St Vrain Creek Close-Up

[Mike Lewis]

So I really am pretty much a hack when it comes to B&W. Originally my only B&W images were ones where I liked the comp, but just never could make the colors work the way I wanted them too. I guess I have now at least started to take some 'on-purpose' B&W images, but it is still a rare thing. But I do enjoy seeing other's images in B&W, and would love to get some feedback on the small number of mine that I have kept.

This one is from a while ago, and started out as just a test image for my newly acquired 10 stop ND filter. So yes, this is likely one where the color never looked right . But once I decided on a B&W treatment I liked the result quite a lot better.

Love to hear from other more accomplished B&W imagers if you care to comment, and thanks for taking a look.

ML

 

[AlanLichty]

I am not one of the hard core B&W types but this looks like a very well executed conversion and it works for me. Very nice detail, the overall dynamic range feels balanced and a nice shutter speed for the water flows. Some might be inclined to go for more contrast but It doesn't seem necessary for the scene in this light.

 

[Mike Lewis]

Alan,

Thanks! Yes, it was actually an overcast day, and I was expecting to get rained on any minute (but you know what it is like when you have a new 'gadget' and you just have to go use it ) I suppose using a 10 stop ND on an overcast rainy day is not exactly the most common use case for a filter like this in the first place, but it seemed to work in spite of all that.

ML

 

[Bob Denton]

Very nice.

 

[JimFox]

Hey Mike,

I think that your thought process is very similar to many of us. Back in the old film days, I would make a conscious choice to put B&W film in my camera on days I wanted to shoot B&W. But with digital, I must confess that the majority of my B&W photos are ones where the color just looked to crazy to work. Now a small percentage of photos when I see them as I process I will say, oh this will make a good B&W. And a much smaller percentage of the time I will be out shooting and say to myself, this is going to be a B&W. So you are not alone in your thought process.

This one is really good. I sure like the flow and the satin finish on the water. Going to B&W I think was a good choice.

 

[Ben Egbert]

Looks pretty darn good to my eyes.

 

[Jim Dockery]

Looks great overall, and sounds true to the light that day, but my first inclination was to boost the contrast like Alan suggested, but I'm a sucker for high contrast, and often work levels to get some true blacks in most of my B&Ws.

 

[Mike Lewis]

Thanks for the feedback and comments.veryone, much appreciated. I will have to see if I can play with contrast a tad.

ML

 

[Leslie Hunter]

Very nice!

 

[Joe Colozzo]

I like your B&W conversion it works very well with your comp. Personaly, I rarely do B&W just to save a photo. I'm weak, I'd give up on a shot first. There are just certain photos that jump out and say this should be B&W, and Only a few times have I set out with B&W in mind.

Thanks for sharing with us!

 

[David S]

Looks good for overcast ! Non overcast will give you more contrast ! I like the contrast between the more frothy white and the black rocks. Nice.