Oly Guy

I have found that if I shoot and then increase the range darker darks brighter whites it tends to look like a better b and white-or more like the actual film look.

nanaval Loc: Cornwall

Thanks pdsville :D

nanaval Loc: Cornwall

I always shoot in raw and convert to B/W in PP :D

burkphoto Loc: High Point, NC

If, by gritty, you mean grainy, you can always use black-and-white film (Tri-X, HP-5) in a 35mm SLR, crop loosely in the viewfinder, and develop the film in Rodinol or Microphen or HC-110 or something similar. Crop and enlarge the image a lot to enhance the grain.

If you look around, you can find plenty of plug-ins for Photoshop that will yield a film look. There are some that provide hundreds of film simulations, and quite a few of the simulations include lots of grainy, gritty textures.

Shutter Bugger

The thing is, I'm a "motorcyclist". My credo is being a founding member of what I believe is the first motorcycle club that was sanctioned by a state
high school in this country (Australia) circa 1969... give or take a year, the memory is a bit foggy. Anyway, I've worked (received a commission) as a motorcyclist so I can safely say I have been a professional ''motorcyclist" and imho there are learners/bikers, motorcyclists and Bikies. 3 distinct groups.

The way way I see it, is the Hells Angels were founded by military aviators that were sent on too many suicide missions and had a gut full of being treated as disposable humans. Some of the few (1%ers) that survived acquired Harleys and ran amok. Here in Australia
they are the "Bikies" of this world.

Then there are "Motorcyclists" those who are not necessarily "outlaws"
but are skilled and are capable of, and enjoy using their machines to the limit of the units design brief.

Then there are "bikers".

If your man fits the top 2 descriptions do not include the foliage.
if he doesn't, by all means include the foliage.

btbg

You don't really need any filters. This sounds kind of complicated, but really isn't. You just have to follow all the steps.

First go to image adjustments black and white and play with the sliders. I used Red 14, Yellow 39, Green -111. Cyans 60, Blue -18, Magenta 9 for the example shown.

Then make a duplicate layer. Change the blending mode on the duplicate layer to vivid light. Then go to image adjustments, invert. Once the image is inverted it will look grey with no detail.

Next step still on the top layer go to filter blur, surface blur and move the sliders until you see a clear outline of your image. I used radius 42, threshold 67 for the example.

Step four, hit control alt shift e. That will make a third layer. Delete the middle layer, which should say background copy.

Step five click on the top layer and change the blend mode to overlay. If the look is close to what you want flatten image. If it looks like too much then change the opacity of the top layer until you have the desired effect.

In the example I just flattened the image. Step six make a duplicate layer and change the layer to multiply. Change the opacity until you have the effect that you like on the biker. The background won't look very good. In the example the top layer was changed to an opacity level of 56 percent.

Step seven make a new duplicate top layer. take a black brush with the opacity and flow both set to about 50 percent. The brush I used was sized to 215. Carefully paint black around the biker. make sure that you blend it carefully. The hot spots on the foliage will gradually turn darker. Stop painting when you are dark enough to suit your vision of the image.

Step eight flatten the image and you are done. If you want you can finish by changing the image to black and white.

I know that there are faster ways. The point is that you don't need any filters. Everything can be done in photoshop.

Step seven flatten the image. Create a new dupl

(Download)

Shutter Bugger

I believe the OPs meaning of "gritty" is more abstract than the size of the grain in film. Think "True Grit" Sir.

'Tog' unknown

Bram boy Loc: Vancouver Island B.C. Canada

You Win Min :thumbup:

Shutter Bugger

I agree with Bram boy for once.

Ultra-Man Loc: Budapest, Hungary

Hi Val. Great shots of the biker. I also happen to be one. Here are your photos with an effect I've used before. Many people I've photographed liked this gritty type of treatment. All done in Lightroom 5.

(Download)


(Download)

jfn007 Loc: Close to the middle of nowhere.

try here:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7gilOgdrhGc

nanaval Loc: Cornwall

Thanks burkphoto.. :D

nanaval Loc: Cornwall

Thanks btbg Will have a try at that. Made it into a document so I can print it out... Looks good.. :thumbup:

GWR100 Loc: England

Hi Jan, Ive been down your neck of the woods for the last week or so and missed this post, --but no matter you seem to have a load of good advise and I hope you have your problem solved now,

Geoff

nanaval Loc: Cornwall

Thank you Ultra-Man, Glad you like the pictures. I have light room so will have a go... :thumbup: