Three styles of monochromes from Yellowstone

[Mike Buckley]

All of these photos were captured in Yellowstone National Park on a point-and-shoot camera in 2005 and were converted today. C&C is encouraged as always, though I don't have anything to ask.


Photo #1: Firehole River with sepia toning




Photo #2: Abstract with gold-brown toning much like an albumen print



Photo #3: Steam with orange-brown toning

[jeeperman]

Mike, I like the last one best. The second is not bad as an abstract and I think the first is improved if the sky is cropped out.

[Bobobird]

#1 looks like a scene from the civil war as can #3.

Nice shots. Like.

[Mike Buckley]

Thanks for the idea of cropping the first one, Paul. I've considered doing that in the past and it just never felt right. That might be because I'm stuck with the bias of having seen the image over the last seven years with the sky included. I also like the last one best, whether in color or monochrome.

Thanks, Bobo! I had never thought of the steam as being seen as smoke, which is what I assume you mean by your reference to the Civil War. The monochrome treatment, which is all that was available then unless the photo was hand tinted, also probably makes you think of that war.

[tbob]

Did you try them as variants of the techniques with each one processed using all three types? Would make an interesting comparison series.

Each has it's owns merits, they are all different enough to stand on their own. I won't choose one unless I was forced to, then it would be the abstract. I could have this on my wall, look at it for may years and never tire of it

[Mike Buckley]

Glad you like the abstract so much, Trevor. Many thanks!

Did you try them as variants of the techniques with each one processed using all three types?

That's a really great question. No, I envisioned each particular toning on its own and it's just a coincidence that all of them happened to be very different.

By the way, when I titled the thread to include reference to the three styles, I wasn't even thinking of the three toning techniques. Instead, I was thinking of the three styles of subject matter.

[Daisy Mae]

Those are a bit special Mike...I am especially taken with the tones in no. 3 as they work so well with the subject.

Great stuff.

[Mike Buckley]

Glad to know that you especially like the last one, Sharon. Thanks!