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Thread: Kalahari Lion Portrait B/W Conversion

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    Story Sequences Moderator and Wildlife Moderator Gabriela Plesea's Avatar
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    Default Kalahari Lion Portrait B/W Conversion

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    Thought I would join Peter Delaney and post a Black and White Lion... The conversion is still a great challenge to me-tried it out and thought it went rather well with this particular image-crits of technical nature or otherwise welcome! I added some canvas at the top and cropped a bit from the right, this image was posted not long ago in color but I thought it was worth a try...Over-sharpened? Some loss of detail? Let me know what you think, please. No matter how harsh the critique, I am willing to improve...

    EXIF Info:

    Nikon D3S
    Nikon 500mm F4 ( I should have shot this with the 300, would have had more space around the lion!)
    1/1600s
    F7.1 (he was really close at this point...)
    ISO 1000
    Gabriela Plesea

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    Lifetime Member Rachel Hollander's Avatar
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    Hi Gabriela - the color version of this image was so beautiful that it seems a shame to convert it to b&w. That being said, it does work. I think I would prefer a bit more on the lhs so that the darker part of the mane isn't so close to the edge.

    TFS,
    Rachel

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    I don't think I saw the original, but this is wonderful! I'd think about darkening the lighter area to the left of the dark mane, or as Rachel suggested, cropping less tight there if possible. Or both.

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    Lovely image gabriela, i too prefer the colour version of this image, but this does work well too, i like the Sepia warmer feel, good tones and the crop is ok for me.

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    BPN Member vishaljadhav's Avatar
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    I like the image for the details on the lion , the look is nicely captured ,
    Would have liked more of the mane, even a vertical version of it with more mane would be more powerful IMO

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    Hi Gabriela

    You Know I love the colour version... I think the sepia is a bit over powering , I am not a huge fan of sepia , I would rather a warm tone to image than sepia..The sky/negative space the tone is too strong and is competing with subject rather than complimenting it...

    Its all subjective ,just my 2cents worth...

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    BPN Member Douglas Bolt's Avatar
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    Gabriela,

    Wonderful image. And, I prefer it to the excellent color version. The sepia works well for me. Your processing gives the feeling of the "king" in a dusty, dry setting. Well done!
    Douglas Bolt
    DougBoltPhotography.com

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    Wildlife Moderator Steve Kaluski's Avatar
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    Hi Gabriela, overall I think you have ht the tonal range very well, blacks look balanced (perhaps a slight lift in parts like the eye & nose to bring back a bit more detail) and the likewise the whites, although one or two areas could be slightly toned down a fraction. I agree with Peter, the Sepia is not working for me and would prefer either a straight forward B/W or perhaps to explore the Duo/Tri/Quad tones offering a richer look & feel IMHO. Again, Peter raises a good point about space, any thoughts then on an alternative crop Peter?

    Great to see you exploring new avenues here Gabriela, however I do think we always need to ask ourselves why we change the medium and what enhancements does it offer, or does it detract from the original, changes need to be positive ones IMHO.

    TFS
    Steve
    Post Production: It’s ALL about what you do with the tools and not, which brand of tool you use.

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    BPN Member Morkel Erasmus's Avatar
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    Hi Gabriela. Late to this one - sorry...
    I love the detail here, and though I prefer the colour version, I tried to give you an alternative here.
    The sepia is definitely too strong.

    In this repost, I had to desaturate the OP to get to "pure B&W".
    Then I dodged some midtones and highlights on the lion.
    Lastly I added a very slight warm tone to the lion alone, trying to prevent it from looking pasted onto the more neutral toning of the negative space.
    What do you think?
    Morkel Erasmus

    WEBSITE


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    Story Sequences Moderator and Wildlife Moderator Gabriela Plesea's Avatar
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    Good morning Morkel, amazing what you did with this lion, THANK YOU! I am learning slowly not to overdo things...I see what you have done here and to what effect, and you revealed so much detail-I love it! After Steve commented above I took this image and reprocessed it, may I post it sometime to see what you think? And sorry to be so scarce lately, my partner's kids are visiting for two weeks, will be back soon

    Warmest regards and many thanks again,
    Gabriela Plesea

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