Tree & Clouds B&W

[ddigit]

Hi,

This is a colour to B&W conversion. Done through photoshop using adjustment layers (gradient map/channelmixer). There was good contrast with the clouds. Possibily the photo has too much going on ??

Trevor

[ddigit]

Hi all again,

Obviously didnt attach photo. Here it is.

[Patrick]

Originally Posted by ddigit

Hi,

This is a colour to B&W conversion. Done through photoshop using adjustment layers (gradient map/channelmixer). There was good contrast with the clouds. Possibily the photo has too much going on ??

Trevor

Hi Trevor
Can I ask why you used gradient map and channel mixer to get your B/W conversion. I can't see there is anything to be gained by using two converters.
Use one or the other, there is more control with channel mixer.
As to your conversion, there does seem to be a great deal of noise in the sky, an effect I have had when using to much of one channel usually the blue channel, however it could be due to using two converters to do one job.
The conversion in my view looks over processed.

Would you like to email me a copy of the original file and I will do a conversion and attempt to get the sky you want but without the noise. Then I will give you full details on how I get there to have a go yourself.
The image its self has great promise.

Patrick

[Tinka]

Hi,
An image with a lot of potential plenty of landfscape detail and good composition, not sure about the processing, I always try to use just one method, perhaps it might be a good idea to take up Patricks offer. I really do like the image though.

[ddigit]

Hi Patrick,
Sorry I didnt get back to you on this. Had a knee operation and have been out of commission for a while. The reason I used this conversion was cause I read it in a book. I have subsequently looked at the photo and yes it really is quite noisy. I have decided that the original photo was too contrasty anyway so have abandoned this particular photo.

Regards

Trev

[Patrick]

Originally Posted by ddigit

Hi Patrick,
Sorry I didnt get back to you on this. Had a knee operation and have been out of commission for a while. The reason I used this conversion was cause I read it in a book. I have subsequently looked at the photo and yes it really is quite noisy. I have decided that the original photo was too contrasty anyway so have abandoned this particular photo.

Regards

Trev

Hi Trev
Glad to hear you are out and about again.

Exceptionally strong sunlight is the photographers enemy.
In the dark room we would over expose and under develope to reduce the contrast (B/W film only)
With a digital camera blown highlights cannot be recovered so it is often helpful to expose as we used to for transparency film and under expose.
I under such conditions under expose by a stop even more in very exceptional bright & contrasty sun to hold the highlights. Some detail can then be recovered later in the shadows using Photoshop if shot in jpg, but a whole lot more can be recovered using RAW.

Patrick