This is a Blue Tit shot from the start of the year taken in my garden. Going back to the posts about what makes a good monochrome image, just wondering what other peeps think of this one? A little tight in the frame I know!
Thanks for looking,
Lewis.
Canon 40D
Canon 500mm f4 IS + 1.4x
ISO 100
f8
1/200
Conversion to b & w in DPP.
Its the light that gives this image impact as a monochrome... softer light and it would not have worked as well, I like this treatment very much indeed...
I'm not too keen on this one if I'm honest. Not that there is anything wrong with the technique or quality of the image. It's just the black background doesn't quite work for me and I find one of the most appealing factors of this species is it's colour.
A good contrasty conversion though and the perch is very different.
Justin's point is exactly why I decided to post this, does a black and white photograph only work with a black and white subject? I actually don't think it does, as long as the subject has a strong pattern (the birds head in this case) which gives that graphical feel. The subject and perch were in low winter sun and the bg in shade, hence the dark bg, nothing more sinister
I have to say that this in my view would have been fine in colour, but don't know. Its the colour that makes bird shots a lot of the time . Monochrome buildings or landscapes maybe, but who am I ?
If you like it - that's all that matters really.
Cheers
John
Lewis,
Having had a second look and now seeing it compared to the colour version I can see the attraction of the black and white version and it becomes more appealing each time I look.
I hope my initial comment didn't come across as too harsh, it wasn't intended that way, just my initial impression and bearing in mind I could write all I know about B+W photography on the back of a postage stamp
No not at all Justin, just the sort of comments I am after, Im interested in and appreciate all opinions and I don't know much about b + w either, thats why I posted that version first.
Nice image(s). I like both but prefer the colour one as I feel that the black background in the b+w picture cuts into the edge of the subject too much. I think if you lighten it slightly so there is more edge detail this image would work better.
On balance I think the mono one just has the edge and works quite well.
I feel that the real issue here is that the dark background just does not suit the subject as it is a diurnal species in what looks a bit like a nighttime setting.
Discussion
12 repliesThanks for looking,
Lewis.
Canon 40D
Canon 500mm f4 IS + 1.4x
ISO 100
f8
1/200
Conversion to b & w in DPP.
A good contrasty conversion though and the perch is very different.
Justin's point is exactly why I decided to post this, does a black and white photograph only work with a black and white subject? I actually don't think it does, as long as the subject has a strong pattern (the birds head in this case) which gives that graphical feel. The subject and perch were in low winter sun and the bg in shade, hence the dark bg, nothing more sinister
Thanks again,
Lewis.
If you like it - that's all that matters really.
Cheers
John
Thanks John, I guess its just down to personal taste as with so many things on this forum. Here is the colour version, which I also like by the way
Lewis.
Having had a second look and now seeing it compared to the colour version I can see the attraction of the black and white version and it becomes more appealing each time I look.
I hope my initial comment didn't come across as too harsh, it wasn't intended that way, just my initial impression and bearing in mind I could write all I know about B+W photography on the back of a postage stamp
No not at all Justin, just the sort of comments I am after, Im interested in and appreciate all opinions and I don't know much about b + w either, thats why I posted that version first.
Lewis.
Tony
Nice image(s). I like both but prefer the colour one as I feel that the black background in the b+w picture cuts into the edge of the subject too much. I think if you lighten it slightly so there is more edge detail this image would work better.
Cheers
Ian
I feel that the real issue here is that the dark background just does not suit the subject as it is a diurnal species in what looks a bit like a nighttime setting.
Major.