Author Topic: Black and White or Colour - Opinions wanted  (Read 4628 times)

PAG1952

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Black and White or Colour - Opinions wanted
« on: 12:39:35, 26/04/16 »
Having comparatively recently upgraded to windows 10, I have noticed that it frequently changes my screen savers pictures to black and white. I quite like the effect, SWMBO thinks they look better in colour. What do you think?
Here is a random selection of some of my "less bad" Lakes photos - each in colour and B&W.
Constructive criticism always welcome.



View from Peggy's Bridge

 

View from Peggy's Bridge

 

High Style From Gatesgarth

 

High Style From Gatesgarth  



Skiddaw from Grange Fell

 

Skiddaw from Grange Fell

 

Buttermere

 

Buttermere

 

Castle Crag

 

Castle Crag
The sun is always shining.......... it's just that on most days the clouds stop us from seeing it.

barewirewalker

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Re: Black and White or Colour - Opinions wanted
« Reply #1 on: 17:29:09, 26/04/16 »
Can there and does there have to a direct comparison?  Better or worse or just difference, to my eye the B&W's with more contrast are the better of the B&W photos. As changing from colour to B&W is your software giving you two different experiences with the same image?


This photo had a bit of space on the left hand side of the levels, by closing it up a bit and desaturating the photo becomes;



Is it better, matter of opinion but the foreground seems more dominant to me.
BWW
Their Land is in Our Country.

Mel

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Re: Black and White or Colour - Opinions wanted
« Reply #2 on: 19:04:03, 26/04/16 »
Personally, I prefer colour for landscape photos and B&W for architecture  :)
 
Having said that, I've seen some good snowy mountain scenes in B&W too. 
 
 

Glyno

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Re: Black and White or Colour - Opinions wanted
« Reply #3 on: 20:27:03, 26/04/16 »
PAG1952, the colour photos are excellent. When converting to B&W though it's very important that you achieve a full range of tones from absolute black through to pure white otherwise the photos can look a bit flat and lacking in contrast.

Dovegirl

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Re: Black and White or Colour - Opinions wanted
« Reply #4 on: 21:51:56, 26/04/16 »
Either way the photos are lovely, although I prefer them in colour     :)     My own feeling is that B&W lends itself more to 'arty' shots, where one is perhaps seeking an unusual effect.

midweekmountain

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Re: Black and White or Colour - Opinions wanted
« Reply #5 on: 07:19:41, 27/04/16 »
PAG1952, the colour photos are excellent. When converting to B&W though it's very important that you achieve a full range of tones from absolute black through to pure white otherwise the photos can look a bit flat and lacking in contrast.

Glyno is right, getting good BW photos is a different skill set, a lot more to it than just pressing the BW button.

Glyno

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Re: Black and White or Colour - Opinions wanted
« Reply #6 on: 07:27:59, 27/04/16 »
PAG1952, with your permission I'd like to have a tweak with one or two of your photos to illustrate what I mean?

PAG1952

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Re: Black and White or Colour - Opinions wanted
« Reply #7 on: 08:18:03, 27/04/16 »
PAG1952, with your permission I'd like to have a tweak with one or two of your photos to illustrate what I mean?
No problem - any advice gratefully received.

 
I have to admit all I did was reduce the saturation to 0 in photoshop.
The sun is always shining.......... it's just that on most days the clouds stop us from seeing it.

Glyno

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Re: Black and White or Colour - Opinions wanted
« Reply #8 on: 15:06:24, 27/04/16 »
I'm no expert, but I've had a tweak and here's the results...


untweaked...



tweaked...



There would have been more scope for adjustment from a raw file, but by tinkering with a few controls I've been able to bring out a bit more detail in the stone/brick work and the rocks on High Stile


Kukkudrill

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Re: Black and White or Colour - Opinions wanted
« Reply #9 on: 20:58:48, 27/04/16 »
As a general rule, when you convert a photo to b&w you need to ramp up the contrast.
Make the most of the available light

Hillhiker1

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Re: Black and White or Colour - Opinions wanted
« Reply #10 on: 21:42:40, 27/04/16 »
I do my B/W conversions with Silver FX which is currently available free along with other 'NIK' products here:

https://www.google.com/nikcollection/


uktyler

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Re: Black and White or Colour - Opinions wanted
« Reply #11 on: 12:42:24, 28/04/16 »
I generally prefer colour for landscapes, but Buttermere looks great in B&W.

As previously stated it is always worth tweaking the images, playing with the contrast can make all the difference to a B&W picture.

PAG1952

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Re: Black and White or Colour - Opinions wanted
« Reply #12 on: 19:34:05, 28/04/16 »
Thanks for all the responses - really useful - I've now got one foot on the learning curve, which is looking awfully steep.
The sun is always shining.......... it's just that on most days the clouds stop us from seeing it.

uktyler

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Re: Black and White or Colour - Opinions wanted
« Reply #13 on: 19:57:54, 28/04/16 »
Have you considered a photography course?

Some local colleges do them, or there are plenty online.

I studied the photography masterclass at Udemy and found it useful:

https://www.udemy.com/courses/search/?q=photography&src=sac&kw=pho&lang=en


I've just been sent an email with a voucher code for Udemy, I don't know if it will work, but it is worth a try:   25PERCENTNOW
« Last Edit: 20:05:01, 28/04/16 by uktyler »

uktyler

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Re: Black and White or Colour - Opinions wanted
« Reply #14 on: 21:04:24, 28/04/16 »
Something I was messing around with last year, images that combine black and white with colour:


 

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