Help! B&W or color??

[zoomer]

City of Rocks Idaho. Winter, snow on the ground.
Which do you prefer?

http://miker1.smugmug.com/photos/147435540-O.jpg


http://miker1.smugmug.com/photos/147435535-O.jpg

[Tanuki]

City of Rocks Idaho. Winter, snow on the ground.
Which do you prefer?

I prefer the color version. I like the varying bands of color as you move from the foreground rocks to the scrub bushes to the trees to the mountains and finally to the sky. This gives the color version more depth than the b&w version.

It's a great shot. One minor suggestion though, both versions could benefit from resetting your black point.

[SloYerRoll]

I think you'll have more sucess w/ b&w.
Try doing the tut here (http://dgrin.smugmug.com/gallery/1126557) as a start.

There's a ton of contrast in this shot so you'll probably see some really nice results if you play around w/ the sliders.

[zoomer]

I think you'll have more sucess w/ b&w.
Try doing the tut here (http://dgrin.smugmug.com/gallery/1126557) as a start.

There's a ton of contrast in this shot so you'll probably see some really nice results if you play around w/ the sliders.

Thanks for taking a look and commenting.
I reset the black point it darkened it just a smidge, not much difference.
I only have elements 4.
Appreciate you fooks taking the time to provide tips.

[Tanuki]

Thanks for taking a look and commenting.
I reset the black point it darkened it just a smidge, not much difference.
I only have elements 4.
Appreciate you fooks taking the time to provide tips.

After looking at your image with PSE5, I see what you mean. Your black point is fine. I guess what I should have suggested is to darken the midtones. You can do this with the Levels adjustment and setting the midtone to a value less than 1.0.

[zoomer]

After looking at your image with PSE5, I see what you mean. Your black point is fine. I guess what I should have suggested is to darken the midtones. You can do this with the Levels adjustment and setting the midtone to a value less than 1.0.

I will give it a look.
Thanks for the suggestion. I did brighten it just a bit as it was too dark, maybe I went a bit to far.
Appreciate your taking the time to respond.

[dkoyanagi]

I will give it a look.
Thanks for the suggestion. I did brighten it just a bit as it was too dark, maybe I went a bit to far.
Appreciate your taking the time to respond.
Hi Zoomer

Hope you don't mind, but I tried my own conversion on your photo.

http://dkoyanagi.smugmug.com/photos/147735703-L.jpg

1. I used the Hue/Sat layer method to convert to b&w. The result is very similar to yours but I think it separates the trees from the brush a little better, especially the tree on the left.

Info on hue/sat: http://www.blackandwhitedigital.com/Convert/Manual/hue.html

2. Next I adjusted the midtones using levels. This brought out the foregound detail but made the peak on the left too dark. To fix this I used a gradient fill mask on the levels layer to limit it to the foreground.

Info on levels:
http://www.blackandwhitedigital.com/Enhance/levels.html

3. Next I used the "slightly warm midtones" action to get rid of the blue cast.

Slightly Warm Midtones action can be found here:
http://www.atncentral.com/download.htm#Mikes_Black_and_White_Tone_Actions

4. Finally I used Curves adjustment to increase overall contrast.

[GraphyFotoz]

Gosh I'd hafta say the color one.
It's most impressive! :thumb

[merg5418]

[quote=zoomer]City of Rocks Idaho. Winter, snow on the ground.
Which do you prefer?

The color works better for me. My eyes are drawn through the image by the change in color, where the foreground tends to capture my eyes in the black and white image.

[rundadar]

To me - the colour wins easily (here). The interesting discussion re: the finer points of B&W conversion is indeed interesting but (again - for ME) misses the point - the colour version is just about perfect already - don't touch it. Print it and frame it!

Well done!

[Skywatch]

The subtle colors within the hills are amazing....cant tell if it is haze or rock..play with the sat. a bit....Great shot.