First Time Poster in this Section: One of the members in this section suggested I spend some time here. I admit I'd never looked in this section but I like what I see and read. That...

bgberlin Loc: On the Delaware River

One of the members in this section suggested I spend some time here. I admit I'd never looked in this section but I like what I see and read. That includes interesting photos and intelligent criticism and praise. Just returned from a great vacation visiting family in Australia, so most recent pictures will be from there. This one is from a national park in Tasmania that takes you through a rain forest. Does anyone know of software that can bring out more of the "texture" of the boardwalk? Any recommendations of good B&W packages? Thanks. Photo taken with Nikon D800, handheld. PP in LR. Appreciate all CC!

Bob Yankle Loc: Burlington, NC

bgberlin wrote:

One of the members in this section suggested I spe... (show quote)

Topaz Clean does a wonderful job on highlighting textures.

St3v3M Loc: 35,000 feet

bgberlin wrote:

... Just returned from a great vacation visiting family in Australia, so most recent pictures will be from there. This one is from a national park in Tasmania that takes you through a rain forest. ...!

You are blessed to travel and we thank you for including us in your adventures.

Would you consider showing the color image as well?

Thank you again and welcome to the group! S-

bgberlin Loc: On the Delaware River

St3v3M wrote:

You are blessed to travel and we thank you for including us in your adventures.

Would you consider showing the color image as well?

Thank you again and welcome to the group! S-

Don't I know it St! interesting question to see the color, here it is. Most of my adjustments were made within B&W. As a matter of fact, this is the first time I saw the "finished" photo in color!

Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington

Welcome! I like your image very much. The walkway is really interesting with its sharp angles, and I love the texture of the trees and how they fill most of the frame. That makes me feel a part of the scene.

I might try to clone out the two white sticks on the left side. Also, along with Steve's request for comparison color, I wonder if you could upload the b&w again with "store original" selected?

(edit - just saw the color. Love those lush greens!)

bgberlin Loc: On the Delaware River

Linda From Maine wrote:

Welcome! I like your image very much. The walkway is really interesting with its sharp angles, and I love the texture of the trees and how they fill most of the frame. That makes me feel a part of the scene.

I might try to clone out the two white sticks on the left side. Also, along with Steve's request for comparison color, I wonder if you could upload the b&w again with "store original" selected?

(edit - just saw the color. Love those lush greens!)

Thanks for the kind words and ideas. Here's a repost as you asked.

(Download)

Billyspad Loc: The Philippines

Welcome and thank you for a great shot. If you tick the box that says Allow storage others can download your pictures and try various software tricks to get the result you want.
Without download I would say Nik Color Efex Detail Extract would be a good starting point. Can produce noise in the image as well so may need noise reduction afterwards.
You BW would respond wonderfully well to the colour image being processed in the Nik BW converter which is Silver Efex. Will give you all the detail you require. Your conversion has left it a little flat. looks like a LR conversion job? No I do not work for Nik but no snapper is complete without it in their arsenal in my humble but well considered opinion.
Have a great day.

bgberlin Loc: On the Delaware River

Bob Yankle wrote:

Topaz Clean does a wonderful job on highlighting textures.

Thanks Bob, I'll take a look at it. I've read some good comments about Topaz.

St3v3M Loc: 35,000 feet

bgberlin wrote:

Don't I know it St! interesting question to see the color, here it is. Most of my adjustments were made within B&W. As a matter of fact, this is the first time I saw the "finished" photo in color!

I'm the curious cat that sometimes says too much, but I find I learn by asking and learn from everyone so I appreciate you sharing!

Now that I've seen the color version I see what distracted me from the original. For me, and understand I say this on purpose, I find black and whites best with extreme tonal values and less visuals. While your image is good then, I find it too middle grey with too many distractions and as such like the color version more!

It's a hard call, and ultimately only you know what's best, but I hope it helps and thank you again for joining us! S-

bgberlin Loc: On the Delaware River

Billyspad wrote:

Welcome and thank you for a great shot. If you tic... (show quote)

Thanks Billy, believe it or not I got on the computer to download a free trial of Nik, gets high praise in lots of articles. Your right, it is LR conversion. Is it a stand alone, or plugin to LR and PS CC?

bgberlin Loc: On the Delaware River

St3v3M wrote:

I'm the curious cat that sometimes says too much, ... (show quote)

Good points St - and along with all the others good points - that's what I'm looking for. I tried within LR to eliminate some of the "middle grey" but I either don't now how - or I need more software.

Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington

bgberlin wrote:

Thanks for the kind words and ideas. Here's a repost as you asked.

Thanks! I have the Nik Collection and enjoy Silver Efex very much. It would be interesting to see a couple of different versions of this, one that lightens the foliage via a colored filter in pp, for example.

Here's an article I quickly grabbed, don't even know if it's for filter for lens or use in pp, but explains how colored filters work for b&w:

http://www.photographymad.com/pages/view/using-coloured-filters-in-black-and-white-photography

Either way, a very appealing shot.

St3v3M Loc: 35,000 feet

bgberlin wrote:

Good points St - and along with all the others good points - that's what I'm looking for. I tried within LR to eliminate some of the "middle grey" but I either don't now how - or I need more software.

I'll let the ones who know more share their knowledge and guide you from here. It should be a fun ride! S-

Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington

bgberlin wrote:

... I tried within LR to eliminate some of the "middle grey" but I either don't now how - or I need more software.

I don't know LR, but it was interesting to read how this poster worked his pp (you'll need to scroll down a few entries to read the details):

http://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-348741-1.html

Billyspad Loc: The Philippines

bgberlin wrote:

Thanks Billy, believe it or not I got on the computer to download a free trial of Nik, gets high praise in lots of articles. Your right, it is LR conversion. Is it a stand alone, or plugin to LR and PS CC?

Its a plug in and can be accessed from both LR and PSCC. Think no more reduce your wife's housekeeping allowance and just go and buy it.
If your not totally over the moon with what it can do I will forgo my nightly cocoa for a whole week. Cant be fairer than that!