On a landscape kick

[gregj1763]

Hi all, just purchased a Sigma 35mm f/1.4 art series lens and trying out some landscape with it.
This is a scene revisited from a few weeks ago which I quite liked. I used the hay bales then fence as a means to draw the viewer into the photo towards Quamby bluff in the background.
I liked the colour version but I had always intended to create a black and white out of the image as I thought the it had some nice tonal range.
I'm no expert at B&W conversions and tend to use the Photoshop CC defaults, this one was processed using the high contrast red filter and I really like how it has picked up the detail in the clouds.
This was taken early morning and I had to wait for the band of fog to clear the mountain in the background.
All C&C gladly taken on board.
Cheers, Greg

Sony A99 ISO 100, f/11, 1/80s

[IzzieK]

Very interesting Greg...I am a fan of B/W too but never really tried it much. But I like what I see here and I agree with you about the tonal range. You could have had more of the bluff showing but the stretch of fog makes it more mysterious and have more drama in the B/W version.

[bnnrcn]

Hi Greg Certainly B&W for me. I think you should do something more to make the fog stand out more, it needs some seperation from the sky.

[gregj1763]

Very interesting Greg...I am a fan of B/W too but never really tried it much. But I like what I see here and I agree with you about the tonal range. You could have had more of the bluff showing but the stretch of fog makes it more mysterious and have more drama in the B/W version.

Thanks Izzie, I would have like more bluff showing but I had to balance working and photography, the fog was moving so fast five minutes after I took this shot it was gone and I had ceilings to paint at the same time.

[gregj1763]

Hi Greg Certainly B&W for me. I think you should do something more to make the fog stand out more, it needs some seperation from the sky.

How could I do that, sounds like a great idea

[Shadowman]

I like the color version better, the darks are more subdued in this version where they stand out too sharply in the mono version. Nice capture.

[gregj1763]

I like the color version better, the darks are more subdued in this version where they stand out too sharply in the mono version. Nice capture.

John, I can see what you mean, there IS loss of detail in the shadows I can see it in the hay bales on the left. Thanks for your sharp eye

[Kaye Leggett]

I prefer the colour version, the light is beautiful and I don't think this has translated to the B&W version that well.

[deetheturk]

Nice capture Greg, I like both versions

[bnnrcn]

We need an expert's comment for that Greg There has to be a way for that.

How could I do that, sounds like a great idea

[gregj1763]

Thanks David and Kaye for your comments.
Kaye where do you think the B&W conversion has fallen short of the mark, your opinion will help me with future images.
Cheers, Greg

[Stagecoach]

I like both versions Greg and think you have done a reasonable job of the B&W. I would love to hear the view of one of our B&W experts on what if anything, or if necessary, can be done to improve it even more.

Grahame

[Brownbear]

Hi Greg,

Nice image, beautifully photographed! I prefer the B&W.

Since Mike hasn't stepped in to advise even though I am still learning how to PP I thought I should remind you of my waterfall shots that you and Mike helped me with... Remember how you two taught me to deepen the shadows and mid tones by dragging the curves tool down (to bring out the mist and the grey tones in the waterfall) ?

In my foggy scene which you commented on in ACR in LR I raised the black point (but not too much because I like high-key images) and I also did the above with the curves tool, to the entire image.

Then in Photoshop I applied the same curve again and erased it from everything else in the image, but only with a brush of 50% opacity because otherwise the bright white of the sails looked odd against the grey fog... Screen Shot below... Mildly applied because I like the lighter look.



I think what Mike taught me is also applicable to your image. If not, surely he will step in to correct me.

How could I do that, sounds like a great idea

[gregj1763]

Thanks Christina, sounds like it may have been the other Greg that helped you I'm not all that good with pp but I will certainly have a go with the advise you have given me. Cheers, Greg

[Brownbear]

Oops. Well in that case hopefully I have been of some help. The curve can be applied much more aggressively just keep your eye on what happens to the mist. It is very sensitive to adjustments.

Thanks Christina, sounds like it may have been the other Greg that helped you I'm not all that good with pp but I will certainly have a go with the advise you have given me. Cheers, Greg

[gregj1763]

Thanks Christina I will let you know how I go

[Kaye Leggett]

Thanks David and Kaye for your comments.
Kaye where do you think the B&W conversion has fallen short of the mark, your opinion will help me with future images.
Cheers, Greg

I am no expert in PP or B&W, but to my untrained eye in the colour version the grass picks up the early morning sunlight which is lost in the B&W. Also in the B&W the haybales are too bright in contrast to the grass which is not the case in the colour version. Any help ??

[John 2]

Greg, you can darken the sky by moving the blue channel slider to the left when you convert to mono using CC. The trouble is that the mist is also reflecting blue sky light as well. However, if you use the Saturate/De-saturate tool (grouped with the dodge and burn tools) to de-saturate the mist first, you can darken the sky without darkening the mist. The mist will still need some dodging with a soft brush to lighten it further but it will begin to stand out. A bit more contrast and a vignette to darken the corners will add a bit of punch. A good way of adding the contrast in a controlled way is to use the Unsharp Mask tool but reverse the position of the first two sliders. The effect of all of this looks like this - if that is what you had in mind (I have also cropped it slightly). Hope that helps.

[gregj1763]

Thanks for getting back to me Kaye. I will have a look tonight and see if I can improve the image

[bnnrcn]

Thanks for the useful tips John

Greg, you can darken the sky by moving the blue channel slider to the left when you convert to mono using CC. The trouble is that the mist is also reflecting blue sky light as well. However, if you use the Saturate/De-saturate tool (grouped with the dodge and burn tools) to de-saturate the mist first, you can darken the sky without darkening the mist. The mist will still need some dodging with a soft brush to lighten it further but it will begin to stand out. A bit more contrast and a vignette to darken the corners will add a bit of punch. A good way of adding the contrast in a controlled way is to use the Unsharp Mask tool but reverse the position of the first two sliders. The effect of all of this looks like this - if that is what you had in mind (I have also cropped it slightly). Hope that helps.