dj.tigersprout's photoblog
Resort Grounds, Chena Hot Springs, Alaska
Posted by dj.tigersprout (New York City, United States) on 24 September 2008 in Landscape & Rural.
i woke up early the other morning and felt like having another go with some Photoshop experimentation. as i have been looking forward to using CS3's wonderful b/w conversion tool for months now, i decided to once again work with it for this posting -- meaning i would have 2 b/w posts in a row!?! now fancy that! ;) this time however, after a good 40 minutes of playing with numerous, different settings, i began experimenting w/ a color overlay -- of the burgundy variety. i played with all sorts of manual adjustments w/ opacity and shade before settling on this outcome. i had been after a subtle way to warm up the b/w -- something to recall antiquity, the lives of the early Alaskan pioneers and the historic gold rush of this area.
but now i need your b/w experience and opinions please: :D
too light? too dark? too much contrast? too little? and what do you think of the warmth of the burgundy influence? any tips? suggestions?
sincere thanks for your time and support!! :)
all work protected by Creative Commons
Kylie Greenan from Richmond, Australia
Hey DJ, I like the burgundy influence, I also think that contrast is a very personal thing, I for example like a lot in my images, some people like less, I think the contrast works in this image where there is just enough highlights in the sun on the leaves. The composition is great, I bet it was hard to leave this place, it looks wonderful! Have fun with CS3!!
24 Sep 2008 5:32am
@Kylie Greenan: Thanks Kylie! And yes -- contrast seems to be a split divide issue! Some want less, some want more! :) This was a very beautiful area -- no wind, lovely clear sun, beautiful colors... a tranquil, yet vibrant atmosphere!! I am enjoying CS3 -- i have had a few major breakthroughs regarding basics and now most things are a bit easier! Thanks again!! :D
Hikari from Kumamoto, Japan
For my personal taste I´d like a more contrast image , sometimes is nice to have detail on the shadows but in this case I´d like to se the tree shadow more dark
24 Sep 2008 5:44am
@Hikari: Hello and thank you Hikari for the excellent feedback! :) I am very appreciative!
Maxine from Rangiora, New Zealand
i love the color and i do agree with the above comments re contrast- remember my art teacher! NEVER BE AFRAID of light and dark!!
24 Sep 2008 5:52am
@Maxine: Thanks Max!! OK -- i will be a bit more daring! Thanks heaps for the tip and the feedback! :)
Monique from Koh Samui, Thailand
The burgundy works very well, and as for the contrast .. it's a matter of taste, I would like to see the photo a little bit darker but as for composition and play of shadows its great! Do you know this Photoshop action for color toning in B&W from Thomas Niemann? Just scroll to the 'T' in this link http://atncentral.com/download.htm
24 Sep 2008 6:03am
@Monique: Thanks Monique! I will definitely check out that link -- thank you kindly! :D And sincere thanks for the contrast feedback! I am very appreciative! Cheers!
@beanow: Thanks heaps mate!! :)
Querques from Palleja, Spain
i think this is a soft w/b, and if you want to express calm and soundless this is perfect for your photo. I don't like high contrast in all w/b photos as many people do, i prefer soft w/b for this kind and high contrast for faces or buidings.
Nice shot!
24 Sep 2008 7:01am
@Querques: Thanks very much mate! I really appreciate your thoughts!! Sincere thanks and cheers to you!
Giovanni from Milan, Italy
Perfectly done, DJ! I love the tones here. It's probably true that when you start playing with CS3 you must know what you want to get and when it's time to stop!
24 Sep 2008 7:17am
@Giovanni: Cheers Giovanni! Thanks kindly -- and thanks for the feeback!! :)
fcofont from Valencia, Spain
Nice composition DJ, but in my opinion it needs a bit more contrast and tonal range. For my blacks & whites I use Silver Efex Pro, it's a plug-in for photoshop; amazing software, easy and powerful, highly recommended :-) Saludos!!
24 Sep 2008 7:20am
@fcofont: Thanks for the excellent tips and feed back Francisco!! I will certainly check out that plug-in! Cheers! :)
Linerberry from Sumner, Christchurch, New Zealand
love the image dj:-) I think, like Kylie, that contrast is a really individual thing. I like what you have done (good on you for experimenting). I think I would go for a little darker around the trees just to show a bit more contrast with the sky, but then thats my personal thing. I think its a cracker all the same:-)
24 Sep 2008 8:36am
@Linerberry: Thanks heaps Liners! :) Thanks for the excellent advice and support! Truly appreciated! Cheers to you! :D
MaryB from Staffordshire, United Kingdom
I really like the subtleness of the burgundy, it adds a touch of warmth without being in the brown/orange tones, my personal preference would be for a little more contrast :) it's a stunning shot and I love the light on the rocks and water.
Happy to get in early today, I think I was #55 to comment yesterday lol :D
24 Sep 2008 9:04am
@MaryB: Hey Mary! Hope you are feeling better! :) Thanks heaps for the feedback and the advice! Very appreciated!
Iris from Aberdeenshire, United Kingdom
Love this image DJ - The Burgundy influence really adds to the effect. I love the movement of the water.
Have fun with CS3!
24 Sep 2008 10:25am
@Iris: Thanks heaps Iris, your feedback is much appreciated!! Cheers to you!! :)
Priy@nk from Mumbai, India
thats a nice color contrast. BnW does creates mystery around the picture
24 Sep 2008 10:40am
Fliss from Melbourne Beach, United States
Now that... that is pretty... and love the BW...
24 Sep 2008 11:06am
zOOm from Paris, France
More contrasts could have been better... but highlights are well balanced for me... nicely composed !
24 Sep 2008 11:16am
@zOOm: Thanks for the feedback Florence! Much appreciated! Cheers! :)
jamesy from christchurch, New Zealand
I have studied this for quite some time Dj and read the comments and looked again. What I like about it is that I can feel the light even though its in B&W. I like B&W for emphasising lines and contrasts but I feel with this photo you have managed to emphasise the light. I can feel the sun coming through the tree even though I can't see the colour. I don't know if this makes much sense but I like this picture how it is. Its very warm. have fun playing, a bit of controversy is a good thing.
24 Sep 2008 11:28am
@jamesy: Thank you kindly Deb -- this is such a wonderful comment you have left! Just lovely to read! :D I am very appreciative of your daily visits and comments, so a big THANKS to you!!! Cheers!
@Denise: Thanks Denise!! :)
bluechameleon from Vancouver, Canada
I really love how this seems like a memory....the slight fading feel, subtle light contrasts, light setting randomly in various parts of the frame. I think it's the tone you have chosen DJ...beautiful, beautiful work!
24 Sep 2008 12:31pm
@bluechameleon: Thanks heaps BC! Always love reading your comments! Thanks as always! :D
callemie from Belgium
i really like B/W pictures n tis one is really beautifull but maybe the trees can use a litte more "darkness"
but anyway the pictures gives you a warm and peaceful feeling!
24 Sep 2008 12:41pm
@callemie: Thank you very much Callemie for the feedback and advice!! Much appreciated! :D
lorraine from Canada
It's enchanting, so polished and yet totally natural, the reflection of the tree in the water is subtle, beautiful...
24 Sep 2008 2:46pm
Observing from West Cheshire, United Kingdom
DJ, the contrast on the water is just within the norm, any increase and it would be blown. I think I would reduce the light/brightness a little which would give the shadows more definition.
Nice calm image.
24 Sep 2008 3:38pm
@Observing: Cheers Mike! Thanks heaps for the advice! Very much appreciated -- after looking at it too long, it is easy to no longer have any idea! Much appreciated mate! :D
hugo poon from hong kong, Hong Kong
DJ, you certainly have got a very nice image to play with... What a beautiful place and a gorgeous day, and your frame is just superb!!! I incline to agree Mike regarding the overall brightness... Can't wait to see the other one.:-)
24 Sep 2008 4:11pm
@hugo poon: Thanks heaps Hugo! I just knew i could count on this wonderful 'family' for b/w advice!! :) Very much appreciated -- thanks again!
dobbino from Cape Town, South Africa
You know that I am new to BW processing, but I think it's great. Would have been proud to post this myself.
24 Sep 2008 5:01pm
@dobbino: Thanks heaps Rob! I had a great time messing around with the controls! :D
Stephen Phillips from San Francisco, United States
Wow - this is a surprise. Like an oasis of a kind one rarely thinks of. Nicely done, my friend.
24 Sep 2008 5:01pm
gbe from kansas city, United States
two in a row. dj, i really like this image. the shadow of the tree in the bottom right is very nice. the light on the leaves is good. but besides all that, i just like it.
now, at the risk of sounding like a luddite, if you really want to "recall antiquity" you could use.............film. in those same 40 minutes you could have developed two batches... just a thought.
24 Sep 2008 5:50pm
@gbe: Thanks Grant! ;) Loved your comment! :D Yes -- the film thing definitely has to happen -- but i will be sending it in for developing -- have no way to do that at the time being!! I don't even think i would remember how! Good thing you are around! ;) Cheers to you!
António Pires from Lisbon, Portugal
Not being an expert, I prefer the yesterday's image. This one seems too complex for b&w, too many leaves, I would say. The stream, the wet stones, the reflections, are all oK.
24 Sep 2008 6:28pm
@António Pires: Thanks for the feedback Antonio!! Cheers! :)
Graham Russon from Cape Town, South Africa
Great work, I like the overall effect. There is a great free plug-in for photoshop that quickly adds all sort of bw effects. Its called Virtual Photographer at
24 Sep 2008 7:32pm
@Graham Russon: Thanks Graham! I will definitely check it out! Thanks a bunch mate -- very appreciated! :)
MaryP from Aberdeenshire, United Kingdom
Very pleaseant image. For an antique , old world ,kind of effect try Sepia toning with the Photo filters in Image-Adjustments then go to Hue/Sat and decrease the colour slightly to how you like it. I love B/W but for me the image has to be very' minimalistic'. Maybe this one in colour too?? I will remind you.
24 Sep 2008 7:43pm
@MaryP: Thanks Mary! Yes -- you are quite right, i will have to mess with the sepia menu quite soon! ;) I will also post this one in color -- but this one i definitely don't like in color -- i think you will see why -- too busy! (if that makes any sense? ;) Sincere thanks for your advice and opinions!! I really appreciate it! Cheers!
Richard_Irwin from Belper, United Kingdom
Its 10 years since my days in darkrooms, and since going digital, I have been mainly a colour photographer, so I probably haven't any useful tips.
What I usually do though for a basic conversion is convert RGB colour images to LAB colour first, then choose the LIGHTNESS channel, before converting to grayscale, as I have found this does a good job of retaining all the grayscale information.
However, I also love the CHANNEL MIXER, as it has so many superb options, especially if you want to emulate the colour filters used in B&W, there is even an infra-red option.
24 Sep 2008 9:11pm
@Richard_Irwin: Thanks for sharing your experience Richard -- very useful to me! I too love to shoot mostly in color, but it is a nice exercise to work in a different medium -- and it is fun to experiment! Sincere thanks again! :)
Marion from Nanaimo, BC, Canada
nice DJ. The learning curve is so much fun. Mike is inspiring all of us to try our hand at b&w.
24 Sep 2008 9:54pm
@Marion: And what fun it is! Truly, for my own work, i do prefer color -- there is just something so stimulating about wonderful vibrant color -- but i am enjoying the refined qualities of b/w more and more and more!! Thank you!
Rui from Leiria, Portugal
Phenomenal composition and tones. Relaxing image. Well done DJ
24 Sep 2008 10:23pm
vu@granby - Alain Berger from Granby, Québec, Canada
Beautiful image... I love it in B&W.
24 Sep 2008 10:31pm
Thomas Griffioen from Rotterdam, Netherlands
Great shot dj! Good composition. About the B/W: I would prefer the blacks a little darker, like the stones in the river and for the total image a bit more contrast. I guess it's always a matter about taste...
25 Sep 2008 12:14am
@Thomas Griffioen: Hello and thanks Thomas! Your feedback is much appreciated!! :D
Steven from Chicagoland, United States
Great capture and composition. These last two posts have got to be the only B & W's I've seen you post as of late. I always have loved the photos you shared that were quite rich in color. They make a "statement."
25 Sep 2008 2:42am
@Steven: Thanks for the comment and feedback mate!! Yes i am certainly new to b/w -- but it is growing on me!!! :D
Kenton from Calgary, Canada
Great shot, I love the CS3 B&W conversion tool. As for the contrast, I think it works really well because this is sunlit. You can either go super contrasty or softer and I think the softness really fits this scene. I'm going to have to try out @richard_irwin's tip.
25 Sep 2008 3:47am
@Kenton: Cheers for the comment and feedback mate! Much appreciated! :D
Twelvebit from Victoria, United States
I need to get some cs3, but I've been too cheap.
25 Sep 2008 4:04am
yiannis krikis from thessaloniki, Greece
very nice b&w treatment - I like the softness of the tones
25 Sep 2008 4:50pm
baobab from Cambridge, United States
I'm almost curious to see this one in full colour - imagine it would have a very different effect.
25 Sep 2008 10:20pm
Walter from Watkinsville, United States
Wow DJ. I think you win the popularity contest hands down. You have put forth a great question to your readers, but more importantly you have gotten lots of honest feedback on this issue. So color or b/w. I love to play the game. However, when something starts out in color as this photo did for you, can you really look at it without that emphasis of color from whence it was taken? Color to most photos is like sculpture. It really allows you to get depth and feeling into the photo. So what is black and white. It is a study of light and dark and how the two play off each other. I remember drawing in middle school and my teacher always told me to make things darker - adding more contrast. Does it work? Yes. Is it always needed? That is up the artist and what they are trying to achieve. Personal preference plays a large part of this equation. However, I feel (notice my personal preference) that in order to make a photo a true black and white, you must see the photo in b/w when taking it and not after post processing. That is to say, a great color photo will not make a great black and white. However, a great b/w may also look great in color. Could this photo use a little more contract by enhancing the darks? Perhaps, but then again, this photo can hold its own as is.
26 Sep 2008 1:15am
Canon EOS REBEL XT
1/400 second
F/3.5
ISO 100
18 mm