Built to last

[Donald]

40D, 17-85mm f/4-5.6 IS USM @17mm. ISO100.
Blend: (Bridge & Land) 2s @ f11. (Sky) 1/6 @ f11 + 5 Stop (3 + 2) GND.

[Skitalez]

As always at a high level! There Is a question - you at first process a photo in colour, and then converting in BW? Or at first in black-and-white, and then process ?

PS. BTW - the sky?!? The Stranger Between Us!!!

[Donald]

As always at a high level! There Is a question - you at first process a photo in colour, and then converting in BW? Or at first in black-and-white, and then process ?

Yegor

Thank you for your comment.

I shoot in RAW, so when I open the file in DxO Pro 6 processor, I see it with all the colour data intact.

Then ... my first step is to convert to B & W with DXo's default B & W setting.

Then ... I make all the exposure, lighting and colour balance adjustments using, most importantly, the 'Multi-Point Colour Balance' tool. In DXO, this tool displays the original with colour data side-by-side with the converted B & W. So, the adjustmnets are carried out on the colour copy but take effect in the B & W copy.

[Skitalez]

Thanks a lot, Donald!

[Donald]

This one also made me aware of, what I think, is the tremendously good quality I'm getting from the kit Canon EF-S 17-85 f4-f5.6 IS USM that I've got.

I still fantasise about a 24-70 L, but I don't need it- I just lust after it! Apart from the extra light gathering and reduced DoF capabilities, with the quality I'm getting from this kit lens, it as much as I think I'd ever need/want.

What struck me was (if you take the above up to a large size on your browser and look at the top underneath the arch of the bridge), it's got the brickwork beautifully sharp.

I think I've got myself a winner with that kit lens - which is my reminder that we shouldn't immediately dismiss our kit lens and being second-rate.

[jeeperman]

Very nice Donald, a very rustic feel to this.