Comparisons

[dbutler]

Ok, I know that many won't like this but I went ahead and bought Fred Miranda's B&W Workflow. I could get some pretty much close results but it took so much work and it would take me forever to get all the different types of possibilities that are already in the plug in so...

Just a thought on what you guys think. Color then the plug in. I didn't do anything extra beyond a bit of the filter.

[swmdrayfan]

D, I think both stand on their own as great shots, but I'm partial to the color version. The reds on the barn really stand out.

John

[julsoph]

D, I really love the color version! I almost wish you had posted them separately, because I think seeing them right next to each other taints my view of the b&w...you know?
The colors are just gorgeous though!

Emily

[ken1953]

Hi D...I agree with Emily...I would have preferred you post these seperately. I love both of them and I'm not particularly fond of b/w...but this works real well. It is a great contrast to the color version. My only suggestion would be to ps out the telephone wire in the b/w and it would lend a more rustic feel.
Ken

[gahspidy]

D, the colored version is more appealing to me in this scene. The reds of the barn and the greens and oranges of the fg are wonderful. Also, the color brings the mood of the lighting that was on the scene , which seems to get lost in the b&w version.

[drg]

Nice color photograph. I wonder if you set up the Miranda filter the best way for this image. A well converted color to b/w should not lose the sky detail like this one and there definitely could be a greater degree of contrast between the barn and the foilage/grass.

The photo has some good lines as well!

[LeeIs]

I prefer the colour version. The B&W conversion is ok, and as drg pointed out, you lost some of the tonal ranges in the skies. I wouldn't know how to fix that though, I'm no expert in B&W colour conversion.

[dbutler]

Thanks everyone. I like my B&Ws to be high contrast for the most part. I don't like too much clutter and I tend to wash out skies a great deal on purpose. Here's another version of the b&w closer in tonal range to what is available in the color version. This one is DHs favorite but of course not mine.

[payn817]

Color is much better, although I usually LOVE b&w. Looks like a good place to play around too.

[freygr]

Thanks everyone. I like my B&Ws to be high contrast for the most part. I don't like too much clutter and I tend to wash out skies a great deal on purpose. Here's another version of the b&w closer in tonal range to what is available in the color version. This one is DHs favorite but of course not mine.

Your first B&W post did not have as much contrast as your second B&W. I did like both, but the color is the one that I like.

GRF

[LeeIs]

D, I think your second B&W is much more inline with your original colour shot which I liked best and therefore I prefer it over the other B&W. That technique IMO is better than the first.

[SmartWombat]

I prefer the second B&W to the first, I like contrasty B&W.
But for me the colour shot is the best !

[mdmc]

D, The color version is so rich! well done! I dont think it would be easy to get the B&W version to be that good because the colors play off each other so well. Youve got orange green & brow workin well in the fg and that super red barn.
the sky works fine in color because of the blue & white cotrasting nicely with the other colors. But the tone of the sky is the same so its tough to show contrast.
I dont have software thats B&W specific so i've learned to get by looking for individual ares tha need contrast adjustments, making small careful selections and using levels.
The color version is very good,
Mark.

[dbutler]

Thank you all again. I guess I picked the wrong image to experiment with.

Freygr, by "high contrast" on my black and whites, I mean that I like brighter whites and deeper blacks with less middle grays. Closer to a high key shot. So, the blown out sky in the first B&W doesn't bother me because it's more in keeping with how I like 'em. Does that make sense?

[CLKunst]

One more for the chorus D! I like the color the best even though this was an experiment in BW. I think your second BW post is also superb but still have to say the color whups it. Cheers!

[Chunk]

First of all I like the shot but would suggest a crop to take off about 1/2 of the tree trunk and some of the forground to leave the attention more firmly on the buildings. The color shot is very strong but the conversion leaves the tree trunk, buildings, and foliage to near the same tones. Try a channel mixer conversion with different mixes of colors.

[dbutler]

Crazy color freaks! Each and every one!! No more comparisons for you!!