B&W Canal Walkabout Craic (not dial up!!)

[condyk]

Today I went strolling down the canal near my place, towards Brindley Place for lunch as it happens. It was a craic with lots to see including Duckies and Goosies which I obviously ignored. I missed Football Focus because I took longer over my Double Espresso on the way back than I might usually do because of the rain.

Anyway, I thought I'd try a few B&W for a change. They can't arrest you for it ;)

http://www.buzzdns.com/lock4bw.jpg
Sigma 15-30mm 3.5-4.5 EX IF

http://www.buzzdns.com/signcanal.jpg
Sigma 15-30mm 3.5-4.5 EX IF

http://www.buzzdns.com/lockgatesbw.jpg
Sigma 15-30mm 3.5-4.5 EX IF

http://www.buzzdns.com/lock1.jpg
Sigma 15-30mm 3.5-4.5 EX IF

http://www.buzzdns.com/canalbridge.jpg
Sigma 15-30mm 3.5-4.5 EX IF

http://www.buzzdns.com/canalstep.jpg
Sigma 15-30mm 3.5-4.5 EX IF

[sprinkles]

great shots! i like 2, 3 & the last one best. :)

[elTwitcho]

I'm really enjoying the composition on most of these, but I think the black and white conversions need something to be desired in a few cases. Some of them have tones that are mostly distributed in the nuetral middle region and that really dulls the effect of the shots. A little bit of careful curves use really enhanced 3 and 5 for instance when I had a quick play with them. Still, I dig them.

What's a craic?

[Olli]

#2 and #4 are my picks due the to the tonal density. #1 and #5 area great compositions. I tend to agree with elTwicho, that some fine tuning of b&w conversion could improve the overall set (or is it only my screen?).

[spencer87]

i love black and white cityscapes, but in 3 & 5 some areas look a bit washed out.

[condyk]

Cheers lads ... good feedback. I tried a few different approaches to the B&W using filters just for fun and so am interested in your ideas. Agree with them all and even tho' some divergence the general feel is for more density. Rich, I think 3 was with a green filter and I like the detail of it but it is also probably better in colour as it is nice and rich. It is a bit flat B&W as is. I prefer 3, 4, 5 myself tho' am also happy with 1. Not so keen on the last one composition wise. I flipped it and looks better.

[SWPhotoImaging]

I think they are interesting, but I'd also enjoy hearing an explanation of just what the heck these water canals are all about? They seem to be elevated above street level in places, too small for boats, too open for drinking water supply, what are they?

[condyk]

i love black and white cityscapes, but in 3 & 5 some areas look a bit washed out.

Yeah, on my big boy monitor they need a tad of work. On my laptop they do look washed out tho'.

I think they are interesting, but I'd also enjoy hearing an explanation of just what the heck these water canals are all about? They seem to be elevated above street level in places, too small for boats, too open for drinking water supply, what are they?

Try this kid: http://www.mike.clarke.zen.co.uk/Englishcanals.htm

Canals basically enabled the industrial revolution and they are still working in many areas of the UK, more for leisure than transportation. The boats are very narrow (they are called narrowboats in fact. Some areas of this stretch are actually narrower than I have seen before. I was hoping to get some boat shots but there where none worth the trouble this week I've seen some lovely ones.

I walk past the Canal Museum in Kings Cross, London often, and have had several meetings there, so I should pop in some time for a proper look around.