New to Black and White, looking for help
Jul 15, 2018 14:31:07 #
I have never tried to do anything in black and white but when looking through pictures taken the past few months, I came across this picture of a wild mare and her foal taken in the early morning light. I'd processed it in color first so I just converted it to black and white in LR. I'd appreciate your suggestions and comments in how to enhance black and white photos. I'm assuming one of the critical needs for B & W is an easily identifiable subject but what else? Thanks for your time.
Jul 15, 2018 15:09:02 #
B&W works best if there is contrast between the elements of the image. It also works with more clarity and saturation than color. For the horses, I would want them more distinct from the background than they currently are, so start with a radial filter centered on the Mare expanded so most of its upper body is included. Adjust contrast, highlights to bring them out from the background. Do a graduated filter from the top to just above the Horse's head and do the same.
Jul 15, 2018 15:59:31 #
You have a great image going as is ! I might tone down the upper back round highlight just a bit and crop a little off the bottom.....
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Jul 15, 2018 16:47:46 #
If your editor allows you to brighten or darken the colours after the B&W conversion you may be able to darken the horses. B&W allows us to focus on shape and texture, so the horses contrasted against the soft mist add visual interest to the shot. A down side is that distractions like the small branch lying on the ground behind the horses becomes more of a distraction. It might be an idea to clone it out or soften it.
Jul 15, 2018 17:03:12 #
Regarding "identifiable subject," there are many compelling b&w abstracts. It's really more about light, shadow, forms and textures - telling a strong story that is not about color. The good news is there are unlimited resources of books and articles to help with composition and subject ideas. Even viewing old b&w films can help greatly with understanding the importance of light and shadow.
Your photo is a strong story IMO and quite engaging!
Have you considered purchasing Nik Collection to work as a plug-in for Lightroom? Now owned by DxO, they have a free trial:
https://nikcollection.dxo.com/download/
The Silver Efex for b&w conversion is awesome. And there are a great many other goodies in the suite, as well, including a bunch of filters for color work.
There are many talented b&w photographers on UHH. I'm providing this link only because I just saw it yesterday:
https://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-542118-1.html
Think about how removing color from the sunflower in photo #3 changed what the image is about.
Your photo is a strong story IMO and quite engaging!
Have you considered purchasing Nik Collection to work as a plug-in for Lightroom? Now owned by DxO, they have a free trial:
https://nikcollection.dxo.com/download/
The Silver Efex for b&w conversion is awesome. And there are a great many other goodies in the suite, as well, including a bunch of filters for color work.
There are many talented b&w photographers on UHH. I'm providing this link only because I just saw it yesterday:
https://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-542118-1.html
Think about how removing color from the sunflower in photo #3 changed what the image is about.
Jul 15, 2018 17:49:12 #
rgrenaderphoto wrote:
B&W works best if there is contrast between the elements of the image. It also works with more clarity and saturation than color. For the horses, I would want them more distinct from the background than they currently are, so start with a radial filter centered on the Mare expanded so most of its upper body is included. Adjust contrast, highlights to bring them out from the background. Do a graduated filter from the top to just above the Horse's head and do the same.
So much to learn and work on. I just discovered the two filters in LR to give you an idea how naive I am. I’ll watch some utube videos and give it a try. Thanks.
Jul 15, 2018 17:53:41 #
imagemeister wrote:
You have a great image going as is ! I might tone down the upper back round highlight just a bit and crop a little off the bottom.....
..
..
Thanks for the suggestions. I can manage those quite easily. Some of the other suggestions are going to require a lot more learning.
Jul 15, 2018 17:57:35 #
Jul 16, 2018 07:29:22 #
Sally D wrote:
I have never tried to do anything in black and white but when looking through pictures taken the past few months, I came across this picture of a wild mare and her foal taken in the early morning light. I'd processed it in color first so I just converted it to black and white in LR. I'd appreciate your suggestions and comments in how to enhance black and white photos. I'm assuming one of the critical needs for B & W is an easily identifiable subject but what else? Thanks for your time.
Like this image.
Jul 16, 2018 08:26:44 #
Sally, in my humble experience subjects like these work very well in b&w because of the high contrast. We all have taken pictures that looked great in color but when we converted to b&w they lost their charm.
I use software for my conversions (Topaz B&W Effects) and Nik hss another good one right now for free. I have never used Lightroom.
Good b&w images require a little of extra work. Ansel Adams used to spend weeks, sometimes months perfecting his images in the optical darkroom. Digital has made that easier since we do not have to work in the dark and we have now more and better tools to manipulate the images, including like I said, special software for the conversions.
For a person like you, willing to start converting images, it will take some time before you gain enough experience to develop an eye for b&w images but you are doing well right now. Dodging and burning-in are important tools in b&w photography but in addition we have in Photoshop, I do not know about Lightroom, other parameters like Selective Color and Curves which are very useful for the conversions. In my particular case I used Agfa fiber base paper in the optical darkroom for my images and that paper was a little warm, something I liked about it. Today, when I make my conversions I go to Color Balance and I dial in something like 8 for reds and 12 for yellow, precisely to get that warm color I like.
With your image, just to give you an example of how I work I only added yellow to my taste and cranked the bright areas using Contrast-Brightness painting with black the flare over the horses while enhancing blacks with Selective Color in Photoshop. I used a Curve adjustments for contrast.
Perhaps, as you gain more experience, you should consider a b&w conversion software.
I use software for my conversions (Topaz B&W Effects) and Nik hss another good one right now for free. I have never used Lightroom.
Good b&w images require a little of extra work. Ansel Adams used to spend weeks, sometimes months perfecting his images in the optical darkroom. Digital has made that easier since we do not have to work in the dark and we have now more and better tools to manipulate the images, including like I said, special software for the conversions.
For a person like you, willing to start converting images, it will take some time before you gain enough experience to develop an eye for b&w images but you are doing well right now. Dodging and burning-in are important tools in b&w photography but in addition we have in Photoshop, I do not know about Lightroom, other parameters like Selective Color and Curves which are very useful for the conversions. In my particular case I used Agfa fiber base paper in the optical darkroom for my images and that paper was a little warm, something I liked about it. Today, when I make my conversions I go to Color Balance and I dial in something like 8 for reds and 12 for yellow, precisely to get that warm color I like.
With your image, just to give you an example of how I work I only added yellow to my taste and cranked the bright areas using Contrast-Brightness painting with black the flare over the horses while enhancing blacks with Selective Color in Photoshop. I used a Curve adjustments for contrast.
Perhaps, as you gain more experience, you should consider a b&w conversion software.
Jul 16, 2018 08:33:43 #
Jul 16, 2018 09:30:03 #
Dikdik
Loc: Winnipeg, Canada
A long while back, I used high contrast copy film to take a series of photographs of snowbanks... works great.
dik
dik
Jul 16, 2018 09:32:43 #
Dikdik
Loc: Winnipeg, Canada
A long while back, I used high contrast copy film to take a series of photographs of snowbanks... works great.
I used to like B&W because you had a fair latitude on the exposure. With colour, I found that you lose the colour.
Forgot to add, really fine grained and incredible detail.
Dik
I used to like B&W because you had a fair latitude on the exposure. With colour, I found that you lose the colour.
Forgot to add, really fine grained and incredible detail.
Dik
Jul 16, 2018 10:00:11 #
camerapapi wrote:
Sally, in my humble experience subjects like these... (show quote)
I knew the image could be improved, I just wasn’t sure where to start! I really like what you did although I have to admit, I don’t fully understand your explanation. This opens up a whole new area of photography for me. I do have PS as part of my Lightroom so I’ll play around with that first. Living in Arizona, this is a great way to spend some time when it’s too hot to be outside shooting. Thanks for your time and advice.
Jul 16, 2018 14:00:54 #
Sally, not understanding my explanations about manipulation of images with software is understandable. You still do not have, or do not seem to have, the expertise of an advanced photographer but that will not take long before you become an expert. It is just a matter of time.
If I did not mention it, your image is a very beautiful one and I am sure more are coming.
If I did not mention it, your image is a very beautiful one and I am sure more are coming.
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