by
MichelB » Wed Jan 30, 2008 2:52 pm
Don,
About B&W conversion methods:
I think my tries may mislead newcomers to B&W. The secret is not technical methods. If you find a few of those give good results for this image, for others photos they won't be satisfying.
And I did not mention the one most suited to the creative painters here: dodging and burning, often called 'paint with light'. With some art and patience, you can get exactly what you wish for every picture, and it is generally a good final editing after other conversions. See my other post about the road: not necessarily better, but an example of how you can change an image.
viewtopic.php?f=7&t=1711As you already mentioned, seeing in black and white is the first requirement.
Then you have to start with a good distribution of tones (levels, curves...)
Taking advantage of the colors already present in the image is what most conversion actions or techniques offer. Channels, hue/sat adjustments, even in ACR... This is true for landscapes as well as portraits.
Adding 'pop' by using USM or highpass gives local contrast enhancement.
Adding a vignette to concentrate on the subject is common.
And once you are familiar with paint with light, you'll use it on about every image. That's what Ansel Adams and other masters did
