| Author | Thread |
|
|
01/20/2006 08:32:11 PM · #1 |
There are as many ways to convert an image to b&w as there are DPC members. So what makes a b&w image a good b&w image instead of an average or 'bad' one?
High contrast?
Black blacks, white whites?
Skin tones?
If I have 2 or 4 or 10 versions of an image to choose from, how i do i decide which one is the right one?
Please discuss....
|
|
|
|
01/20/2006 08:39:48 PM · #2 |
I think the one with the most "depth" of tone to it works best, but this usually actually means a duotone....
I can't stand extremely low contrast images, actually having black and white in there is a plus for me, rather than all shades of grey. |
|
|
|
01/20/2006 08:41:39 PM · #3 |
Wow! Tough Question. A lot depends on your subject and what kind of treatment you want to give the shot.
Do you want to mimick a IR effect?
What colors do you want to be black or various shades of grey?
Do you want to simulate various B&W filters in the conversion.
Simply put there is no single answer to this question. Every photo deserves individual treatment.
|
|
|
|
01/20/2006 08:54:42 PM · #4 |
I think that this all goes back to personal preference.
One MAJOR caveat when dealing with B&W in digital: Depending upon your monitor, an image can look massively different. I like B&W a lot, and many of my entries here are in B&W and I have noticed via comments and scores that this is the case. What looks good to me at home may look muddy or flat at work, even though both monitors are set similarly (with high brightness and high contrast).
I have found that quadtones (or tritones or duotones) can add a lot of depth, sometimes surprizingly so, to a B&W photo. It is just a fun setting to play with.
Also, once an image is converted, curves and levels really strut their stuff. You can push a B&W photo, in my opinion, with levels and curves MUCH further than you can with a color photo, as the color will give away drastic moves. Also, I find B&W to be more forgiving with dodge and burn.
So, back to your question, I think it is all a matter of taste. Most people seem to think like wavelength in that you should run the gammut from pure white to pure black. Lots of times, that's true. However, I've seen very interesting shots that were isolated more on one end of the other. An example is from the Black on Black challenge:
but that is again, up to you. Experiment and see what you like. Chances are, someone else will like it, too.
|
|
|
|
01/20/2006 08:56:23 PM · #5 |
It's true that there is no "single answer" to this question, in the sense that any given image may or may not support a particular B/W "interpretation". However, there is a sort of "gold standard" bur B/W printing and it is called the "zone system".
A classic zone system print contains all the tonalities between pure white and pure black, with every area within the print where detail; is important falling at least one zone inside of pure white or pure black. Such prints are characterized by a rich, lush feel to them. They are visually very pleasing to nearly all viewers, this has been "proven". I'll see if I can dig up the study that did so, but I last saw it back in the 70's I believe and have no idea if I can find it online.
R. |
|
|
|
01/20/2006 08:58:31 PM · #6 |
Im with you on the personal preference thing.... what may work on one image may not be right for another... what mood are you going for in an image.... sharp and hi contrast or soft and moody.... is there really right or wrong in artistic impression? Some love my 2005 entry and others do not.... cant please the masses... so I make myself happy.
|
|
|
|
01/20/2006 08:59:29 PM · #7 |
//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zone_system
Originally posted by Bear_Music:
A classic zone system print contains all the tonalities between pure white and pure black, with every area within the print where detail; is important falling at least one zone inside of pure white or pure black. Such prints are characterized by a rich, lush feel to them. They are visually very pleasing to nearly all viewers, this has been "proven". I'll see if I can dig up the study that did so, but I last saw it back in the 70's I believe and have no idea if I can find it online.
R. |
|
|
|
|
01/20/2006 09:09:06 PM · #8 |
I believe it is really a matter of taste when it comes to photography. For example, I do like my blacks and whites to be there and I feel that nik Color Efex Pro 2.0 does the job for me. However, converting colour --> b/w can be done through the PS Channel Mixer which will give you good greys, fairly good blacks and whites - generally a balanced picture. On top of this, playing a bit with Levels, Curves, dodge/burn one can get a very good result.
Constantinos |
|
|
|
01/20/2006 09:19:59 PM · #9 |
Take a look at this great website with B & W photos
//www.jesseyoung.com/photo/ |
|
|
|
01/20/2006 09:24:59 PM · #10 |
|
|
|
01/20/2006 09:34:50 PM · #11 |
I like B&W's with some drama. I like rich blacks, but with a complete tonal range in the print.
|
|
|
|
01/20/2006 09:56:31 PM · #12 |
Originally posted by Prof_Fate:
Skin tones? |
I find this confusing. Skin tone to me is a particular color.... you know a pinky sort of ... well SKIN!!!
So how can B+W have SKIN color/tone? Those two terms seem mutually exclusive to me. |
|
|
|
01/20/2006 10:04:45 PM · #13 |
Skin is a vary hard subject to nail a particular greyscale value to. As people range in color from very light-skinned to very dark-skinned these values would have to be evaluated by subject.
Also, you must consider the topography of the subjects skin. Is the skin smooth or does the subject have deep wrinkles? With a wrinkled subject, you may have skin values ranging several stops.
|
|
|
|
01/20/2006 10:48:46 PM · #14 |
Originally posted by Beetle:
Originally posted by Prof_Fate:
Skin tones? |
I find this confusing. Skin tone to me is a particular color.... you know a pinky sort of ... well SKIN!!!
So how can B+W have SKIN color/tone? Those two terms seem mutually exclusive to me. |
There is an important distinction to be made between color and tone.
Hue is the primary attribute of color. Hues come in many different tones (e.g., light green and dark green).
Tone refers to the amount of black or white in a color.
Color is a combination of hue and tone.
Tone and color are distinct. Black and white images are composed purely of tones without any hues. |
|
Home -
Challenges -
Community -
League -
Photos -
Cameras -
Lenses -
Learn -
Help -
Terms of Use -
Privacy -
Top ^
DPChallenge, and website content and design, Copyright © 2001-2025 Challenging Technologies, LLC.
All digital photo copyrights belong to the photographers and may not be used without permission.
Current Server Time: 04/03/2025 10:38:33 AM EDT.
