Black and White sports photos... maybe, help?

Hi guys,

I most recently posted some lacrosse photos, but this is a bit different.

I've never edited hockey photos for black and white. This presents a challenge because most of the time, one teams jersey is white or black, and the ice, especially at the XCEL Energy Center at the time these were taken, was really bright.

So I ask: What can I do to make these "pop" a bit more. They look a little flat to me.

I've tried adding contrast and it looks a little better, but not by too much.

personally, I like the color in sports shots...

these are great shots, post them in color and lets see the difference...

superdiver wrote in post #5509203
personally, I like the color in sports shots...

these are great shots, post them in color and lets see the difference...

I do too, but its not so much what I like, but what will be printed

Photos..

May be you have to start in the camera, by adjusting contrast settings.

Nice timing - great shot of the puck just getting by the goalie!
As for how to get them to pop - what settings did you use? And which lens?
Also, what mode did you use?

Maybe try B/W with some color.Like maybe your team in color and the other B/W.

I like the shots, but have to say they look much better in color... Agree with you, they looked flat (but only in B&W)- the second posts stand out much more and would pop even more with some contrast adjustment.

Black and White works better for some sports but not for others.

Boxing is a prime example of a sport where (I think) B & W works. It adds more drama to the photos.

If you are sending to newspapers it's best to send in colour and then the editor can decide.

Darren

why is it they have to be B&W, for a paper?

Keltab wrote in post #5510043
Nice timing - great shot of the puck just getting by the goalie!
As for how to get them to pop - what settings did you use? And which lens?
Also, what mode did you use?

Canon Mark II with a 300 2.8 and a 1.4 extender in manual at the XCEL Energy Center. Plenty of light to be had.

ladytiger wrote in post #5510080
Maybe try B/W with some color.Like maybe your team in color and the other B/W.

Not my team, I'm neutral.

bryan k wrote in post #5510087
I like the shots, but have to say they look much better in color... Agree with you, they looked flat (but only in B&W)- the second posts stand out much more and would pop even more with some contrast adjustment.

I think contrast might be the key, the problem is that I don't want to make the ice look too blown out.

DarrenL wrote in post #5510715
Black and White works better for some sports but not for others.

Boxing is a prime example of a sport where (I think) B & W works. It adds more drama to the photos.

If you are sending to newspapers it's best to send in colour and then the editor can decide.

Darren

Not for a newspaper, but I hadn't thought about boxing.

Thanks all!

superdiver wrote in post #5511637
why is it they have to be B&W, for a paper?

The book these will be published in only uses color for the cover and back.

I dont think B/W is your problem but maybe the way youre converting them to B/W. How are you doing it now?

How about adding some grain to them? they look too clean. Give them more of a film look.....

AdamLewis wrote in post #5512074
I dont think B/W is your problem but maybe the way youre converting them to B/W. How are you doing it now?

Grayscale via Lightroom.

HuskiesD1 wrote in post #5513045
Grayscale via Lightroom.

Just converting an image to Grayscale is probably the single most horrible way to do a B/W conversion. Try doing some searching on it or messing with a channel mixer (if LR has one. I dont like LR so I dont use it.)