Yet another image from last weekend’s trip to Sandy Hook, NJ. I was drawn to this scene by the way the ice had formed on the rocks. After getting home and processing the image, I found that I wasn’t really pleased with what I had. There was, believe it or not, too much blue. Blue sky, blue water, it all seemed to detract from the ice on the rocks. So I decided to work on a black and white conversion and this is what I came up with.
I use Nik Viveza and Color Efex Pro to whiten the whites and brighten the brights. Then I went into Silver Efex Pro to make the conversion beginning with the “high structure” preset and making adjustments from there. Finally, I added a yellow filter to the black and white conversion with the final result what you see here.
Image made with my Canon 50D; 24-70mm f/2.8L lens; and tripod.
Great image! I think it was a good decision to convert to b&w. I like the contrast, makes the ice really pop.
My goodness! The snow looks like frosting on the rocks. Cold and bold black and white.
Hi Ed,
Though I feel the image is well done technically and I like the composition, I don’t particularly like the amount of “High Structure” applied. That function is very similar to the “tonal contrast” function in Color Efex Pro and can be applied too aggressively. The snow on the rocks looks almost like cake frosting due to the high amount of detail and contrast presented… a bit unnatural.
Some Photoshop plugins remind me of the bass, treble and loudness controls on older stereo hifi equipment. How easy it was back in the 60’s and 70’s while listening to rock music at high levels, to turn the bass and treble controls all the way to the right and push the loudness button in. That sizzling treble and thumping bass were entrancing. The only problem was that one was so overwhelmed with the audio assault that all the subtle nuances were lost.
Hey Richard,
Interesting comment about “over-structured”. In Color Efex, I used the “white something or other” filter to whiten and brighten the ice and remove some of the dinginess. When I selected the “high structure” preset in Silver Efex, the first thing I did was to back off on both structure and contrast. Maybe not quite enough.
I would hasten to add that the rather unique ice formations were what attracted me to that particular area.
I see what Richard means, but I like the effect–it gives the image a bit of a graphic design look. I especially like the repeating pattern of shapes in this image–snow, ice, rocks. The conversion to B&W helps the viewer focus on the shapes. I like it!!!
I like it very much like this Ed… The post-treatment is perfect and the depth incredible!!
I don’t agree with Richard. I like the effect that your image has. High Structure, as he calls it, works well in this image. Like that you converted to B&W. Well done!
This has such great lines, those hulking shapes, the contrasts in tones. I like the effect. Looks cold, yes?
I am torn. There is a tendency to amp up the controls and boost contrast, saturation and whatnot in images. I think that is part of the appeal of certain photographs. Just like the trend of HDR photos, that look unintentionally unnatural.
Most people seem to love it though, probably because it differs so much from the way we see the world and from the way we are used to photography.
I consider it a sign of the times though. Similar discussions allegedly raged against color film and HDR when they became standard.
Personally I have started experimenting with some of my older pictures again. I am amazed how far software has come and what can be done, and by the creativity these tools can afford.
I like the picture above!
Ed,
And what I should have included in my statement though neglected to was that I wouldn’t want my viewpoint to sway you from your path. In the end, the way the image is presented is entirely up to you… it’s how you alone see the world. That uniqueness is what’s to be celebrated in my opinion.
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