How do you see the wood for the trees?

[Donald]

Oops!!!
I thought that to be a conversion from color; sorry

I understand now. Yes indeed, the RAW file does contain all the colour information.

However, as I've written on here before, the photograph that I capture will NEVER be made into a colour image, even though I've captured the colour data in the RAW file. I see the colour at RAW processing stage. After that, it's consigned to the archive. The photograph was captured to be a B & W picture. If it doesn't make a good B & W it will be dumped.

I have the camera set to 'Monochrome' so that the JPG I see on the LCD when I capture the photograph is in Black & White, not in colour.

Similarly, I will never try to make a B & W out of a photograph that I shot to be a colour image. I will never even convert it to B & W 'just to see what it looks like'. That is just the 'rule' I have set for myself and continue to impose upon myself. It probably sounds stupid to 99% of people, but it works for me in terms of disciplining myself to really look at what I'm composing. I mean really, really look.

I hope that explains how I think about the images as I capture them.

So, in summary, there is no processed colour version of this image. The colour Tiff that was produced from Raw processing using DxO Optics is now a B & W TIFF after conversion using Nik's Silver Efex Pro 2. I do not have a colour TIFF.

[ucci]

Donald, This one nearly slipped by me. Fortunately I found it before it got way. Now what did it do for me? Well, after viewing your post I put another large pin into the miniature voodoo doll I have in your image, the one with the haggis clan kilt and a beard, And I gave the pin a vicious twist for good measure. Why? Because you set such a high bench mark or the rest of us. You just hit it every time and come up with the goods. Still, I guess it gives us some one to dislike and on which to focus our photographic limitations and frustrating shortcomings, I guess. Other comments? Okay the usual spring to mind, gob smacking, awesome, how the f*** did he manage to get such a brilliant capture, yet again, etc.?
As for your quite pathetic ' I got it where I did because of a lot of pp work? Well old son there may be some truth in that. But can I please remind you of the old IT adage which states, Garbage in = garbage out." So, if it was not such an excellent capture to start with no amount of slider sliding or twitch knob twitching after the event could have resulted in such a great shot. Us kiddies don't always fully believe the stories you grown ups try to feed us.
ucci

[Donald]

... how the f*** did he manage to get such a brilliant capture, yet again, etc.?

I suppose the other crucial skill set we can't ignore is ... luck.

Sure, you make you're own luck, but ....!

It would have been easy to roll over in bed and say, "bu....r it, I'll get up early tomorrow." It's pushing yourself to get out there in time for sunrise (knowing that you'll feel glorious and glad you did once you do get out there). I do have an annoying tendency to be half-an-hour too late onto location because I didn't get my a... into gear early enough (even though the gear is all checked the night before and ready to go at the front door).

And then, you need mother nature to play ball and give you a nice light. Once those things are in place, any 'c..k-ups' thereafter are solely down to me.

[allenlennon]

Donald, as always, im in awe of your work! And i pretty much think the way you do when planning for the photo. This is worthy for framing in my books!

[Dawn1]

awesome Donald ! and I love the subject as much as the image! you are indeed blessed in Perthshire, I lived there for a short while! I consider it photographers heaven. I would love the opportunity to be able to photograph in a forest. Where I live no such luck !

[Donald]

you are indeed blessed in Perthshire, I lived there for a short while!

Hey. Where were you, Dawn?