Landscape- B&W Conversion

[Michael Lloyd]

This is my first post in this section. I was happy to see so many other B&W conversions. Apparently the collective mind is still functioning :)

I put a post of the color image HERE

This is my version of it in B&W. I haven't done much with B&W conversion but my recent resurgence in interest in LF film has peaked my interest in digital and analog processing of B&W.

EOS1DsMKIII manual. MLU. Cable release
24-70 f2.8L @ 32mm with a two stop graduated neutral density filter in a Cokin "P" holder (note: this combo doesn't work at 24mm. There is significant vignetting in the corners. Cokin makes a holder for wide angle lenses as well as 4x6 cards that can be held by hand)
Gitzo tripod w/ Arca-Swiss ballhead

ISO 100
1/10s @f8

Also, I used the graduated ND filter in ACR to decrease the sky 1 stop. I have a real 3 stop GND filter ordered

Thoughts?

[Dave Mills]

Hi Michael, I like the image very much especially the sky which adds greatly to the images drama. In this case I took a bit off the bottom and used S/H and contrast adj to give more contrast and some pop to the image. Good view!

[Michael Lloyd]

Hi Dave,

(slaps forehead) ... I forgot about S&H... I knew I had another step that I normally at least test but I forgot it. To be honest, I've been working through some stuff from John Paul Caponigro and I was a little frazzled by the time I made it to the end :D

Workflow (I forgot to post that)

(1) Duplicate original
(2) Add three Channel Mixer layers. One for each channel. Tweak as needed. I actually deleted the Green channel as it had little to no effect on this image.
(3) Curves mask for the ground
(4) Curves mask for the sky

(5) should have been a look at S&H

[Michael Lloyd]

Here's one with Real Grain applied to the image above (Real Grain is an Imagenomic product)

[Dave Mills]

Michael, At times my forehead gets raw from slaps :-)

[denise ippolito]

Michael, I like the clarity in Dave's repost. Nice base image and I remember this image as being your "epiphany". I could really relate to your words regarding photography and being out there all alone with nature. Very nicely done.

[Dave Mills]

Just saw the repost...Definately an improvement which adds more impact to the image!

[Michael Lloyd]

Thanks Denise- That was the image. "being out there all alone with nature" is an amazing experience that I've been fortunate to have a lot of in my life. There's kind of a paradox that comes with the experience though. There's also a desire to share the experience with someone which I suppose photography somewhat fulfills. On the other hand, the wrong travel partner can be limiting to put it nicely (been there done that). Thanks for the kind words and I agree, Dave's post was a definite improvement in clarity.

That was my first go at the Real Grain plug-in. I've had it for almost a year but didn't have a need or desire to use it. :D But, I liked the look that it gave. It allows the photographer to choose different film grains (this image was TMAX) as well as formats. I'm allllmost ready to shoot some 4x6 for real. I bought a Linoff a few years ago and I am just now getting geared up to actually put film through it.

[Michael Pancier]

nice work on the conversion. Like the repost. Maybe brighten up the clouds a bit 1 tone

[Julie Kenward]

Michael, nice to see you down here! This is a lovely landscape and perfect for b&w. I like your repost with the added punch but I do like Dave's version of the crop - taking a bit off the bottom really makes those clouds have more punch and more overall grandeur IMO.

I can look at this and see a few places I might add even more small touches of burning/dodging if you felt that was something you wanted to do. Just some more small touches here and there of deepening or lightening the tones you captured so well might really take this to another level...just a thought!