Fountain in Monochrome

[dje]

This is another exercise in B&W conversion with Silver Efex Pro. The colour version was pleasant enough with some nice pastel colors but I thought the conversion really made the image "pop". I used contrast, amplify white, amplify black and structure adjustments together with a finishing toner called "Cyanotype".

I'd be interested to hear what others think.

I wont say where the fountain is located but some of our Canadian members may recognize it.

Pls click on image for full size viewing.

Dave

[AB26]

That looks really good Dave and thanks for posting the colour image as well. Think I have seen something in the colour that might help me with converting to B&W.

[dje]

That looks really good Dave and thanks for posting the colour image as well. Think I have seen something in the colour that might help me with converting to B&W.

Thanks for commenting Andre. Glad you found it of interest.

Dave

[FootLoose]

I like the tones in this treatment, Dave, but some of the blacks seem to be clipped in the conversion. The lamp post on the left, for one, but also the lamp post on the right which is half-hidden by the tree has is less visible here than in the colour version.

[dje]

I like the tones in this treatment, Dave, but some of the blacks seem to be clipped in the conversion. The lamp post on the left, for one, but also the lamp post on the right which is half-hidden by the tree has is less visible here than in the colour version.

Thanks for commenting Greg. The black clipping is almost certainly due to the contrast and "amplify blacks" adjustments I made in Silver Efex Pro. These can be used to add impact to an image but for an in-experienced user like me, it is very easy to go too far. I'll have another look at it.

Dave

[Donald]

I agree that the conversion is a good bit of work.

The black clipping is almost certainly due to the contrast and "amplify blacks" adjustments I made in Silver Efex Pro. These can be used to add impact to an image but for an in-experienced user like me, it is very easy to go too far.

I'd suggest that recognising this with Silver Efex Pro2 (or, indeed, with Colour Efex Pro 4) is one of the most important parts of the learning curve with the Nik tools. I know I went too far when I first started using it. It is very much about subtlety and that old adage of 'less is often more'.

Don't know, Dave, if you're into using the Control points yet. Using them is the way to avoid the sort of global adjustments that results in one part of the image, or one 'thing' in the image, getting affected when you just want to adjust something else. Remember, the control points can be used to stop an effect applying to one tone in one part of the frame, as well as to make an effect only apply to that one part! It can act as a 'blocker', a bit like a black layer mask.

[dje]

I agree that the conversion is a good bit of work.

I'd suggest that recognising this with Silver Efex Pro2 (or, indeed, with Colour Efex Pro 4) is one of the most important parts of the learning curve with the Nik tools. I know I went too far when I first started using it. It is very much about subtlety and that old adage of 'less is often more'.

Don't know, Dave, if you're into using the Control points yet. Using them is the way to avoid the sort of global adjustments that results in one part of the image, or one 'thing' in the image, getting affected when you just want to adjust something else. Remember, the control points can be used to stop an effect applying to one tone in one part of the frame, as well as to make an effect only apply to that one part! It can act as a 'blocker', a bit like a black layer mask.

Thanks for commenting Donald. I have used Control points to a limited extent but not on this image. They seem to be very useful.

Dave