Yosemite, Snow & Gray skies = B&W

[dan swiger]

My recent trip to Yosemite started with clear blue skies one day, turning to gray the next.
Wishing I had brought the 4x5 gear & film, went with B&W conversions. Done w/Silfer Efex

 

[JimFox]

Hey Dan, I think B&W is a good choice here. Though I have found that clear skies aren't that bad when you have snow. The Blue and White contrast is a good one too.

I like #2 the best here. In #1, you have a polarizer blob in the sky in looks like, where in #2 you have a nice even sky.

 

[Ben Egbert]

I am with Jim, I like the second but mostly because it has a cleaner composition.

 

[AlanLichty]

I must be the odd man out here since I prefer the more intimate composition in the first image. I didn't really notice the polarizer blob until I read Jim's comments but I do like the darker skies behind Half Dome.

 

[dan swiger]

Hey Dan, I think B&W is a good choice here. Though I have found that clear skies aren't that bad when you have snow. The Blue and White contrast is a good one too.

I like #2 the best here. In #1, you have a polarizer blob in the sky in looks like, where in #2 you have a nice even sky.

Polarizer blob? Do I need Ghost Busters for this ?
Seriously, I wasn't using a polarizer, but this could have been from the Silver Efex process. Will take a look!

 

[Leslie Hunter]

These are great!

 

[JimFox]

Polarizer blob? Do I need Ghost Busters for this ?
Seriously, I wasn't using a polarizer, but this could have been from the Silver Efex process. Will take a look!

Polarization happens naturally at 90 degrees from the sun. So a mid day shot like this where you are facing west you would naturally get it. And with B&W it's going to push that tonality even more and often makes it more obvious then in color.

One of the lesser known reasons to use a polarizer is to actually help blend that naturally occurring polarizing so that it then blends in seamlessly. On my 14-24mm when shooting at 14 I will often put the polarizer on it not to cut reflections, etc, but to simply help gradiate that polarizing that is totally exaggerated naturally at 14mm.

 

[dan swiger]

Polarization happens naturally at 90 degrees from the sun. So a mid day shot like this where you are facing west you would naturally get it. And with B&W it's going to push that tonality even more and often makes it more obvious then in color.

One of the lesser known reasons to use a polarizer is to actually help blend that naturally occurring polarizing so that it then blends in seamlessly. On my 14-24mm when shooting at 14 I will often put the polarizer on it not to cut reflections, etc, but to simply help gradiate that polarizing that is totally exaggerated naturally at 14mm.

Jim, I do confess I didn't know that. Thanks for the tip