Luminous Landscape Forum

The Art of Photography => User Critiques => Topic started by: Chairman Bill on December 15, 2008, 12:37:34 pm

Title: Overcooking B&W
Post by: Chairman Bill on December 15, 2008, 12:37:34 pm
I have a tendancy to process monchromes as fairly high contrast images, but I wonder whether I'm overcooking them, the skies in particular. Constructive comments much appreciated.
(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3064/3110273951_918585a9d2.jpg)

(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3250/2998702267_8ef0302076.jpg)

(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3229/2870436076_7405b27072.jpg)
Title: Overcooking B&W
Post by: mjrichardson on December 15, 2008, 12:44:59 pm
Hi.

To my eye, your skies match your foregrounds, the images look complete. I like the high contrast look in black and whites and think yours work really well.

Personally I like them!

Mat.
Title: Overcooking B&W
Post by: ddk on December 15, 2008, 03:10:49 pm
Quote from: Chairman Bill
I have a tendancy to process monchromes as fairly high contrast images, but I wonder whether I'm overcooking them, the skies in particular. Constructive comments much appreciated.

I generally like high contrast images and find your images attractive, I will make two comments, I might lighten up the first 2 about 10%-15% but what really bothers me is the amount of sharpening applied, I find it too aggressive.
Title: Overcooking B&W
Post by: Chairman Bill on December 15, 2008, 04:10:04 pm
Thanks for the comments.
ddk - interesting comment ref sharpening. Aperture is left to automatically adjust the 'raw fine tuning' - all I've adjusted is the contrast, albeit this includes 'Definition' which enhances edge contrast. Has a similar effect I suppose. I wonder whether this is exacerbated by your monitor - mine's not to sharp, maybe causing me to 'oversharpen'.  I'll check appearance at work tomorrow (work CRT monitor is rather better than my old iMac LCD screen.

I've not added any 'Definition' to this one - better?
(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3260/2870430680_2efe9b0e67.jpg)

Edit to add - I've just checked the file for the old stone cross photo - no definition added, just upped the saturation & contrast, then converted to monochrome, red filter applied, and that's it.
Title: Overcooking B&W
Post by: wolfnowl on December 16, 2008, 12:56:00 am
They're definitely dramatic, but I wouldn't say they're 'overcooked'.

Mike.