First B&W

[davidedric]

Something else to play with in Lightroom.

The Highlights slider works on the upper third of the histogram. Normally, we use it "downwards", to draw out detail in the highlights and compress the mid-tones. However, if you set the white point with Whites, initially, and then use Highlights "upwards" you can retain the white point (you'll probably have to go back to Whites again) while expanding the lighter grey tones.

Just one more approach

Dave

[Geoff F]

Much better conversions with the later images which have good contrast.

[Sam W]

Now that's what I call "agricultural engineering"
(think about it, compared to if other materials had been used, shoddily or not)


Hi Sam,

Hmmm (I'm contemplating Manfred's thoughts).

For me; this image is about the textures and I can actually see more of those (esp. on the 'beam behind') in the mono version - where it's not hidden by the blue cast caused by the CT (colour temperature) differences.

Although I agree, this has cost some losses in the shadow areas. So I think a mono might work, with another conversion and attention to getting as much from both the lit and shadow areas.

I'm certainly not very practically experienced in this, but thinking about it and looking at the original and its lack of useful colour there, I'd say a straight 'desaturate' conversion, followed by careful manipulation of Curves will be needed to extract the kind of result I have in mind.

The tighter crop is a valid image in its own right, but I am so glad to have also seen the wider view for context.

Cheers, Dave

Thanks Dave - I am impressed you noticed the more visible texture on the beam on the BW version. Thanks for your ideas and comments. - Sam

[Sam W]

The last image (the monochrome cropped image) is by far the most appealing to me. As in almost all conversions, some attributes are better than the color version and some are worse. Even so, on balance most attributes in this particular monochrome are better for me.

Thanks Mike, your comments help renew my confidence. Sometimes an image may only appeal to the author for various reasons. I thought that might be the case with this one. It is also helpful to know that what you said about conversions, so I can stop trying to get all attributes to be equal.

[Sam W]

Something else to play with in Lightroom.

The Highlights slider works on the upper third of the histogram. Normally, we use it "downwards", to draw out detail in the highlights and compress the mid-tones. However, if you set the white point with Whites, initially, and then use Highlights "upwards" you can retain the white point (you'll probably have to go back to Whites again) while expanding the lighter grey tones.

Just one more approach

Dave

Thanks Dave, I will absolutely try this but it will be a few days before I can get back to my main PC. -Sam

[Sam W]

Much better conversions with the later images which have good contrast.

Thanks Geoff - I will keep practicing, thanks for the feedback.