Old house #2 Critique and comments welcome

[Manfred M]

I wonder if we're having a basic misunderstanding, Manfred. Your post #6 makes me think you prepare the color version reasonably thoroughly before converting to monochrome.

I don't think so Mike. I do not go the colour route at all.

I've just started to read Bruce Barnbaum's iconic "The Art of Photography", and much to my surprise the B&W conversion method he suggests is the one I use. He actually mentions three different approaches, one in ACR, one in Lightroom and one in Photoshop; which are virtually identical, it's just the tool that is different. I use the Photoshop method, which is the only one that actually allows one to go back and tweak individual colour channels later on in the process (something I've never actually had to do). The ACR and Lightroom methods turn the image into a B&W one prior to any PP work in Photoshop (i.e. all colour information is discarded after the image has been tweaked using individual colour channels); which seems to me is the opposite of what Versace proposes.

I am also in total agreement with his view that B&W and colour photography are totally different mediums and must be handled differently. It's rather like comparing and oil painting and a water colour; both are a style of painting, but that's pretty well where the similarity ends.

I do have Versace's "From Oz to Kansas", and find it one of the most unreadable photography books I've ever come across. I wish the man would come to the point, rather than boring us with quote after quote that has little to do with what he is writing. I also have one of Freeman's books, but he devotes around a page to B&W conversions, so nothing to really go on.

Two different approaches and both supported by several major authorities in the field of photography. With Barnbaum, I understand why he does and why he does it (strong parallels to B&W film photography). Versace; doing all the work in colour and then converting, makes no sense to me at all. It's rather like trying to paint a watercolour on a canvas using a pallette knive.

I suspect that part of the reason might be that Barnbaum is a mathematician (advanced degree from UCLA) and has a physics background as well, so I relate / understand the way he thinks and analyses things.

http://www.barnbaum.com/barnbaum/About.html

http://www.barnbaum.com/barnbaum/Art...otography.html

[Mike Buckley]

Thanks for mentioning "The Art of Photography." I've added it to my wish list. I should have it in a day or two.

--Mike

[Manfred M]

Thanks for mentioning "The Art of Photography." I've added it to my wish list. I should have it in a day or two.

--Mike

One bit of a warning; the book is film-centric, so you'll have to pick through the relevent parts. Digital is an overlay.

Coming from film / B&W / Colour Darkroom, I find some of what he says and does fascinating (makes me think of pulling the developing tanks and trays out again).