Glencoe (1st true B&W)

Critiques [Translate]

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• Photoslave (763)
• [2007-08-07 4:55]

Hi Emma,

light is great here! I like format and B/W choice. Wonderful landscape, TFS!

Gio

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• PaulH (13083)
• [2007-08-07 5:10]
• [+]

Hi Emma,
I think that without the rays streaming through the clouds this would not have worked as well as it does and also the panoramic crop lends itself nicely here too. I'm not as versed with Photoshop as you by the sounds of it, so can't explain why the OE spots in the cloud are there. Personally they don't bother me in the slightest as they contrast nicely against the darkness of Am Buachaille's famous outline.(i always though it was called Buachaille Etiv Mor btw).
I have around 10 or so shots very similar to this which i have done nothing with yet, so maybe a b & W conversion could work with them too.
This is overall a good shot with alot of mood IMO.
tfs
Paul

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• dougsphotos (777)
• [2007-08-07 6:25]
• [+]

Hi Emma,

I'm sat here at work bobbing my head up and down looking silly, trying to get the best look of your shot on my laptop screen - I must look slightly bonkers! Anyway, the end result is I can see that your shot does actually have some lovely subtle tones and detail in it that at first I thought were just too underexposed - I think, like you say, you really need a large enlargement of this to make the most of it - the screen just doesn't do it justice.

But it is a lovely shot, no doubt there, great timing catching the sunrays like that, and the tones are ideally suited to monochrome (but then I am quite a fan of b&w!). Great post-processing work too to make the most of the sky.

If it's any consolation by the way, our work server died this morning too and wreaked allsorts of havoc, so I sympathise! Might try the veg plot idea in our garden when I get home!

TFS, Great work as ever.

Doug

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• Heaven (6054)
• [2007-08-07 7:18]
• [2]

Hi Emma!

I can understand that you are not so happy with your picture, although the atmosphere and the emotions it generates are simply great.

We have at least one point in common: we both hate OE, even if only a small part of the image is affected. Now I can't judge if in your particular case it is due to the b&w conversion or if the OE already had existed before. It surprises me when you say that the overexposed parts were pale blue before.

In this situation I would try the following: after the conversion, I would come back to the original and darken just a bit the very bright parts and then proceed to the conversion again. If this would not be sufficient, I would repeat the operation and so on. The advantage of that proceeding is that you don't influence on the darker parts which you would like to keep as they are.

Anyway, if we would control everything concerning taking pictures, we probably would look for another hobby...

I'm sure you will be able to correct the OE parts of your picture. And I also believe it's worth it!

Best regards
Markus

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• Silke (5406)
• [2007-08-07 7:59]

Quite a stunning PoV and the colours and details are wonderful indeed.
Well done conversions as well
TFS
silke

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• Jamesp (16522)
• [2007-08-07 8:23]

Hi Emma

An imposing shot - the sunburst is excellent. I have never tried to convert to B&W - you are braver than me.

James

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• gracious (13068)
• [2007-08-07 8:59]

Hello Emma,
I loved it!
true b/w panorama view indeed especailly the ray that through the cloud that makes it so outstanding!
good try and well seen
cheers
Tony

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• SunToucher (10175)
• [2007-08-07 11:36]
• [+]

Hi Emma,
Finally your first go at B/W. You started of with a difficult one, since the range of contrast of the colored version isn't huge. I am no expert in B/W yet and am struggeling with it as well.
I do feel that the photo didn't come out perfectly. It is a bit flat in certain areas. Some history of layering is visable as well. The red filter made the lighter clouds too bright.

I do have a few questions on regards of the conversion. Why did you convert the photo in DPP and not in Paint Shop Pro? I am almost certain that Paint shop has the option to tweak a monochromatic photos in at least red, green and blue. DPP just tranforms it without much control.
I understand the use of the red filter but don't understand the use of an orange filter. Isn't a yellow filter a better option?

There are parts I really like about this photo. The sunrays are very beautiful. The texture in the dark clouds are pefect and teh lighter spots on Etive Mor are great as well.

I just oploaded my Loch Tulla photo. I almost converted this one to B&W. It does have a great tonal range and good contrast. You might want to try it on one of yours to see what it can do.

TFS,
Niek

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• eqshannon (27911)
• [2007-08-08 16:08]

Your showing me how it's done Emma! Wonderful presentation in B&W. I am very partial to B&W having worked with it in publication for 4 decades.... Speaking as an editorial photographer, as opposed a Ansel Adams. I would say this was a great use of light. IOW I love it just this way....always have..always will...

Bob