Black and White Texas Panhandle: I took these a couple of weeks ago when driving back from a business trip to Amarillo, Texas. I'm trying to learn Elements as well as exploring black...

OleJoe Loc: Colorado Springs, CO

I took these a couple of weeks ago when driving back from a business trip to Amarillo, Texas. I'm trying to learn Elements as well as exploring black and white photography so this is my first real attempt at both.

Constructive criticism and posting you own processing of these as an aid to your explanation is welcome.

Thanks in advance,
Joe

Wide Open Spaces

Blowing In The Wind

Roger Salls Loc: Stratford, CT

I would increase the black and the contrast.

OleJoe wrote:

I took these a couple of weeks ago when driving back from a business trip to Amarillo, Texas. I'm trying to learn Elements as well as exploring black and white photography so this is my first real attempt at both.

Constructive criticism and posting you own processing of these as an aid to your explanation is welcome.

Thanks in advance,
Joe

sinatraman Loc: Vero Beach Florida, Earth,alpha quaudrant

i like the subject matter and composition, and agree with what roger suggested.

OleJoe Loc: Colorado Springs, CO

Thank you Roger and Sinatraman. I'll play around with them some more next weekend.

Jim Carter Loc: Momence, Il.

Level your horizon In the first pic.

rpavich Loc: West Virginia

The pics look ok but my critique is that there's no "payoff" if that makes any sense.

On the railroad tracks...I looked down the horizon and then went...so?

There needs to be some element that gives you that "moment" like...someone walking down the tracks...something that's the target when your eye gets there.

Same with the wind-thingy...what's the story?

Do you know what I'm getting at?

I'm not trying to be harsh, but that's what turns a "run-of-the-mill" pic into a "double-take" picture.

PNagy Loc: Missouri City, Texas

OleJoe wrote:

I took these a couple of weeks ago when driving back from a business trip to Amarillo, Texas. I'm trying to learn Elements as well as exploring black and white photography so this is my first real attempt at both.

Constructive criticism and posting you own processing of these as an aid to your explanation is welcome.

Thanks in advance,
Joe

On "Wide Open Spaces" I would have positioned the focal point to one side to avoid an overly symmetrical look. This is about the rule of thirds. You can easily achieve it even now in post processing.

tainkc Loc: Kansas City

Not being one to do B&W for the sake of doing it, I think you did very well. The way the contrast is set now, works just fine. They actually look like photos from a bygone era. I am afraid that if you add any more contrast, they may look too "new". You don't want them to look like color photos that have been converted to B&W.

I like them both but I really think the windmill is so cool!

OleJoe Loc: Colorado Springs, CO

Rpavich,jimcarter and pnagy, thank you for the advice and your candor.It is well taken.

Tainkc, thank you for the complement. The bygone era as well as an effort to capture the expansiveness of the area was what I was going for.

Regards,
Joe

Wahawk Loc: NE IA

OleJoe wrote:

I took these a couple of weeks ago when driving back from a business trip to Amarillo, Texas. I'm trying to learn Elements as well as exploring black and white photography so this is my first real attempt at both.

Constructive criticism and posting you own processing of these as an aid to your explanation is welcome.

Thanks in advance,
Joe

I really like these the one you have them, but to help enhance the "old" feel and expansiveness, here are some variations that I think also fit with your original feel. Primarily adding sepia toning and slightly adjusting brightness and contrast.