Black and White

[Second Hand Pat]

Does this bird get lost in this sea of plants. Played with this silly image all morning.

https://c8.staticflickr.com/6/5657/30206136143_0af93d9c65_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/N2dkUK)DSC_1111-11 (https://flic.kr/p/N2dkUK)

[RogueDiscus]

I'm no photo expert, but the plants are a bit "noisy". I'd also like to see the log better.

[pitdogg2]

I'm no photo expert, but the plants are a bit "noisy". I'd also like to see the log better.

yep i concur. To me at first it looked the bird Cormorant I believe was either sliding to a stop or dancing for its mate... Then you had to go and mention a log and well yep it is a log and it is drying off. I've seen sharper black and white pictures with more definition for sure.

[Second Hand Pat]

I'm no photo expert, but the plants are a bit "noisy". I'd also like to see the log better.

Share the same concerns Steve :)
Pat

[Second Hand Pat]

yep i concur. To me at first it looked the bird Cormorant I believe was either sliding to a stop or dancing for its mate... Then you had to go and mention a log and well yep it is a log and it is drying off. I've seen sharper black and white pictures with more definition for sure.

If you zoom in the sharpness is there but just too much clutter. Oh well.
Pat

[Second Hand Pat]

Same scene but different photo. Works better in color.

https://c6.staticflickr.com/6/5339/30822336885_1d1583dcc0_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/NXEwVt)DSC_1117 (https://flic.kr/p/NXEwVt)

[LizStreithorst]

I'm afraid that I agree with everyone else.

[Second Hand Pat]

I'm afraid that I agree with everyone else.

Thanks Liz, me too. :D
Pat

[SMB2]

I think the image is a bit "monotone" so that makes for a tough B&W.
Also there is a lot there that does not add to the image. I see a vertical crop.
I was up at 0 dark hundred this morning for some photography so I'm a little tired to type out what I would try. So I will post two attempts. If you don't want me processing your image, let me know and I will take it down or you can! :~)
103805

103806


(My version looks darker on posting compared to LR.)

[LizStreithorst]

I'm impressed, Stan. You have a good eye. I hope that Pat has this shot saved as RAW.

[Second Hand Pat]

Stan, I really like the crop on the second image :) and it looks pretty good as a B&W. I never mind you processing my images. It is a good teaching tool. I would almost be tempted to keep a little of the top.

[Second Hand Pat]

I'm impressed, Stan. You have a good eye. I hope that Pat has this shot saved as RAW.

I only process my images from the raw file Liz. :)

[SMB2]

I was always taught that a good B&W needs good blacks and good whites! This B&W has a lot of gray and it makes it hard if there are no "good" whites to process it.

Pat will remember this pair from St. Augustine, and she was standing not five feet away when I took this shot. It just won a B&W award and the judge's comment was that it had great blacks and whites! Sometimes I just can't get that in a conversion without some part looking processed and sometimes I see an image that I feel will really make a great B&W. I bet there are some folks who are a little more creative that myself who could get the Anhinga to pop.

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[Second Hand Pat]

This is awesome Stan and woodstorks are such a good B&W subject. I do not recall this particular pose but wish I did.
Pat

[Second Hand Pat]

Here's one attempt. I kept a bit on the top but similar crop to Stan's

https://c3.staticflickr.com/6/5568/30735369042_bd64a9da93_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/NPYNpU)DSC_1117-2 (https://flic.kr/p/NPYNpU)

[LizStreithorst]

I'm sorry Pat but this is not a good choice for a B&W pic. The leaves are just too distracting. The picture requires color. (Just my know nothing silly opinion)

[Second Hand Pat]

I'm sorry Pat but this is not a good choice for a B&W pic. The leaves are just too distracting. The picture requires color. (Just my know nothing silly opinion)

Liz, you do not need to be a photographer to know what you like or dislike in a photo or any other art form. In this particular regard I think most people will agree with you. :) Stan, Matt, Ricardo (or others) could offer up suggestions which might help or not. For example Stan's crop placed most of the annoying vegetation in the background and placed the bird up front. My last attempt was to lightening the foreground and darken the background to help move the eye deeper into the image but the eye gets caught in the vegetation.
Pat

[rickztahone]

Same scene but different photo. Works better in color.

https://c6.staticflickr.com/6/5339/30822336885_1d1583dcc0_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/NXEwVt)DSC_1117 (https://flic.kr/p/NXEwVt)

B&W is a hard sell for this shot. The color one is a little better but it is harsh light as you already know. I'd subdue the highlights and that may help. I'd also crop in on the color one.

[brewmaster15]

Pat,
I think Stans Points are spot on and his crop definitely helps here. In traditional black and white film you would use filters to help with the contrast and imply colors and shades. Modern digital cameras can make a good grey scale image but its often all or nothing. One thing you may be able to do is play with the images colors before converting to black and white. This is overkill but something like this is possible...


103843

I used linux darktable on your original image so I am sure you could do better with Raw..


Since you are in Florida, if you ever get a chance, you must check out Clyde Butcher's shop or just look up his work.. He is one of the best at capturing Florida and natural scenery in general in my opinion, kind of a personal hero for me.
https://clydebutcher.com/
al

[Second Hand Pat]

Thanks Al, lightening the plants did occur to me. I think the log under the bird may need to be darkened also. Love Clyde's work. :D
Pat

[SMB2]

Since you are in Florida, if you ever get a chance, you must check out Clyde Butcher's shop or just look up his work.. He is one of the best at capturing Florida and natural scenery in general in my opinion, kind of a personal hero for me.
https://clydebutcher.com/
al

Had a chance to meet him many years back at Corkscrew Swamp in Fla. Have a signed copy of one of his books on my desk. His B&W images are inspiring and I have always been a big fan.

So Pat, there you are sitting in his playground...we expect big things!

[Second Hand Pat]

al

Had a chance to meet him many years back at Corkscrew Swamp in Fla. Have a signed copy of one of his books on my desk. His B&W images are inspiring and I have always been a big fan.

So Pat, there you are sitting in his playground...we expect big things!

Holy Cow Stan. Talk about large shoes and I am still wet behind the ears :D
Pat

[brewmaster15]

Thanks Al, lightening the plants did occur to me. I think the log under the bird may need to be darkened also. Love Clyde's work. :D
Pat

Hi Pat,

Just to explain a bit more I didnt lighten the plants really. I changed the white balence...similar to if I had placed a color filter over the lens in traditional black and white photography. By doing that you can really change the way the lmage looks when you convert to black and white.

Hth,
Al