Critique my B&W shots of downtown Chicago

**nandanrp** · 09-22-2006, 12:06 PM

These are some of my better shots from downtown in black & white. Tell me what you think, how to improve, etc.

Garo666 · 09-22-2006, 12:08 PM

looks good i hope u have color copys

Ikon · 09-22-2006, 12:09 PM

looks good.. any of the color. i think you should take some at night building and night = sick pics.

fullerton · 09-22-2006, 12:13 PM

maybe add some more contrast in there with the levels tool. I don't see too much white. it makes everything look too grey.

you could also try and play some with your depth of field. it is sometimes more interesting for few things to be in focus.

-my :30 seconds worth.

spazegun2213 · 09-22-2006, 12:17 PM

WOW nan, i really like the first one.. its a perfect B&W phot IMO

the last one is a little contrastless... other than that i like them!

762x51 · 09-22-2006, 12:29 PM

Agreed on the contrast remarks. Some appear a little underexposed as well.

Decent shots though.

**nandanrp** · 09-22-2006, 12:30 PM

Haha, I do have color...the last two photos, however, were taken on extremely hazy days, so the sunlight and sky washed out the images and made them kind of "colorless" so to speak, since everything was like a shade of blue gray. I'm also thinking about printing a few B&W photos for some walls at home, so I'm toying with these pictures.

I still need to get out and do some night photos, but I'll attach one of the ones I have.

Here are the color versions:

(Washed out, hazy):

(Still a little hazy):

Some dusk shots (I still need to get out and do some after-dark shots):

**nandanrp** · 09-22-2006, 12:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 762x51

Agreed on the contrast remarks. Some appear a little underexposed as well.

Decent shots though.

Which ones would you say are underexposed? I shoot in RAW so I can always tweak exposure a bit in post-processing

HKS whore · 09-22-2006, 12:59 PM

1st is my fav .. not bad man

DARKSTI · 09-22-2006, 01:00 PM

They all look good. Mess around with levels/curves/contrast in Photoshop and maybe add some noise to create a old time feel

762x51 · 09-22-2006, 02:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nandanrp

Which ones would you say are underexposed? I shoot in RAW so I can always tweak exposure a bit in post-processing

Honestly....now that you posted the original color versions, exposure looks OK. It's probably the B&W conversion and low contrast that make them look a little underexposed to me in the foreground. Good to hear you shoot RAW though. I am continuously amazed at all the folks who have DSLR's and spend a bunch of time post processing.....yet don't know how to shoot RAW. Can't tell you how many times a RAW image has saved a good shot because I screwed something up at the scene and didn't realize it till I started post processing.

I quick converted one myself with a tonal ehancement in the red range to help bring out the foreground detail a bit more. Hope you don't mind.

And just because I thought it would look cool:

***Insane06STi*** · 09-22-2006, 02:22 PM

Nice!

STiSubyMan · 09-22-2006, 02:26 PM

daymm that frist picture is amazing!

**nandanrp** · 09-22-2006, 03:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 762x51

Honestly....now that you posted the original color versions, exposure looks OK. It's probably the B&W conversion and low contrast that make them look a little underexposed to me in the foreground. Good to hear you shoot RAW though. I am continuously amazed at all the folks who have DSLR's and spend a bunch of time post processing.....yet don't know how to shoot RAW. Can't tell you how many times a RAW image has saved a good shot because I screwed something up at the scene and didn't realize it till I started post processing.

I quick converted one myself with a tonal ehancement in the red range to help bring out the foreground detail a bit more. Hope you don't mind

I don't mind at all! Thanks! I clearly have a lot to learn about Photoshop, it can make a world of difference. I like that second one you did with blue sky and B&W...cool!

Yep RAW has saved me several times, as I still have a lot to learn about exposing properly. I am often underexposed (or overexposed on hazy days like the one I mentioned earlier) and RAWpost-processing (exposure and white balance especially) has made the image 7 or 8/10 instead of 4/10

Thanks for the compliments guys!

**nandanrp** · 09-22-2006, 03:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by STiSubyMan

daymm that frist picture is amazing!

Thanks! Here's a variation on that first pic

09-22-2006, 12:06 PM	#1
nandanrp Indiatr0n in yo IWDPL Car: 05FTW OBP STi Fav Mod: Brum Brum Location: downtown Chicago Posts: 48,830 Join Date: Jun 2004 Trader Rating: (11)	Critique my B&W shots of downtown Chicago These are some of my better shots from downtown in black & white. Tell me what you think, how to improve, etc. This ad is not endorsed by this member. Please register or login to hide this ad.

09-22-2006, 12:08 PM	#2
Garo666 Spec C Club Car: 03 Subaru WRX Fav Mod: Angry Pig... Location: Northridge, Ca Posts: 1,164 Join Date: Jan 2006 Trader Rating: (1)	looks good i hope u have color copys

09-22-2006, 12:09 PM	#3
Ikon Welcome to The Board Car: 06 WRB STI Fav Mod: Advan RS Location: Seattle, WA Posts: 6,428 Join Date: Mar 2006 Trader Rating: (12)	looks good.. any of the color. i think you should take some at night building and night = sick pics.

09-22-2006, 12:13 PM	#4
fullerton abracious Car: AW GDF-D Fav Mod: Track time Location: Near a 100oct pump Posts: 16,553 Join Date: Oct 2005 Trader Rating: (10)	maybe add some more contrast in there with the levels tool. I don't see too much white. it makes everything look too grey. you could also try and play some with your depth of field. it is sometimes more interesting for few things to be in focus. -my :30 seconds worth.

09-22-2006, 12:17 PM	#5
spazegun2213 Poor Speed Racer Car: 96 328 Fav Mod: Tightening the nut behind the wheel! Location: Northern VA Posts: 8,434 Join Date: Mar 2005 Trader Rating: (8)	WOW nan, i really like the first one.. its a perfect B&W phot IMO the last one is a little contrastless... other than that i like them!

09-22-2006, 12:29 PM	#6
762x51 Grassroots STI Racer Car: 08 VW R32 Location: Setauket, NY Posts: 545 Join Date: Aug 2004 Trader Rating: (1)	Agreed on the contrast remarks. Some appear a little underexposed as well. Decent shots though.

09-22-2006, 12:30 PM	#7
nandanrp Indiatr0n in yo IWDPL Car: 05FTW OBP STi Fav Mod: Brum Brum Location: downtown Chicago Posts: 48,830 Join Date: Jun 2004 Trader Rating: (11)	Haha, I do have color...the last two photos, however, were taken on extremely hazy days, so the sunlight and sky washed out the images and made them kind of "colorless" so to speak, since everything was like a shade of blue gray. I'm also thinking about printing a few B&W photos for some walls at home, so I'm toying with these pictures. I still need to get out and do some night photos, but I'll attach one of the ones I have. Here are the color versions: (Washed out, hazy): (Still a little hazy): Some dusk shots (I still need to get out and do some after-dark shots):

09-22-2006, 12:59 PM	#9
HKS whore Banned Car: R.I.P WRB 06 STi Fav Mod: ~ HKS Ti ~ Location: NEW JERSEY Posts: 1,242 Join Date: May 2006 Trader Rating: (1)	1st is my fav .. not bad man

09-22-2006, 01:00 PM	#10
DARKSTI Silver Member Car: 06 OBP STI Fav Mod: Invida G200 Location: Reno,NV Posts: 2,596 Join Date: Nov 2005 Trader Rating: (0)	They all look good. Mess around with levels/curves/contrast in Photoshop and maybe add some noise to create a old time feel

09-22-2006, 02:22 PM	#12
*Insane06STi* Nanned ® Location: Where the left lane is th Posts: 17,349 Join Date: Oct 2005 Trader Rating: (9)	Nice!

09-22-2006, 02:26 PM	#13
STiSubyMan Banned Car: 2002 Civic LX Fav Mod: 30+ MPG =] Location: Wisconsin Posts: 1,771 Join Date: Sep 2006 Trader Rating: (0)	daymm that frist picture is amazing!