I'm Trying to Learn: Black and White. Please tell me: What I'm doing right, if anything; What I'm doing wrong and how to fix it. Color photo processed in Photoshop. B&W created in NIK...

Curmudgeon Loc: SE Arizona

Black and White. Please tell me: What I'm doing right, if anything; What I'm doing wrong and how to fix it.

Color photo processed in Photoshop. B&W created in NIK Silver Efex 3

Before

(Download)

After
After...

(Download)

PoppieJ Loc: North Georgia

i like this better than the picture of the monolith. This has good contrast for the main subject. I don't think that your sky needs to be quite as black as you have it, but that is my opinion and you may think differently. I might try to extend the light that you have at the bottom of the saguraos on up the trunk, I dont see that color gradient in the color shot. I do like how you have gotten depth with the dark-light-dark layers in the picture.

CindyHouk Loc: Nw MT

It's fun learning to convert them to b&w, isn't it! I am still learning myself so I can't give you any good suggestions other than have fun with it and keep experimenting. I forgot that I have the NIK collection...will have to play with that as well.

Really great photo and a good one to convert!

Curmudgeon Loc: SE Arizona

PoppieJ wrote:

i like this better than the picture of the monolith. This has good contrast for the main subject. I don't think that your sky needs to be quite as black as you have it, but that is my opinion and you may think differently. I might try to extend the light that you have at the bottom of the saguraos on up the trunk, I dont see that color gradient in the color shot. I do like how you have gotten depth with the dark-light-dark layers in the picture.

Thanks for taking the time to comment Poppie. I do tend to lean toward the dark side

Curmudgeon Loc: SE Arizona

CindyHouk wrote:

It's fun learning to convert them to b&w, isn't it! I am still learning myself so I can't give you any good suggestions other than have fun with it and keep experimenting. I forgot that I have the NIK collection...will have to play with that as well.

Really great photo and a good one to convert!

From what I can tell NIK Silver Efex seems to be the gold standard for B&W conversion. Anthony Morganti, among others has some great vidios on NIK. One thing I have learned, start out with the best color shot you can.

https://www.youtube.com/c/AnthonyMorgantiPhotographer

CindyHouk Loc: Nw MT

Curmudgeon wrote:

From what I can tell NIK Silver Efex seems to be the gold standard for B&W conversion. Anthony Morganti, among others has some great vidios on NIK. One thing I have learned, start out with the best color shot you can.

https://www.youtube.com/c/AnthonyMorgantiPhotographer

Thanks...I will check that out!

wdross Loc: Castle Rock, Colorado

Curmudgeon wrote:

Black and White. Please tell me: What I'm doing right, if anything; What I'm doing wrong and how to fix it.

Color photo processed in Photoshop. B&W created in NIK Silver Efex 3

Other than the B&W is a little dark, I think it beats the color image hands down. I think a slightly less dark image would be very dramatic and well liked by any good photographer.

Curmudgeon Loc: SE Arizona

wdross wrote:

Other than the B&W is a little dark, I think it beats the color image hands down. I think a slightly less dark image would be very dramatic and well liked by any good photographer.

Thank you

tramsey Loc: Texas

If you had put as much work into the color photo as you did on the B/W the color would be gorgeous. I don't understand why you want to go to B/W in the first place.

dennis2146 Loc: Eastern Idaho

Thank you for your post. I have posted similar thoughts a few times and have done some acceptable black and white prints but could not do it on demand if my life depended on it. I look forward to the replies.

Dennis

Rab-Eye Loc: Indiana

wdross wrote:

Other than the B&W is a little dark, I think it beats the color image hands down. I think a slightly less dark image would be very dramatic and well liked by any good photographer.

👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

Curmudgeon Loc: SE Arizona

tramsey wrote:

I don't understand why you want to go to B/W in the first place.

Obviously

Curmudgeon Loc: SE Arizona

dennis2146 wrote:

Thank you for your post. I have posted similar thoughts a few times and have done some acceptable black and white prints but could not do it on demand if my life depended on it. I look forward to the replies.

Dennis

Thanks Dennis, me too (see above). Anyone who thinks it's easy is mistaken

Curmudgeon Loc: SE Arizona

Rab-Eye wrote:

👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

PAR4DCR Loc: A Sunny Place

I would lighten up the very dark areas of the sky some and the foreground just a tad Jack. Very nice conversion.

Don