Posted by Jesse Speer on February 9, 2011 at 3:55 PM
This photo was captured during my 2007 fall trip along Kebler Pass Road, CO. It's going to be the centerpiece of a new b/w portfolio I'm working on — centered around light/shadow play within mountain scenes.
This is obviously very dark ... this was my artistic intent. Any comments/critique are welcome!
Jesse, this is a beautiful shot and excellent B&W conversion. I don't mind the dark feel at all on B&W images. That said there are a couple of small areas that seem to be completely in darkness. As you said it is a personal preference thing, but if it was my shot I would try to bring back just a hint of detail in these areas to bring them back a tad. The LRC and just above treeline on the left. This is a fantastic scene though and well worthy of being a centerpiece.
Posted by Dan Walters on February 9, 2011 at 4:24 PM
Very nice! Really like the dark shadows.
Posted by Brian Jackson on February 9, 2011 at 4:28 PM
Great shot. Tough to tell from a compressed jpeg. I'm sure the full print out brings some small details out in the darkness that on a computer monitor looks a little too dark for me.
Great work.
Posted by Phillip Noll on February 9, 2011 at 4:38 PM
Holy moly! That has to be the most dramatic and coolest black and white I've ever seen! I love it! Beautifully done, Jesse!
Posted by Jesse Speer on February 9, 2011 at 4:46 PM
Thanks for chiming in fellas!
I should add to my initial comments, the darkest areas are intended to be black - with no detail. My philosophy has changed much in recent years. I like to leave something to the imagination - stripping out as much as possible from my comps. Therefore, I often care more about REMOVING details instead of preserving them. I realize this artistic choice is not a popular one.
That said, Koveh thanks for bringing up the LRC. It is kind of a dead area - compared to the nearby trees. I may bring back some tone/detail there.
Posted by Jesse Speer on February 9, 2011 at 4:55 PM
"Mountain Shadows" may be a better name for the series ... stilling nailing that down ...
Both are stunning and I like where you're headed with the less literal approach. In film days, we embraced dark shadows to define edges. Now, we seem to crave detail everywhere. I can't wait to see more.
Posted by Todd Caudle on February 9, 2011 at 6:22 PM
Really awesome stuff, Jesse. Can't wait to see more of the series. The Hermit Pass shot you added is even better than the Kebler shot, and that's saying something. Negative space can be a wonderful thing.
Posted by Paul Martin on February 9, 2011 at 6:26 PM
Jesse, I think they're both fantastic. I can fully appreciate your desire to create a dark feel and leave something to the imagination -- as you put it. I'm a big fan of dark and moody-- nice work!
Posted by Art Escobado on February 9, 2011 at 6:29 PM
The second shot REEKS...of Awesomeness!!
On the first shot...which is a very powerful image in its own right, I wish to see more of the image to the right. The first image seems compositionally truncated to my eye.
Posted by John Mumaw on February 9, 2011 at 6:38 PM
I about fell out of my chair when I saw that first one...it had that much impact. Same for the second.
I actually like the amount of pure black you have here. Those areas are perfectly balanced with the brighter tones. The 'development' itself is impressive in the fact that I can't tell that anything was done, which is a gold standard for me.
This is some mighty impressive b&w work here, Jesse. There's a long deceased b&w master from California who would be suitably impressed, I'm sure.
Posted by Lance Burch on February 9, 2011 at 7:01 PM
These are awesome. Not sure which I lke better. Probably 2 because of the depth, but 1 rocks too.
Posted by Jeremy Week on February 9, 2011 at 7:56 PM
Very powerful image Jesse! Love it, don't change a thing!!
Posted by Bert Fukuda on February 9, 2011 at 8:05 PM
Really beautiful work Jesse. I actually like the dark tones and the lighting is fantastic!!
Outstanding! Both are powerful images. Very nice work Jesse.
Posted by Scott Fricke on February 9, 2011 at 8:49 PM
I like the concept you have for these images, and fantastic work on both of these Jesse, can't wait to see the rest of the collection! Are you using any software other than PS for these?
There is a lot of drama and impact in both of these. Interesting where your vision is leading you. Keep pushing that artistic envelope, Jesse!
Posted by Anne K. Rusk on February 9, 2011 at 9:54 PM
I really like the spotlight effect you have going on in both of these. The impact and ruggedness of the peaks is expressed so well in the B&W treatment with the light you captured. Maybe "mountain spotlight" as a title!
Posted by Joseph Kayne on February 9, 2011 at 10:07 PM
Posted by Kalin Wilson on February 9, 2011 at 10:25 PM
Awesome! I love dark, moody images like these! Keep em coming!
Posted by Jeremy Kessler on February 9, 2011 at 11:21 PM
Both are stunning!
Posted by Paul Wegemann on February 9, 2011 at 11:23 PM
These are drop dead gorgeous images, Jesse! I am beyond impressed. Seeing work like this really makes me rethink where I want to go with my photography.
Posted by Jack Garrett on February 10, 2011 at 12:36 AM
I didn't know Ansel Adams was posting on this forum...oh wait, it Jesse Speer! These are just amazing..I'm so used to seeing color landscapes that it is especially nice to see a well thought, well processed image. I'm in awe of your artistic impression.
Posted by Jesse Speer on February 10, 2011 at 12:47 AM
Thank you all for adding something here today. Very encouraging and helpful, to say the least. #2 is more powerful than I realized ... as I see #1 as the best image I've made to date.
Scott, I've been a huge fan of Nik SilverEfex for years. It's a must own, in my book.
Paul, "rethinking" is GOOD. I am constantly doing this.
Posted by Nathan Buck on February 10, 2011 at 12:57 AM
Incredible Jesse. I love the look that you have achieved.
Nathan
Posted by Jimmy Gekas on February 10, 2011 at 1:17 AM
AWESOME! You're killing all of us. Jerk.
Posted by Bret Edge on February 10, 2011 at 2:39 AM
I can only muster "WOW!"
Posted by Jack Brauer on February 10, 2011 at 7:52 AM
Love them! The pitch black shadows are great.
Posted by Doug Koepsel on February 10, 2011 at 10:05 AM
These are real stunners to me. I like your sharp contrast.
In 1, I am drawn to the lit slope of aspens and the now ominouus looking clouds. The dark LRC plays into the processing and image.
In 2, I like that there is enough light to still see some detail in the distant ridges, but still have that high contrast.
Posted by Don Grall on February 10, 2011 at 12:19 PM
When I saw the 1st one, I said "Wow, awesome light", then I saw the 2nd one and words stopped coming out of my mouth (brain freeze)!
Simply stunning work, my friend! Now when someone asks about if HDR is the wave of the future, I can point him your way and respond with "I sure hope not!"
Posted by Grant Collier on February 10, 2011 at 2:50 PM
Not much I can add here, so I'll just say
Posted by John Mumaw on February 10, 2011 at 5:59 PM
"Now when someone asks about if HDR is the wave of the future, I can point him your way and respond with "I sure hope not!"
Discussion
40 repliesThis is obviously very dark ... this was my artistic intent. Any comments/critique are welcome!
Great work.
I should add to my initial comments, the darkest areas are intended to be black - with no detail. My philosophy has changed much in recent years. I like to leave something to the imagination - stripping out as much as possible from my comps. Therefore, I often care more about REMOVING details instead of preserving them. I realize this artistic choice is not a popular one.
That said, Koveh thanks for bringing up the LRC. It is kind of a dead area - compared to the nearby trees. I may bring back some tone/detail there.
Here's another, for context ...
On the first shot...which is a very powerful image in its own right, I wish to see more of the image to the right. The first image seems compositionally truncated to my eye.
I actually like the amount of pure black you have here. Those areas are perfectly balanced with the brighter tones. The 'development' itself is impressive in the fact that I can't tell that anything was done, which is a gold standard for me.
This is some mighty impressive b&w work here, Jesse. There's a long deceased b&w master from California who would be suitably impressed, I'm sure.
Scott, I've been a huge fan of Nik SilverEfex for years. It's a must own, in my book.
Paul, "rethinking" is GOOD. I am constantly doing this.
Nathan
In 1, I am drawn to the lit slope of aspens and the now ominouus looking clouds. The dark LRC plays into the processing and image.
In 2, I like that there is enough light to still see some detail in the distant ridges, but still have that high contrast.
Simply stunning work, my friend! Now when someone asks about if HDR is the wave of the future, I can point him your way and respond with "I sure hope not!"