Having trouble taking black and white photos (Page 2): Great, I'm on it.

PhotoChallenged Loc: Bear, Delaware

Great, I'm on it.

rpavich wrote:

Good!
you don't need people or even interesting subjects...just go look for light/dark relationship and start making images with that in mind.

Here is a great video series about "seeing like an artist" and covers things like this. It's by Adam Marelli (a genius of Photography in my book)

http://www.udemy.com/a-room-for-improvement/#/

It's worth the 20.00 for the course.

Rongnongno Loc: FL

One suggestion that has not creep-ed up yet is the use of REAL colored filters in preparation for PP regardless of file format (JPG or raw).

A colorized filter alters the wave length of an object reflections attenuating some and enhancing others when you take the picture.

I think you will see an immediate opposition to the idea of using color filters in the next few posts. Folks believe that using filter in software is just as good, well it is not. A software filter merely colorize everything and subtract data when a filter adds it.

Just take in mind that you will shoot with PP in mind so forget the 'colors'.

PhotoChallenged Loc: Bear, Delaware

Thank you - I'm taking notes and will consider all suggestions as I truly want to learn

Rongnongno wrote:

One suggestion that has not creep-ed up yet is the... (show quote)

Picdude Loc: Ohio

PhotoChallenged wrote:

I am just entering the photography field. It was fun while using auto but am trying to learn to how to take manual photos. I hear a lot of people raving about B/W but I just can't seem to get it...Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Just found this short article on B&W photography and seemed apropos to this thread:

http://digital-photography-school.com/black-and-white-digital-photography-in-camera-or-post-production/

PhotoChallenged Loc: Bear, Delaware

Thanks for taking the time to help me. Good article, food for thought!

Picdude wrote:

Just found this short article on B&W photography and seemed apropos to this thread:

http://digital-photography-school.com/black-and-white-digital-photography-in-camera-or-post-production/

SonyA580 Loc: FL in the winter & MN in the summer

PhotoChallenged wrote:

I am just entering the photography field. It was fun while using auto but am trying to learn to how to take manual photos. I hear a lot of people raving about B/W but I just can't seem to get it...Any help would be greatly appreciated.

1. I agree, shooting in color and converting to BW is the way to go. 2. The subject you picked is the hardest one to get right - part bright sun and part shade. Try to pick one or the other. 3. Expose for the highlights - you can lighten shadows easier than you can darken highlights, especially if they are totally blown out. 4. I adjusted the contrast using PhotoShop "levels" and was able to come up with a very decent picture.

PhotoChallenged Loc: Bear, Delaware

Good info. Did you mean you improved my picture? Can you post it so I can see what you did? Thanks

SonyA580 wrote:

1. I agree, shooting in color and converting to BW is the way to go. 2. The subject you picked is the hardest one to get right - part bright sun and part shade. Try to pick one or the other. 3. Expose for the highlights - you can lighten shadows easier than you can darken highlights, especially if they are totally blown out. 4. I adjusted the contrast using PhotoShop "levels" and was able to come up with a very decent picture.

R.G. Loc: Scotland

Linda From Maine wrote:

......Some scenes are not really suited for b&w. You might want to use Google images, or other source, to check out some b&w and determine what stands out for you: often it's shapes, shadows, textures, simplicity of composition, and dramatic light - in a good way :) ......

An excellent summary and excellent advice. I would emphasise the point that some subjects are well-suited to B&W and some less so. If you're hoping to get that "feel" from a B&W that doesn't have suitable content, it's not going to happen.

SonyA580 Loc: FL in the winter & MN in the summer

PhotoChallenged wrote:

Good info. Did you mean you improved my picture? Can you post it so I can see what you did? Thanks

Here it is. Click on the "download" line to get the best picture.

Girl at pool

(Download)

Rongnongno Loc: FL

err....

PhotoChallenged Loc: Bear, Delaware

Thanks for taking the time to work with me.

SonyA580 wrote:

Here it is. Click on the "download" line to get the best picture.

boberic Loc: Quiet Corner, Connecticut. Ex long Islander

PhotoChallenged wrote:

Thank you for the advise. I am taking photograph classes and our assignments require both B/W and color. I guess I should clarify with my professor if he will accept color photos converted to B/W.

If he looks at a B&W image he won't care if it started out as color. All that counts is the final image. Whatever a photographer did to get the final image, to a large degree, he is the only one who has to know.There are some subjects, because of their starkness, just scream B&W. No way to explain it. It just happens

PhotoChallenged Loc: Bear, Delaware

I emailed the professor and am waiting on a reply. We have to upload all our assignments in "Blackboard" so he will see the image info when he opens the photo in photoshop.

boberic wrote:

If he looks at a B&W image he won't care if it started out as color. All that counts is the final image. Whatever a photographer did to get the final image, to a large degree, he is the only one who has to know.There are some subjects, because of their starkness, just scream B&W. No way to explain it. It just happens

cmc4214 Loc: S.W. Pennsylvania

PhotoChallenged wrote:

I am just entering the photography field. It was fun while using auto but am trying to learn to how to take manual photos. I hear a lot of people raving about B/W but I just can't seem to get it...Any help would be greatly appreciated.

keep in mind that certain colors that have great contrast in color sometimes will have almost no contrast in B/W

PhotoChallenged Loc: Bear, Delaware

Yes, That's a hard lesson that I'm learning. I am determined to get it though

cmc4214 wrote:

keep in mind that certain colors that have great contrast in color sometimes will have almost no contrast in B/W