JACK LARSON PHOTOGRAPHY
Simple Conversion
Posted by john4jack (Corvallis, Oregon, United States) on 18 June 2009 in Plant & Nature and Portfolio.
For this photograph, I took yesterday's post and opened it in Lightroom. Then I clicked Grayscale. That's it; nothing else. I'm experimenting with a variety of ways of doing B&W.
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IRAN - I think that we need to do everything in our power to support our fellow photographers in Iran who are in a desperate struggle for freedom and self-determination. We in the US know that have to be low key, but at least we can let our brothers and sisters know that care deeply for them.
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" The hardest thing in photography is to create a simple image." Anne Geddes
Scott Schilling from San Martin, United States
This is wonderful in black and white, I especially like the contrast with the deep shadows on the edges.
18 Jun 2009 5:03am
Yvonne Simons from Tilburg, Netherlands
I agree with Scott, the deep shadows are beautiful in this picture!
18 Jun 2009 6:18am
khadi from New Delhi, India
This is a great black and white. I like how the lighter petals emerge from the darkness.
18 Jun 2009 8:00am
Mathilde Collot from Fontainebleau, France
The N / B adds mystery and originality of the shot is! Between the two mon coeur balance! Couleur ou N/B?
18 Jun 2009 11:12am
Craig from Vacaville, California, United States
Lightroom did well with the greyscale option. I do prefer this over the color version. Love the detail. Have you used a gradient map to do the conversion? It gives the photographer more control!
18 Jun 2009 11:44am
@Craig: I generally do some quick work in LR and then go to Silver Efex Pro.
Peggy M. from somewhere in, France
Yes ! romantic shot and I love this flowers in B&W, so sweet.
18 Jun 2009 12:28pm
@Peggy M.: Thank you, sweet love. Hugs.
dkc from Xanthi, Greece
Nice to see you experimenting Jack...Brilliant conversion...
18 Jun 2009 1:03pm
10fraction from Rennes, France
incredibly beautifull picture, the processing is very subtle, great care has been taken and the result is really marvelous
18 Jun 2009 1:19pm
Susan from Fort Lauderdale, FL, United States
Sometimes the simplest things are the best!!!! It looks great.... I'll have to try this out, if I can figure out how, in Lightroom!!!
18 Jun 2009 1:49pm
@Susan: Go to the Basic panel in the Develop module. Under the word "Basic" is the line Treatment Color Grayscale Click on Grayscale; click Color to go back. Also wherever you are in LR, you can click the V key and it will give you a rough grayscale image; click V again to go back.
Luca Bobbiesi from Milano, Italy
what a great choice to propose it in monochrome, excellent macro
18 Jun 2009 1:51pm
Tracy from La Selva Beach, United States
This rendition has a more formal elegant look to me! Yesterdays reminded me of summer picnics; Today's feels more like Ikebana. (hope I spelled that right!)
18 Jun 2009 2:14pm
@Tracy: Yes, you spelled it correctly; that's a very nice compliment. Google "ikebana" and go to the Wikipedia site; there is some very interesting stuff there.
Linerberry from Sumner, Christchurch, New Zealand
This is brilliant j4j!!! Simple processing that works perfectly. Good on you for experimentating!
18 Jun 2009 2:25pm
@Linerberry: Thanks, Caroline. I'm trying to do everything I can to simplify all of my processing. I love to shoot, and almost as much, I love to print. But I dislike the work of processing. Computers are a curse as well as a blessing. Having said that, the digital darkroom has revolutionized my photography.
Marie-Hélène Ammor from Casablanca/Paris, Morocco
It is very beautiful ,the texture of petals is superb so !
18 Jun 2009 2:39pm
don from Spokane, United States
The conversion looks very good. This shot has a wide range of black and white tones from near black to almost white. The result is a very attractive black and white image.
18 Jun 2009 2:46pm
Barbara from Florida, United States
Your "Simple Conversion" has transformed this to creative form. I find both versions exceptional, although I am drawn to the B&W, it gives a different depth, an appreciation for the light and detail. This would be stunning in a white matting with black frame.
Great work, Jack.
18 Jun 2009 2:53pm
@Barbara: Thanks, Barb. Your comment reminds me of how much I love shooting and printing and find processing to be a chore.
Anthony Morgan Lambert from Bielefeld(old Pembroke Dock boy,Wales), Germany
It´s funny how much time and effort you can put in on a "simple" B+W conversion.I find it very interesting seeing the different results you can get.This is a very good example !!
18 Jun 2009 3:54pm
Susan from Fort Lauderdale, FL, United States
Thanks for the info.... I'll be trying it out this weekend!!!
18 Jun 2009 4:08pm
Ajay from Pune, India
The mono tone of this shot is just amazing. Same shot and completely different feeling it gives.
18 Jun 2009 5:00pm
marc battault from clermont ferrand, France
a great sweetness in this b&w ,jack !
friendships !
18 Jun 2009 6:07pm
@k@: Thanks, my dear.
Alivia from Saint-Etienne, France
la douceur et la finesse, la transparence et l'insoutenable légèreté des fleurs, un pas vers l'absolu .. merci Jack.
18 Jun 2009 8:42pm
jeff (aka dogilicious) from Millerstown, PA, United States
Interesting. Have you tried turning down the saturation all the way to make b/w. Little different effect.
18 Jun 2009 10:55pm
@jeff (aka dogilicious): I've tried all kinds of ways to do B&W. What I am doing now is major work in LR and then I go to Silver Efex Pro.
ordinaryimages from Kentucky Bluegrass, United States
Life is so simple, sweet pea : ] best...jerry
18 Jun 2009 11:24pm
Chris Parr from Jefferson City, United States
I think this works very well. Simple and beautiful.
19 Jun 2009 3:04am
dj.tigersprout from New York City, United States
amazing tones!! your blacks are so wonderfully rich!!! beautiful -- love both versions!!!
19 Jun 2009 3:49am
Monique from Koh Samui, Thailand
Beautiful tones and I like the details and shape of these flowers, the conversion worked out really great!
19 Jun 2009 3:59am
Toni from Eastern Washington, United States
The conversion to b&w was an excellent choice, although it was equally lovely in color.
21 Jun 2009 10:19pm
Nikon D300
1/125 second
F/7.1
ISO 800
157 mm (35mm equiv.)