A few years ago I hiked Haystack Mountain on Mermorial Day. Today I found what I hope is the right application, going with Black & White. The color version is actually very nice but the late spring dusty, red snow just killed it for me.
You're looking at the fantastic Mount Daly and Capitol Peak with the Capitol Creek drainage on the right.
Comments and critique welcome, as always Thank You.
Very, very nice, Kane. A great mountain scene, and it's a nice idea to minimize the dust effect by going into B&W.
If you don't mind some minor suggestions, I'd make the following tweaks:
[1] Bring down the upper right corner to where it matches the upper left corner.
[2] Bring town the left side a touch; with the dark patch of trees in the middle-right, it feels a little unbalanced.
[3] Accentuate the high peaks by making them a touch brighter and a touch more contrasty.
[4] Accentuate the cirrus clouds in the upper left by bringing them up a bit.
[5] Accentuate the Z-shape along the leading ridgeline by adding a touch of contrast and one or two points brighter.
Sorry if that's too specific. I'm not talking about wholesale changes -- just a few points here and there in curves to balance out the image and direct the viewer's eyes. Subtly, though. You want to lead them, not force them. It's a great shot.
For me, a successful b&w image is one in which I don't even care to see a color version.
This is a successful b&w mage, Kane. Great range of tones and a beautiful landscape here. In fact, it's so good that I think some subtle dodging/burning here and there could make this great. Really fine work, sir.
Well, here's another version. I took the suggestions of others and applied them to this version that has a little different comp, and lighting. Although similar, which do you prefer?
I think I prefer the first composition, Kane. The stronger shapes in the foreground of the second stop me a bit, and don't lead as nicely into the Z of the ridgeline. I feel like it has less motion into the image.
I agree with Mark. The boulders are almost too large, interrupting the 'flow' and competing a bit too much with that beautiful mountain scenery. To my eye, the clouds in the first image are more complementary, too.
Although the second image seems to provide for more depth for me, iI would agree with others that the boulders in the foreground dominate a bit too much. Other than that, the is a very nice B&W. Actually inspires me to go back to a few images I have and convert them. I find it interesting most folks who are not photographers are not as interested in B&W. Maybe its because photographers are so in tune with light and tone?
Posted by Art Escobado on May 15, 2012 at 11:38 PM
Discussion
17 repliesYou're looking at the fantastic Mount Daly and Capitol Peak with the Capitol Creek drainage on the right.
Comments and critique welcome, as always Thank You.
Kane
If you don't mind some minor suggestions, I'd make the following tweaks:
[1] Bring down the upper right corner to where it matches the upper left corner.
[2] Bring town the left side a touch; with the dark patch of trees in the middle-right, it feels a little unbalanced.
[3] Accentuate the high peaks by making them a touch brighter and a touch more contrasty.
[4] Accentuate the cirrus clouds in the upper left by bringing them up a bit.
[5] Accentuate the Z-shape along the leading ridgeline by adding a touch of contrast and one or two points brighter.
Sorry if that's too specific. I'm not talking about wholesale changes -- just a few points here and there in curves to balance out the image and direct the viewer's eyes. Subtly, though. You want to lead them, not force them. It's a great shot.
This is a successful b&w mage, Kane. Great range of tones and a beautiful landscape here. In fact, it's so good that I think some subtle dodging/burning here and there could make this great. Really fine work, sir.
Kane