Suggestions for this B&W

[Black Dots]

I haven't worked much with B&W shots, but I thought this would be a good one to start with. I'm happy with it as is, but I wanted to see if you folks had any suggestions for improvements. I only have Lightroom, so no suggestions involving PS wizardry please! :)

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2331/2455422817_9c498dac85_b.jpg

[Broncobear]

hmmm, do you have the original?

[Walczak Photo]

Well, I'm not crazy about most b&w conversions to begin with but I'm seeing a couple of issues that really don't have anything to do with the conversion.

The first thing I notice with this shot is that your horizon is almost dead center of the image. Since this is clearly a "sunset" (or sunrise) image, I'd follow the rule of thirds here and trim some of the bottom off and get that horizon down into the lower third of the shot.

Also having the sun right up there in that top right corner takes away from the composition in my opinion...doesn't look balanced. Again going with the rule of thirds here, I would have put it at an intersection or the upper left "sweet spot" instead of all the way up in the corner.

I also find that mountain range there in the background to be distracting too. It almost looks semi-transparent...kind of ghost-like really. I'm guessing that this could very well just be haze, but I think "Ghost Mountain" takes away from the shot.

Again I'm not crazy about most b&w shots to begin with but as this is a sunset or sunrise, I think it's a shame that you chose it to do as a b&w. To me sunrises and sunsets are about amazing, deeply saturated colors That's part of what creates the mood. By converting to a b&w, in my opinion you've lost "the mood". To me it's the same way with people who desaturate shots of candles and flame (and or campfires)...you take away those lovely reds and yellows and white hots and it's just not the same feeling.

It's an interesting attempt but at the risk of sounding blunt, it could have been better.

Peace,
Jim

[Black Dots]

Hey Walczak,

Points taken! I decided to go B&W because it was a very hazy day and all the colors were desaturated anyway. I agree that a crop could be in order.