Technique Question

[spockling]

I am looking for some advise on how this b/w conversion works or what I could have done either compositionally or in post to acheive a more pleasing image. This was shot while on holidays in Lge JPG(had to save room on card).
Original is available. Just ask. 0-;

The original-
http://lonepine.smugmug.com/photos/25908741-M.jpg

B/W version-
http://lonepine.smugmug.com/photos/25908736-M.jpg

Thanks for looking....

[wxwax]

Steve, my first thought is that the white is blown out inside the flower. My second is that by making this image Large, anyone with a 15" monitor can't see the entire shot at the same time, making it hard to discuss composition. Here it is as a Medium.

Having done that, I would be tempted to crop a little off the top to help emphasize the diagonal line from top right to bottom left.

I like the piccie, myself.

http://lonepine.smugmug.com/photos/25893571-M.jpg

I'm curious to hear what our illustrious membership has to say.

[mercphoto]

I am looking for some advise on how this b/w conversion works or what I could have done either compositionally or in post to acheive a more pleasing image. This was shot while on holidays in Lge JPG(had to save room on card).
Original is available. Just ask. 0-;

B/W version-
http://lonepine.smugmug.com/photos/25893571-S.jpg
I would try to make the stems and leaves that belong to the flowers stick out against the background. Since they are the same color as the background, this might require some masking. I don't know how to go about this, but is what I would strive to do.

The blown highlights are not a problme, IMHO. I've always been told that B&W needs a very wide dynamic range, including true whites and true blacks. Othewise its just a mess of grey.

[Khaos]

I think anyone with a 15" monitor needs to sell a lens and move up in the world.:D

[wxwax]

I think anyone with a 15" monitor needs to sell a lens and move up in the world.:D
Work monitor. :flip

[Khaos]

:noob Work monitor. :flip
:rofl OK, so for those of us, who at work want to review pics instead of working (that includes me) everyone should think we all have 15" monitors.:rofl

Actually my company gave me a 17".:D I have a laptop but dock it while at work. I'm special.:rolleyes

[Eric&Susan]

I think anyone with a 15" monitor needs to sell a lens and move up in the world.:D
HEY---I represent that comment.:rofl Stuck here on my lowly 15" home monitor:cry

Eric

[Mike Lane]

I am looking for some advise on how this b/w conversion works or what I could have done either compositionally or in post to acheive a more pleasing image. This was shot while on holidays in Lge JPG(had to save room on card).
Original is available. Just ask. 0-;

The original-
http://lonepine.smugmug.com/photos/25908741-M.jpg

B/W version-
http://lonepine.smugmug.com/photos/25908736-M.jpg

Thanks for looking....
It's very contrasty and sharp for such delicate flowers don't you think? I'd say take out some of the contrast (at least in the flower petals themselves if nothing else) and soften them up.

[Shay Stephens]

I think you are sacrificing mood and feeling for detail. "Use the force Luke, let go." Forget the details, and edit this for mood and see what you think.

[erich6]

The B&W works better for this shot. In converting to B&W using something like Photoshop try the Channel Mixer with 80% red and 20% green. This will emphasize the foliage.

Because of the subject, I think the composition would be better if you accentuate the curve by cropping more tighly and simplifying the composition. Try a low contrast/high key range where most of the tones are highlights to give it a more airy feel.

Erich

[Angelo]

Steve - there are a lot of comments about light and contrast etc etc... I agree with some of it but not well versed enough my self to help, however, what does catch my eye is the one flower at the left margin. If you cropped that one out leaving just the line of 4 blooms I think that might be a little better (IMHO) :thumb

[spockling]

Thanks everyone.

Here's another attempt.

http://lonepine.smugmug.com/photos/26632487-M.jpg

On this one I eliminated the flower at the bottom left corner and cropped it quite tight. Too tight? I wasn't able to do anything with the blown area inside the flower. I tried to bring out some of the detail of the flower by working with tones and not any sharpening. I'm struggling with the modd aspect of this. I understand what needs to be done, but I'm having difficulty expressing that in the picture. My thought was to make the flowers stand out saying "look at me!" I know it's not perfect, tonality of the flower ebing blotchy, but am I going in the right direction?

[Angelo]

Thanks everyone.

Here's another attempt.

http://lonepine.smugmug.com/photos/26632487-M.jpg

On this one I eliminated the flower at the bottom left corner and cropped it quite tight. Too tight? I wasn't able to do anything with the blown area inside the flower. I tried to bring out some of the detail of the flower by working with tones and not any sharpening. I'm struggling with the modd aspect of this. I understand what needs to be done, but I'm having difficulty expressing that in the picture. My thought was to make the flowers stand out saying "look at me!" I know it's not perfect, tonality of the flower ebing blotchy, but am I going in the right direction?
Possibly a bit too tight but definitely a better version IMHO. :thumb

[erich6]

If you'd like I can post a high-key version and see what that looks like. It won't necessarily look great because it's done with post-processing but it will give you an idea of what you can achieve if you set up the shot for it.

Erich

[spockling]

If you'd like I can post a high-key version and see what that looks like. It won't necessarily look great because it's done with post-processing but it will give you an idea of what you can achieve if you set up the shot for it.

Erich

Go for it.

[erich6]

Here it is.