Golden & Blue Hours for B&W?
Apr 11, 2020 12:56:20 #
I keep encountering advice to shoot during the blue & golden hours, and I can see how that advice would pay off for color shots. I haven't shot B&W for about a half century, so I'm not clear: would that advice hold true for B&W shooting? Or would it just result in lots of blown whites and/or blocked up blacks?
Apr 11, 2020 13:01:52 #
I think just the opposite. It’s not just about the color of the light, but the quality. You’re much more likely to get overblown highlights and blocked up blacks in bright midday overhead sunlight.
Apr 11, 2020 13:35:25 #
I agree with Superfly 100%
Black and white is often about full tonal range with interesting shadows. The "Golden Hour" is a great time to shoot. I took this photo just after sunrise.
The foreground (which was in deep shadow from an adjacent mountain) is considered a negative by some, so personal preference does play a part. If photographed at mid-day, it would have been harder to retain detail in the snow, and the contours of the mountain would be less distinct - at least with a single exposure (there is always bracketing and HDR). But, just look at dem shadows
Mt Rainier, on Flickr
Black and white is often about full tonal range with interesting shadows. The "Golden Hour" is a great time to shoot. I took this photo just after sunrise.
The foreground (which was in deep shadow from an adjacent mountain) is considered a negative by some, so personal preference does play a part. If photographed at mid-day, it would have been harder to retain detail in the snow, and the contours of the mountain would be less distinct - at least with a single exposure (there is always bracketing and HDR). But, just look at dem shadows
Mt Rainier, on FlickrApr 11, 2020 13:45:57 #
Continue to shoot raw, then convert to b&w in an editor. Nik Silver Efex is powerful software, including offering virtual colored filters which you may recall from b&w film days, and paper toning such as selenium.
Apr 11, 2020 14:13:20 #
Linda From Maine wrote:
I agree with Superfly 100% br br Black and white... (show quote)
I love that! It’s beautiful!
Apr 11, 2020 14:18:58 #
cbtsam wrote:
I keep encountering advice to shoot during the blue & golden hours, and I can see how that advice would pay off for color shots. I haven't shot B&W for about a half century, so I'm not clear: would that advice hold true for B&W shooting? Or would it just result in lots of blown whites and/or blocked up blacks?
I think it’s what Lynda and Superfly said. And I think true of blue hour as well. The color is certainly blue but you can use that subtle soft light in BW as well. Just like with film, the key to minimizing blown whites or blocked up blacks is good exposure.
Apr 11, 2020 14:43:14 #
cbtsam wrote:
I keep encountering advice to shoot during the blue & golden hours, and I can see how that advice would pay off for color shots. I haven't shot B&W for about a half century, so I'm not clear: would that advice hold true for B&W shooting? Or would it just result in lots of blown whites and/or blocked up blacks?
Forget golden and blue hours instead think the shadow hours. Shadows created by the low angle of the sun.
Apr 11, 2020 14:53:24 #
Graham Smith wrote:
Forget golden and blue hours instead think the shadow hours. Shadows created by the low angle of the sun.
I like your examples, but they do include blocked up shadows; it's just that those shadows work for you in your images, so it's no problem, but in Linda's it was, at least for some observers, and I can imagine many other situations where it would also be problematic. Perhaps one just has to be careful, and maybe bracketing and HDR is the solution for many situations.
Apr 11, 2020 14:53:55 #
cbtsam wrote:
I keep encountering advice to shoot during the blue & golden hours, and I can see how that advice would pay off for color shots. I haven't shot B&W for about a half century, so I'm not clear: would that advice hold true for B&W shooting? Or would it just result in lots of blown whites and/or blocked up blacks?
For golden hour shots it's the color you are shooting. In B&W you don't see the gold. Here is a golden hour as shot in color and converted to B&W in post
Apr 11, 2020 15:12:52 #
cbtsam wrote:
I like your examples, but they do include blocked up shadows; it's just that those shadows work for you in your images, so it's no problem, but in Linda's it was, at least for some observers, and I can imagine many other situations where it would also be problematic. Perhaps one just has to be careful, and maybe bracketing and HDR is the solution for many situations.
In high contrast monochrome pictures, some blocking of shadows is to be expected, it should be minimised, however, I see no need to eliminate it entirely, in fact, it can be effective. The human eye in a strongly backlit situation will not perceive detail in the shadows. Why try to show what the eye can't see?
Graham
Apr 11, 2020 15:16:20 #
Graham Smith wrote:
In high contrast monochrome pictures, some blocking of shadows is to be expected, it should be minimised, however, I see no need to eliminate it entirely, in fact, it can be effective. The human eye in a strongly backlit situation will not perceive detail in the shadows. Why try to show what the eye can't see?
Graham
Graham
As i tried to indicate, Graham, I saw no problem with the blocked shadows in your examples; on the contrary, I think it's a large part of what makes those images work. It's just that I have seen other examples where it doesn't work at all.
Apr 11, 2020 15:21:25 #
cbtsam wrote:
As i tried to indicate, Graham, I saw no problem with the blocked shadows in your examples; on the contrary, I think it's a large part of what makes those images work. It's just that I have seen other examples where it doesn't work at all.
I understood that. I was explaining my view on deep shadows.
Graham
Apr 11, 2020 15:30:29 #
boberic wrote:
For golden hour shots it's the color you are shooting. In B&W you don't see the gold. Here is a golden hour as shot in color and converted to B&W in post
I disagree. It's the light you are shooting. Light has color, quality and direction. Color is only one component. The other components show up on BW the same way, AND colors show as different shades in BW. You can most definitely see golden vs daylight colors as different tones/shades on BW.
Apr 11, 2020 15:40:17 #
boberic wrote:
May I edit your color for a different b&w and re-post?For golden hour shots it's the color you are shooting. In B&W you don't see the gold. Here is a golden hour as shot in color and converted to B&W in post
Apr 11, 2020 15:44:25 #
cbtsam wrote:
If you personally dislike blocked-up shadows, then yes, you'd want to be careful. I like your examples, but they do include blocked up shadows; it's just that those shadows work for you in your images, so it's no problem, but in Linda's it was, at least for some observers, and I can imagine many other situations where it would also be problematic. Perhaps one just has to be careful, and maybe bracketing and HDR is the solution for many situations.
To be blunt, I think HDR sucks the life right out of some landscapes
For me, light and shadows - even with color - are what is most important, and why I usually shoot early in the day. I hope you enjoy exploring the possibilities of all hours and finding what you suits your style the best. Thanks for the thread!
Two hours after sunrise, shooting towards the sun. Perhaps the deep blacks don't work as well here?
swans 2020 edit, on Flickr
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