Kings College mono

Boon · 06-02-2006, 19:49

ok, last of the cambridgeshire shots this one. Its Kings College changed to a mono shot, just love the architecture around Cambridge, if you have never been, GO.
i can never seem to get my blacks/whites as good as Bachs or Dave, but still i keep trying.
anyway, the picture...

thank you

KenCo1964 · 06-02-2006, 20:01

I'd say that's about spot on, an excellent shot. Very well done.

Venomator · 06-02-2006, 20:01

Hey Stev ! You do some good stuff of Cambridge alright - must remember to take my gear next time I go ... thanx for the prompts !

Now - for me I think this would go better in original technicolour ? The lamp column, for me is in the way of the building behind but, in your B & W version shows a nice bit of contrast with everything else ? Rest of pic is not contrasty enough for B & W ... imo !

Great DoF though and could be a real nice shot ! Jill likes as is though !?!

**stepheno** · 06-02-2006, 20:12

Good shot Steve - I don't mind the lamp-post so much ( I like the composition) but I think I'd rather there was a bit more shadow/contrast in the building. Seems a bit washed out.

regards

Boon · 06-02-2006, 20:41

Quote:

Originally Posted by Venomator

Great DoF though and could be a real nice shot ! Jill likes as is though !?!

hi ven
you tell Jill she has great taste

here is the colour version, where i was standing was in heavy shadow, it was a very cold, crisp clear day, with bright sunshine, i only wished i had a wideangle lens, a must in this place.

what do you think of it.

**stepheno** · 06-02-2006, 21:03

I think the colour version is a cracker - much better than mono

regards

Warspite · 06-02-2006, 21:11

Agreed - the BW is good but the colour one is better in my opinion, shows soo much detail on those spires and the stonework opposite. Also the exposure appears to be spot on.

Great shots

dazzajl · 06-02-2006, 21:22

I think the potential as a b&w is far greater than the colour version and the call to convert was the right one. I find the green dominant enough to take away from the grandure of the scene beyond it.

I had a very quick play on the sliders nad have probably gone to far but I wanted to see it with a bit more drama.

http://images.fotopic.net/?iid=y4aku...ze=1&nostamp=1

Boon · 06-02-2006, 21:53

i like it dazzaji, very frankenstein i think, with a lot of punch, very striking.

i have allsorts of these types of shots, most i think, need to be turned into mono shots, as i think they look too busy in colour, but some work out ok.

Venomator · 06-02-2006, 22:06

Quote:

Originally Posted by Boon

i like it dazzaji, very frankenstein i think, with a lot of punch, very striking.

i have allsorts of these types of shots, most i think, need to be turned into mono shots, as i think they look too busy in colour, but some work out ok.

But this one works better in colour Stev ... an excellent shot and even the lamp column is not so in yer face in the colour version ! Really good stuff !

Like it a lot ... thanx for doubling up !

***Dave*** · 07-02-2006, 08:11

Have to say I like your original conversion Boon, plus the Colour. I've done a quick job to show a higher contrast shot with deeper blacks, not to say it's better, but to explain what actions are required to get to this effect, if you want it.

Firstly the depth of the shadows vs the bright sun lit parts makes it very hard to perform overall effects to whole photo without bleaching out one part or blackening out shadows too much. The additional complexity of edge of buildings make quick lasso selections too hard. So it's down to pure dodge & burn.

So steps were, from the colour photo :-

- Convert to B&W from Channel mixer with RED at 100%. Already this was quite a good contrast shot, with the sky nice & dark.
- Looked at Levels & all OK.
- Grass area too dark/flat. Grab dodge tool with large soft brush. Select Highlights & set exposure to 5%. Go over grass to bring out highlights, increasing contrast whilst also lightening .
- Do same for path at front plus bulding to left.
- Now choose burn tool with same large brush, 5% for Shadows. Go over path to bring out more contrast detial, but don't go too far to create complete black areas.
- Do same with overall building to bring shadows to required level of black/detail.....but don't over do it.
- Now burn in some midtones at 5% on sun lit building, plus path to front.
- Final smart sharpen of 40%

Just an example of what can be achieved & if you take your time you could produce a lot better results than what I have done.

Important steps for Dodging/Burning :-

- Wherever possible large / soft brush
- Use small exposures - 5%
- Dodge mainly Highlights & maybe some Midtones
- Burn mainly Shadows followed by Midtones
- Perform short strokes or just seperate clicks
- Take your time
- Don't over do it.....sometimes less is more.

Enjoy

Boon · 07-02-2006, 22:20

wow dave, thank you for the in depth report here, i have copied in down, and intend to follow it during my next trial.
Thank you all for your comments, i really appreciate it.

fingerz · 08-02-2006, 13:37

Am I the only one who's seeing a gigantic halo around that lamp post?

Maybe it's my God, or something.

06-02-2006, 19:49	#1 (permalink)
Boon Forum Regular Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Robin Hood County Posts: 523	Kings College mono ok, last of the cambridgeshire shots this one. Its Kings College changed to a mono shot, just love the architecture around Cambridge, if you have never been, GO. i can never seem to get my blacks/whites as good as Bachs or Dave, but still i keep trying. anyway, the picture... thank you

07-02-2006, 08:11	#11 (permalink)
*Dave* Pixalo Crew Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 15,504	Have to say I like your original conversion Boon, plus the Colour. I've done a quick job to show a higher contrast shot with deeper blacks, not to say it's better, but to explain what actions are required to get to this effect, if you want it. Firstly the depth of the shadows vs the bright sun lit parts makes it very hard to perform overall effects to whole photo without bleaching out one part or blackening out shadows too much. The additional complexity of edge of buildings make quick lasso selections too hard. So it's down to pure dodge & burn. So steps were, from the colour photo :- - Convert to B&W from Channel mixer with RED at 100%. Already this was quite a good contrast shot, with the sky nice & dark. - Looked at Levels & all OK. - Grass area too dark/flat. Grab dodge tool with large soft brush. Select Highlights & set exposure to 5%. Go over grass to bring out highlights, increasing contrast whilst also lightening . - Do same for path at front plus bulding to left. - Now choose burn tool with same large brush, 5% for Shadows. Go over path to bring out more contrast detial, but don't go too far to create complete black areas. - Do same with overall building to bring shadows to required level of black/detail.....but don't over do it. - Now burn in some midtones at 5% on sun lit building, plus path to front. - Final smart sharpen of 40% Just an example of what can be achieved & if you take your time you could produce a lot better results than what I have done. Important steps for Dodging/Burning :- - Wherever possible large / soft brush - Use small exposures - 5% - Dodge mainly Highlights & maybe some Midtones - Burn mainly Shadows followed by Midtones - Perform short strokes or just seperate clicks - Take your time - Don't over do it.....sometimes less is more. Enjoy __________________ www.davidjameswilliams.com Last edited by Dave : 07-02-2006 at 08:15.

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06-02-2006, 20:01	#2 (permalink)
KenCo1964 Forum Regular Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Co. Durham England Posts: 1,069	I'd say that's about spot on, an excellent shot. Very well done.

06-02-2006, 20:01	#3 (permalink)
Venomator Forum Regular Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Hertfordshire Posts: 922	Hey Stev ! You do some good stuff of Cambridge alright - must remember to take my gear next time I go ... thanx for the prompts ! Now - for me I think this would go better in original technicolour ? The lamp column, for me is in the way of the building behind but, in your B & W version shows a nice bit of contrast with everything else ? Rest of pic is not contrasty enough for B & W ... imo ! Great DoF though and could be a real nice shot ! Jill likes as is though !?!

06-02-2006, 20:12	#4 (permalink)
stepheno Pixalo Crew Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 6,802	Good shot Steve - I don't mind the lamp-post so much ( I like the composition) but I think I'd rather there was a bit more shadow/contrast in the building. Seems a bit washed out. regards

06-02-2006, 21:03	#6 (permalink)
stepheno Pixalo Crew Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 6,802	I think the colour version is a cracker - much better than mono regards

06-02-2006, 21:11	#7 (permalink)
Warspite Feet under the table Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Newcastle Sunderland Middlesbrough (UK) Posts: 1,736	Agreed - the BW is good but the colour one is better in my opinion, shows soo much detail on those spires and the stonework opposite. Also the exposure appears to be spot on. Great shots

06-02-2006, 21:22	#8 (permalink)
dazzajl Been here a while Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 317	I think the potential as a b&w is far greater than the colour version and the call to convert was the right one. I find the green dominant enough to take away from the grandure of the scene beyond it. I had a very quick play on the sliders nad have probably gone to far but I wanted to see it with a bit more drama. http://images.fotopic.net/?iid=y4aku...ze=1&nostamp=1

06-02-2006, 21:53	#9 (permalink)
Boon Forum Regular Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Robin Hood County Posts: 523	i like it dazzaji, very frankenstein i think, with a lot of punch, very striking. i have allsorts of these types of shots, most i think, need to be turned into mono shots, as i think they look too busy in colour, but some work out ok.

07-02-2006, 22:20	#12 (permalink)
Boon Forum Regular Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Robin Hood County Posts: 523	wow dave, thank you for the in depth report here, i have copied in down, and intend to follow it during my next trial. Thank you all for your comments, i really appreciate it.

08-02-2006, 13:37	#13 (permalink)
fingerz Forum Regular Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 790	Am I the only one who's seeing a gigantic halo around that lamp post? Maybe it's my God, or something.