...and I mentioned that when I was photographing I had the camera set to record both a DNG file (the color version) and a large Jpeg file (the B&W version). Instead of using the color controls in Lightroom to make conversions from the color files it was my intention to use the direct-from-camera black and white Jpegs when making a gallery. And that's what I've done here.
Some of the shots may look familiar because they are captured at the same instant to the camera but each version is representative of either the DNG file or the Jpeg.
I have applied a basic preset to them because the one thing I think most out-of-camera black and white images need is a bit more contrast --- especially in the middle ranges of the tone scale. That, and a bit of opening for the shadows --- which is handily taken care of with the shadow recovery slider in LR.
I figured that since I was capturing in B&W and seeing the potential images in B&W in the EVF it would be a good idea to share them with you. There's a lot of detail in the files so if you can be sure to look at them on a monitor instead of your phone. It's a better way to see what my actual intention was......
Funny to be able to make three cogent posts out of an hour of photography; and to also come away with a group of images that I like...
Excellent set of black and white images and I keep wondering why some people want to buy monochrome only digital cameras. I keep track of Leica M stockists in the UK and one I have bought quite a number of cameras and lenses from over the years, currently has twelve secondhand digital Ms for sale, eight of which are M Monochrom. That may be telling you something…….
ReplyDeleteIncidentally, the images with sky look as if an orange filter equivalent is in place.
Set your camera to jpeg only and your favorite black and white settings and shoot. You now have a black and white camera. Same thing really. I know the resolution of the sensor and the dynamic range is increased with a true black and white converted camera but unless you are making very large prints I don't see the benefit. I've printed a few portraits from jpeg black and white images and I'm very pleased with them. I love black and white photography but I also quite enjoy colour photography as well. The monochrome digital camera is lost on me.
ReplyDeleteOK Kirk. Now I am thoroughly confused. I just finished posting a comment about the crane against the sky in the second post of this series of three posts from 1/20/23 (The coloured versions). This post shows the same shot with a different crop but clearly different contrast and other settings than the first post. I though they were both SOOC using the BW HC JPEG settings in the CL. Am I missing something?
ReplyDeleteI've been meaning to see if I can make "printer ready" jpegs in camera, with a bit more contrast in the highlights and shadows
ReplyDeleteJon, I'm just as confused. If I'm adjusting anything it's contrast and shadows. Not much else. Let me know what I did that's confusing and I'm sure I'll write a long reply about it. Hate to be a confusing guy....
ReplyDeleteHi Kirk, You are not a confusing guy. In think my confusion is confusing you into being confused and that makes us both conf... Oh, I give up!
ReplyDeleteI see two different B&W images of the crane against the sky. The image posted later seems to be a cropped version of the first one. They also appear to have been processed differently. So the question is: Is any one of the two the unaltered and not processed by you in any way original JPEG straight out of camera? And, is the other image processed for contrast and shadows, as you seem to indicate? Or, have they both had some adjustments made after importing?
Thanks, Jon