blk/wht try C&C

ilbcnu

Hi All,
I truly enjoy blk wht images but don't quite get mine where I want. I thought I would give this a shot..probably not the best original as the dog is gray, reddish and white but in the last couple of weeks I find myself drawn to reflections and do like this one. What do you think? I also rec. a huey for christmas and have tried to calibrate my laptop so too light/dark?
Thanks for C&C

jjbong

Nice concept. The fur on the "real" dog seems blown out in a number of places. Did you create it from a color shot? If so, could you post the original color version?

ilbcnu

thanks for looking - this is the original only processing on this is cropping

SciurusNiger

Why don't you simply make the whole reflection B&W? The dog is so beautifully colored by the light, it would be a shame to lose it. IMHO, anyway.

jjbong

ilbcnu wrote:

thanks for looking - this is the original only processing on this is cropping

There is at least one thread on converting to B&W images (a technique that is quite useful in getting the right contrast in color images, by the way):

http://dgrin.com/showthread.php?t=53842

Using this technique, I did this to the color photo:



Just a bit of channel blending, some curves, and shadow/highlight. You can adjust the contrast to taste (if you find this too contrasty). I think it brings out more fur detail.

Converting this to greyscale gives this:

pathfinder

jjbong wrote:

There is at least one thread on converting to B&W images (a technique that is quite useful in getting the right contrast in color images, by the way):

John, there is a sticky full of B&W conversion threads at the first link at the top of this forum

Nice conversions, but I think I prefer the color version for this image

ilbcnu

Thank you for the replies. John I like your color and conversion, I can see that I need to learn to not "over convert" I just keep working the image and miss what I think I was looking for- if that makes sense.
I too like the color version. I tried to remove the red between the reflection and the dog but when I did it removed too much red on the real dog fur...any suggestions there?
Thanks again for all help!:D

ilbcnu

after thinking about it for awhile...layers d"oh thats how I could get the red out...
Thanks again for all the help/advice!!

pathfinder

You can also desaturate the reds in RAW conversion in ARC or LR2

jjbong

I assume that you mean making the red pole and its reflection less eye-catching. Is this what you're looking for?



I did the equivalent of what Pathfinder suggested, but a little differently. I desaturated in LAB, and limited it's effect (on a different layer) using Blend-If to limit it to the redder parts of the image (which are the pole and its reflection).

ilbcnu

Yes that was what I was looking for in the color version!!! I am going to give it a try-
Thank You I really like it now without the bold red down middle.

pathfinder

Nicely done, John!

jjbong

ilbcnu wrote:

Yes that was what I was looking for in the color version!!! I am going to give it a try-
Thank You I really like it now without the bold red down middle.

Here's how to do it. Basically you can desaturate the A channel (only) in LAB, since you're only interested in desaturating Reds. Then you use Blend-If to limit this to the more saturated reds (technically, magentas).

Take the image you like (either your original or mine with the contrast enhanced, or some other).

1. Go into LAB (Image->Mode->LAB)
2. Duplicate the Layer and select the top layer
3. On the Top Layer select the A channel (you can then click on LAB to make everything
visible)

4. Image->Apply Image
Select the A channel from the Background layer, inverted, Overlay mode

Overlaying the A or B channel's inverse onto itself desaturates the colors it represents. You can control the desaturation with Opacity, but there's no need to do that here.
5. Double click on the top layer to get to the Layer Style dialog.
6. Select the A channel for Blend-If and set the sliders for the Underlying Channel to limit the
layer to higher A values (more saturated magentas):

You can watch the image as you move the bottom black slider from left to right to see the value where the pole starts to go back to its more saturated color, and back off from that. Then Alt-click the slider to split it, and put a "transition" range in so sort of blur the effect.
7. Image->Mode->RGB and you're done.

ilbcnu

John Thank You...I was trying to find my books as I couldn't remember blend IF -
I am printing this post for future reference!!

ilbcnu

Well, I tried again with all the info from John and pathfinder. For some reason I really like the reflection so trying to bring out best of this image.
If nothing else I sure have learned alot working it!! Thanks again.
C&C welcome.

RovingEyePhoto

Wow, what a great thread to learn from. I have a ton of B&W conversions planned for this winter, first tries. This thread alone gives so much to think about. I've read about various conversion methods, don't know which I'll use, but it'll be in CS3, that's what I have, would be a sin not to use it. Beyond that, I'm an blank page.