Starting with B & W C & C helpful

[fotojoem]

This is an image from a gate down the road from where I live. Opinions? Suggestions on how I can improve would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance

[wallybud]

for success in B&W you must think in terms of tones and contrast. There is no nice contrast in this image. Its all middle greys. You need deep blacks and bright whites. Try shooting mid-day for B&W white to start out. Then you can go back to getting up at 6am;)

[fotojoem]

Thanks for the help. I will also do some reading up on the subject as well.

[nicksan]

I totally agree with this.
I also find the OOF blades of glass distracting.
for success in B&W you must think in terms of tones and contrast. There is no nice contrast in this image. Its all middle greys. You need deep blacks and bright whites. Try shooting mid-day for B&W white to start out. Then you can go back to getting up at 6am;)

[rab3rd]

I disagree with the mid day idea. That is the harshest light and makes for b and w that have no mid tones. Learn to get your photo correct in color, then convert and do some dodge and burn along with selective sharpening to get a good contrast image that also includes good mid tones. Curves is your friend.

[wallybud]

I disagree with the mid day idea. That is the harshest light and makes for b and w that have no mid tones. Learn to get your photo correct in color, then convert and do some dodge and burn along with selective sharpening to get a good contrast image that also includes good mid tones. Curves is your friend.


? ... No mid tones, whell obviously that would depend on the shot...also I think (however am not sure) that your talking about a whole PP process to make the photo a lot better... and the OP is just startin out (from what I can tell) so basic advice would suffice...Ive taken countless amazing shots that ive converted to B&W in mid day sun ALl you have to do is make sure you expose right

[rab3rd]

What I really mean is that the mid day lighting is the hardest to deal with so if someone is just starting out having them shoot in the light that is so harsh and difficult to manage seems like a bad idea to me. I dont doubt that you have some great shots taken at mid day, I do too. But I also have some that were tuff to handle and wish I could have taken them in a kinder lighting situation. It is also very important to start out with a properly exposed color file (assuming you are shooting color and converting) that is color corrected and nicely contrasted before you even begin to convert. This is all just my opinion mind you and I really dont know that much....

[wallybud]

sounds good rab

[tracer bullet]

I think "it depends" on the subject. What kind of feeling are you trying to get from it? If you took B&W of a lake next to a mountain, I'd agree to aim for a lot of contrast. If you had... perhaps a picture of a plow laid next to a barn (something I'd consider to be somewhat somber) then the contrast may just be out of place. Both methods work, it just depends on what you want to achieve.

I really like PS3 for B&W conversion, you have a ton of control. When I am using it, I almost let my eyes go out of focus - for me it makes it easier to get a feel if things are too light, too dark, out of balance form one side of the shot to the other, etc. Things often end up very different from what they'd have been if they were shot with film and a colored filter, but - if it works, I go with it.

As to this shot, I too find the grass distracting. If it was parted down the middle, or was cut lower, or whatever it may be OK. But to me it's not part of the subject, instead it's blocking the subject.

B&W will be heavy on lines, shapes, patterns, etc. and you'll have to really pay attention to what your eye is lead to in the shot.