B&W Breakwater

[leesh1]

First attempt at playing with B&W conversion using Levels, Curves and Filters in Photoshop.

Critique please

[MattUK]

I assume you're not looking for crit on the contents of the shot, but on the b&w technique instead...

The foreground has the right kind of contrast, but I assume one of the filters you have used has messed with the detail in the background, really flattening it out.

[leesh1]

Matt, thanks for your feedback, yes its the B&W element that I was seeking critique on. Very new to photoshop, have not yet worked out how to work on the background.

[alfbranch]

Leesh1
show us the unconverted shot.
What are you trying to achieve are you looking for the effect you got or a more normal looking B&W shot.

[leesh1]

alfbranch, I was originally just learning how to convert to B&W and then got a bit carried away with filters as well. This is the unconverted image. I just want to know hot to get the blacks looking black and whites looking white.



All help welcome

[alfbranch]

Your start image is quite good a bit flat maybe but thatcan be sorted in B&W

If you look HERE you will be able look through a few tutorials and find out some of the may ways in photoshop.
B&W is harder than many people think and always has been good B&W prints took a lot of skill on film and they still take a bit of processing to get right I am getting better but still have things to learn.
Shoting in colour rather B&W in camera is good IMO. Having viewed some of the tuts show us the shot again for comment.

[KeithT]

A black and white image is more than just a desaturated colour image. From a technical point of view it is important to use the whole greyscale range from black through to pure white to achieve a good b/w image. When I work on a B/W image I work out where each shade of the greyscale should be and try my hardest to achieve it. Alf has signposted you to a good tutorial, here's another: http://www.cambridgeincolour.com/tut...lack-white.htm

Lots of good books at Amazon on the subject too.

[leesh1]

Alfbranch / KeithT, many thanks for your input / feedback. Now I have my computer working again i can have a look at the topics that you have suggested. I wil repost the image once i have follwed your advice. :-)