B&W conversion C&C

Morrisseeee

I took this with the kit lens (as I don't have a prime at 14mm.........yet), and as I only had a red ND Grad I used it for the sky that was blowing out on me, so last nite I used calculations, and then I started experimenting with 'dodge' & 'burn' (but only lightly) to see if I could make the photo 'pop'. So.........is (much) more effort needed ? any ideas, help, feedback : greatly appreciated

Orig:



B&W:

Dodgykeeper

First one looks un-natural, shouldnt the reflection be the same colour as the sky!

The B&W lacks contrast, too much of the image looks dark!

Where is this btw!

Morrisseeee

shouldnt the reflection be the same colour as the sky!

mmm....I was wondering if some people would be fooled by this, I used a red ND Grad, ie. only red at the top, then gradually fades to clear glass at the bottom, so the reflection is untouched !

The B&W lacks contrast, too much of the image looks dark!

Yes, that was my fear, ie. my aim is to keep the darks dark, but increase the lighter areas for visual effect ! So I take it my effect isn't 'strong' enough yet, I will go back to the drawing board....:pac:

Where is this btw!

Johnstown Castle, Co. Wexford.

AnCatDubh

I love black and whites but not on this occasion. It's kinda bordering on an IR effect which i've always wondered why oh why would someone mutilate a good DSLR for such an effect. I agree with DK, the black and white is just too dark and little differentiation between parts of the composition. It's probably the scene though. I have found with some of my own stuff that often a black and white just isn't there no matter how much you would like it to be.

sineadw

TBH I think the composition in itself is a little too busy. There's no immediate POF.

(sorry)

smelltheglove

Look, I love the shot I dont care what the technicalities are, if the reflection isnt the same colour or anything, I just really like it and I dont think you should mess with it by turning it black and white.

Dublin_Gunner

I know its not what you asked, but as others have stated, the original is far better than the B&W. Its just too busy for B&W.

It does need a bit of cropping though, maybe up to the branches coming from the water, and bring both sides in closer to the 'main' tree in the middle.

Thats just my opinion, but the image needs tightening up.

In fact, I even like just the branches coming from the water, with the reflection of the trees surrounding them.

kjt

The first shot is great but as people have already said the sky has been murdered , if you where to go back and rework that, you'd have a damn keeper.

The b&w is just too dark, there's not enough white let alone contrast in there. I found it really hard when I first start converting from colour->B&W, after a few pops it starts to click and you can see how far off you where with your first few conversions.