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Shooting B&W with digital camera
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Aug 25, 2022 14:37:24   #
rmalarz Loc: Tempe, Arizona
 
I initially provided links but since others have posted photos here, I guess I'll post those, as well.
--Bob
gvarner wrote:
I think the advise here is good, shooting in RAW and then PP to B&W. And I also think that the subject matter, the light, and the composition are major components. Yes, shoot in color but not all color photos make good B&W's. I see a lot of examples of low contrast color photos here that are converted to B&W and it doesn’t work for me.


(Download)


(Download)

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Aug 25, 2022 14:42:38   #
Ysarex Loc: St. Louis
 
dkeysser wrote:
OR, I am very interested in your comment on having a converted Sony camera. I assume you somehow converted it into B&W only? Can you explain this in more detail? I have several Sony bodies, and I would be very happy to convert one of them to B&W only. How did you do this? Thanks.

https://maxmax.com/maincamerapage/monochrome-cameras/sony-monochrome

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Aug 25, 2022 14:42:45   #
RonDavis Loc: Chicago, IL
 
rmalarz wrote:
I initially provided links but since others have posted photos here, I guess I'll post those, as well.
--Bob


Bob.....these are as good as usual....(your magic is showing again)

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Aug 25, 2022 14:48:24   #
rmalarz Loc: Tempe, Arizona
 
Thank you very much, Ron.
--Bob
RonDavis wrote:
Bob.....these are as good as usual....(your magic is showing again)

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Aug 25, 2022 14:50:55   #
sodapop Loc: Bel Air, MD
 
lamiaceae wrote:
That is what I do and suggest too.


Me too. I like the fact that you can still use the color sliders to enhance the B&W

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Aug 25, 2022 14:58:37   #
Boris77
 
dkeysser wrote:
Guys, I have a Sony A7c and want to shoot great B&W (like the old film camera days). I usually shoot in JPEG (X-fine version), and I usually shoot in normal color mode, and then decide to convert to B&W in PhotoShop Elements. I have also tried the B&W setting in Creative Style. In most cases, the results look muddy and boring, not like I got in the old days shooting a Leica and Tri-X. Any suggestions on how to proceed? Thanks in advance.


I think that you have some good technical suggestions in the replies, but taking a good B&W picture is in the mind. When I shot B&W film I looked thru a full color viewfinder, and could pre-visualize a goal. There are aids on a digital camera to see what you are shooting, but the picture needs to be seen in the mind. Shoot, learn, and repeat.
I did not photograph many fast moving subjects.
Boris

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Aug 25, 2022 15:05:23   #
hookedupin2005 Loc: Northwestern New Mexico
 
robertjerl wrote:
Using the camera in RAW and then converting gives much better results. It depends on your conversion apps and your skill at it. I favor NIK's "Silver Efex", I have Pro 3.
Besides if you use copies or a non destructive app like Lightroom to import images, do basic editing and send them on to the advanced apps you will always have the Out Of Camera RAW to try again in B&W or Color.
Examples: done with a Canon 6D in December 2016 at Orange Empire Railway Museum (now Southern California Railway Museum-I am a member in the Operations Department)
1. OOC before editing
2. Color cropped and edited
3. B&W conversion done in Siver Efex
4. B&W lightened for those that don't like the gloomy day look

All the overhead wires are power for our electric locomotives and standard gauge inter-urban street cars. (mostly Los Angeles "Red Cars") I left them because they are part of the setting at the museum. I did the images a bit gloomy because that was the kind of day it was.
Using the camera in RAW and then converting gives ... (show quote)


Although this is a B&W conversion topic, I think #1 is the best photo, because the color of the Christmas rope on the locomotive. Just my humble opinion, nothing more.

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Aug 25, 2022 15:25:49   #
rmalarz Loc: Tempe, Arizona
 
Rongn..., thanks for bringing this to light. I'm going to try putting a filter I'd normally use for my film photography on a digital and see what happens.

I'll keep you posted.
--Bob
Rongnongno wrote:
What I am about to say is going to create a controversy.
If you were used to shooting B&W on film, you likely were using filters for good reasons. Keep doing that. The filter will have the same effect if you PP straight into B&W.

The controversy resides in some folks who are adamant you can do the same in PP. This is not true, as a filter alters the light captured by the sensor.

Personally, when I want a B&W out of a full color (no filter) I have learned to use a different method.

I create a selective color adjustment layer, then I create a B&W adjustment layer.
I do most of my B&W adjustment using only the selective color.
This offers a granular control that is absent from the run-of-the-mill B&W layer, yet it is needed to do the initial convert.

I look at the B&W conversion as a sledgehammer. It adjusts the luminosity. On the other hand, Selective color adjust the color and the luminosity. Can't beat that.

I seldom have a need to adjust with the B&W layer.

Note: I sometime uses method this to create luminosity masks...
What I am about to say is going to create a contro... (show quote)

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Aug 25, 2022 15:32:35   #
dkeysser Loc: Minneapolis
 
Thanks for the referral. I have emailed them regarding converting a Sony A6600. Do you recall what it cost you?

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Aug 25, 2022 15:37:52   #
robertjerl Loc: Corona, California
 
spaceytracey wrote:
Outstanding! I'm a dark & gloomy girl so I prefer the 1st one. I LOVE Silver EFEX & have often used it to convert color images. Lots of sliders to play with.


Thanks
I've been using NIK for years. Though actually PS does a decent job also.

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Aug 25, 2022 15:39:13   #
robertjerl Loc: Corona, California
 
hookedupin2005 wrote:
Although this is a B&W conversion topic, I think #1 is the best photo, because the color of the Christmas rope on the locomotive. Just my humble opinion, nothing more.


99% of the time I prefer color also.

But I was illustrating the results of conversion.

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Aug 25, 2022 15:48:13   #
robertjerl Loc: Corona, California
 
I forgot to mention there are apps that have emulation of different film type looks from the past. Both color and B&W. I haven't used one in several years but a search should turn information up.

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Aug 25, 2022 16:32:42   #
selmslie Loc: Fernandina Beach, FL, USA
 
Rongnongno wrote:
It does not invalidate my comment: They amplify or negate a color channel.

This permits a different approach to PP, like it or not. The end result, as usual, depends on the skill of the post-processing 'tech'.

Filters don't amplify anything. They can only reduce some of the light reaching the sensor depending on the wavelength.

If you still have a color filter array over the sensor it has a pattern of red, green and blue filters over it. But even those filters work vary differently from the yellow, orange and red filters used for B&W film or monochrome sensors.



Notice how the three channels overlap. Adding a B&W color filter over the lens just confuses the issue. It cannot isolate its effect to only one of the channels. Once you have made applesauce you can't make it look like an apple.

You probably should limit your declarations to subjects you actually understand, if there are any.

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Aug 25, 2022 16:35:14   #
selmslie Loc: Fernandina Beach, FL, USA
 
rmalarz wrote:
Rongn..., thanks for bringing this to light. I'm going to try putting a filter I'd normally use for my film photography on a digital and see what happens.

I'll keep you posted.
--Bob

Rotsa ruck.

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Aug 25, 2022 17:21:53   #
bluezzzzz Loc: Stamping Ground, KY
 
dkeysser wrote:
Guys, I have a Sony A7c and want to shoot great B&W (like the old film camera days). I usually shoot in JPEG (X-fine version), and I usually shoot in normal color mode, and then decide to convert to B&W in PhotoShop Elements. I have also tried the B&W setting in Creative Style. In most cases, the results look muddy and boring, not like I got in the old days shooting a Leica and Tri-X. Any suggestions on how to proceed? Thanks in advance.


Mike Johnston, at TheOnlinePhotographer.com, has been on a B&W quest lately, going so far as to consider having a digital camera converted, by technicians who do that sort of thing, so as to only shoot in B&W.

Many of his blog post articles are way over my head, and I haven't done much B&W since the 70's, but I picked this post of his out that you might find helpful:

https://theonlinephotographer.typepad.com/the_online_photographer/2019/12/common-problems-with-digital-black-and-white.html

There is plenty more, too. Just type "monochrome" into the search box of his home page and you'll find probably much more than you want, lol!

Marshall

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