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surf monkey
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p.1 #1 · b&w conversion

I posted this photo on the Nature & Wildlife Forum, but I want a more critical opinion.
I'm including my original photo for comparison.

I'm looking at contrast, added blur, added grain, overall tone - did I do too much processing?
All work was done in Photoshop CS3.

Photo #1 is my final version.
Photo #2 is the b&w with a straightforward conversion.
Photo #3 is the original with no adjustments.

2008 © surf monkey

Exif information
Model	Canon EOS 20D
Date	2008:08:08 09:52:40
Original date	2006:10:31 15:32:11
Exposure time	1/1000 sec
Focal length	300mm
Focal number	f/4.0
ISO speed	200 ISO
Exposure compensation	-0.3

Aug 08, 2008 at 05:05 PM

wingcommander
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p.1 #2 · b&w conversion

I LIKE IT

(the top one)

Don't think I can help with the criticism however.

Top one makes me think of those exotic silver gelatin prints.

Aug 08, 2008 at 05:39 PM

Kotasd
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p.1 #3 · b&w conversion

I'd hang it on the wall... Seriously, very nice job with the post process, not over cooked in my opinion. Has a nice film feel to it. I really don't find fault with it. Just wait though I am sure someone will think you should have used an ND filter or something.

Aug 09, 2008 at 05:33 PM

Booone0
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p.1 #4 · b&w conversion

In my inexperienced lurker opinion, I think it looks very good and not at all overcooked. Nice shot!

Aug 09, 2008 at 06:36 PM

Scott Stoness
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p.1 #5 · b&w conversion

Very nice. I would consider cropping a bit off the right - just short of the ear - to see if you like it better

If you were reshooting I would leave a bit more below his chin.

I am being picky - very nice.

Aug 09, 2008 at 11:44 PM

Kotasd
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p.1 #6 · b&w conversion

Crop looks damn near perfect to me... Golden sections/rule of thirds all hit right between the eyes. Very nice job on the photo.

Aug 09, 2008 at 11:50 PM

surf monkey
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p.1 #7 · b&w conversion

Scott,

There was no cropping on this image - I try to do all my composing in camera and thought this was relatively close to ideal. But when I originally worked on this image, I thought the same thing you did with the crop - that the mane wasn't too exciting on the right side of the image, but after cropping (see below), it seemed too constrained. The mane serves almost like "white space" on the photo, not too distracting and adding to the overall composition.

I get where you're coming from on the bottom crop (and the top crop for that matter), but Canon has yet to change the "print" button to the "go back in time" button

Thanks everyone for their comments. I learn more everytime I use this forum.

2008 © surf monkey

Aug 10, 2008 at 01:23 AM

AuntiPode
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p.1 #8 · b&w conversion

I like your cropped version the best. Tinting the monochrome was a good call. The crop improves the image, too. Excellent.

Aug 10, 2008 at 01:42 AM

Scott Stoness
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p.1 #9 · b&w conversion

I think the cropping improves the picture as well.

Aug 10, 2008 at 05:36 AM

sbeme
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p.1 #10 · b&w conversion

Beautifully toned conversion with excellent pose, lightingm, bokeh. I prefer the cropped version.
Curious about how you toned this image.
Scott G

Aug 14, 2008 at 07:19 AM

surf monkey
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p.1 #11 · b&w conversion

Thanks, everyone for the comments.
I think I will go with a cropped version for my final print.
Printing as big as I can go on my Epson 3800. I'll probably try the new Epson Exhibition paper.

As for the post-processing in Photoshop CS3:
1) start with the RAW file and get exposure as close to final as possible.
2) use Black & white adjustment layer (I usually just click through the different presets, then make minor tweaks).
3) if I add color tone, I do this in a Hue/Saturation adjustment layer with the Colorize box checked.
4) then a make any further adjustments using a Levels or Curves adjustment layer to specific areas.
5) in this case I also added blur using a Lens Blur filter then added some Noise.

That's it. It's not very difficult to do the steps. It's only difficult figuring out how much to do - I rather do as little as possible. As Ansel Adams said, "Dodging and burning are steps to take care of mistakes God made in establishing tonal relationships. " For those of us who are not Ansel Adams, Photoshop helps when we make the "mistakes" as well. It still pays to be able to capture the photo the best we know how.

Aug 14, 2008 at 05:24 PM

Kotasd
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p.1 #12 · b&w conversion

I stick with my guns. I like Option #1 best. Looks the most interesting to me, and yes I agree with your post stating it looks constrained. But it's not my wall

Aug 14, 2008 at 06:32 PM

sbeme
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p.1 #13 · b&w conversion

I'd like to hear about the print/Epson paper. I am using the same printer, but havent tried that paper yet. Good success with color on Moab Entrada.

Aug 14, 2008 at 09:04 PM


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