I have the time I switch back and forth, otherwise, lately, I have just been leaving the viewfinder that way, even when intending to use the color image.

Steven Gotz Loc: San Lorenzo CA

luvmypets,

I agree. You achieved a contrast that brings out the image quite nicely.

Camshy Loc: Erie Michigan

I like both of them. But I like the b&w better. But I like b&w photos anyways. But you did good. Need to see more.:)

luvmypets Loc: Born & raised Texan living in Fayetteville NC

Thank you so much for looking and for the kind words. I learned to see in b&w after taking photography courses (hobby) and learning to develop and print film. I did this for years and it became as easy as reading a book. I guess that's why l strive to make my b&w photos the best I can.

Thanks again!!

luvmypets Loc: Born & raised Texan living in Fayetteville NC

Thank you, Pat. I do love trains. My father's father was a railroad engineer. He died before I was born so I never got to hear any of his railroading stories but I have always loved trains and ridng the Cass Scenic railway was a great experience.

Thanks again!!!

luvmypets Loc: Born & raised Texan living in Fayetteville NC

Thank you for looking and for the kind words.

I have been trying for a long time to bring strong contrast to my b&w photos and have just found a way of doing it that will work for me. What led me to the process was when I watched a video by Mark Wallace on his version of the Zone system. As I watched, some of the sliders looked familiar so I opened all my pp programs trying to find what matched his. He was using Lightroom which I don't have but I do have Elements 10 and 12, Picasa, and Windows Gallery. After going through the Elements and Picasa trying to emulate his process, I realized it wasn't doing everything I wanted.

In Windows Gallery in the "Fine Tuning" section is a histogram with tabs that move. I realized that by using them I could set the blacks and whites like he does with the Lightroom sliders. Then I started playing around with the highlights slider and then the shadows, brightness and contrast. I found that by setting the highlights slider almost all the way left gave me the best results and then I tweaked from there. I repeated the process on a couple other photos with pretty good results.

I will probably purchase Lightroom in the future since I have seen so many things done with it that I can't do with the programs I have.

Hope this helps. Thanks again!!!

luvmypets Loc: Born & raised Texan living in Fayetteville NC

Thank you very much for looking and for the nice comment. I spent years shooting, developing and printing b&w. I think that is why I like it so much.

Thanks again and best wishes for your b&w photos.

luvmypets Loc: Born & raised Texan living in Fayetteville NC

Thank you, Mary!! Now that I have this little process I will try it on more photos and maybe post more at a later date.

Thanks for looking and commenting!!!!

Swamp-Cork Loc: Lanexa, Virginia

Loved both! Matter of fact love most everything about old trains. This brought back memories of my wife and I, along with our son, daughter in law, and grandson ridding on the Cass. I know it was many years ago,because since then we have a second grandson and he is now thirteen. Think it time to return! Thanks!