Tetons and Snake River

Apologies to A.A.

All comments welcome. Thanks.

wonderful photo captured

Classic scene. On this jpeg, the snowfield is totally blown to white. Not a big problem in this size, but it would be in a larger print, IMO.

Nice comp and great light!

Ali, Todd, thanks.

 

Les, thank you for commenting and drawing my attention to that area. I do tend to bump the contrast 2-3% after reducing for posting online. Perhaps this is a case where I should have been more careful. I have attached a copy without that contrast boost (plus a bit of NR in the sky).

 

The original RAW file was a little overexposed in that area. But, I thought I had brought it back enough. I do have bracketed exposures of this image and could pull some extra details from them. But, in checking those other exposures out, there isn't any more detail to bring back in that area. So, given that it isn't an issue of missing details, I don't mind my whites being white. Moreover, I print on fairly warm paper and I mind it less in finished prints (based upon previous experiences with my botanical images).

I do prefer version 2. Thought it might just be a matter of compression or contrast boost for the Web. Lovely image.

Alright Ian, what is going on with you! THese B&W are really really good. I didn't associate you with B&W before, but man you are really doing well with these latest posts. I've always been a huge fan of B&W. CAn you let me in on your processing of these? Excellent composition for sure, but the clouds and light are really very nice. O.k, enough gushing. Excellent image - Sean

Les, thanks for coming back. Your feedback was quite useful and I needed to do the NR anyways.

 

Sean, thanks so much. I'm going away until Wednesday. I'll give you a full answer to your question then.

Sean,

 

Although I saw your comment on my portfolio page and know that you had missed much of my earlier B&W work, I would still say that my B&Ws have got considerably more consistent recently.

 

Part of that is from working with the IR files from my converted D80. The RAW images are always VERY low contrast. This requires a conscious setting of both the white point and the black point and then the mid-tones usually need to be spread out differently than they are automatically.

 

This has encouraged me to think more about what I want and how to get there -- rather than being diverted by what I have in front of me after converting from colour.

 

As for how I do my conversions and toning, it is all Lightroom. I find the targeted adjustment tool invaluable in adjusting the tonal position of the various colours in the B&W. I also find the parametric curves of Lightroom to be almost as controllable as a point-curves of CS3 and a lot more straight forward to use.

 

I also enjoy the ease of Lightroom in allowing an iterative process. You can adjust the black point, point by point and then re-curve the image between each adjustment and then back-off the blacks and all in the same panel with the same tools and not have to worry about doing it all on separate layers.

 

I also find the toning tools quite useful. I have a few preset split-tones saved and start with one of them. But by varying the balance of the two tones I can change the feel of the toning quite considerably and very easily and still maintain basic colours that I have previously determined as pleasing to my aesthetic sensibility.

 

Lastly, I have spent the last year really concentrating on B&W work. I have been reading Lenswork and B&W regularly and following the work of photographers like Mitch Dobrowner, John Sexton, David Johndrow, Theirry Vercampt, and Richard Murai. I have also been closely following and critiquing on the work of Fred Goldsmith here on PN. His progressive development in giving attention to shadow detail and, more recently, highlight detail and its affect on mood and emotion have been inspiring and informative.

A really great b/w shot...the light and clarity are really something!

Thanks Keith

This is about as good as it gets. Nice job Ian on capturing the majesty of this place which is close to my heart. I have many fond memories of this area and this image makes me long for a quick return.

 

Thanks by the way for a very flattering comment. I really do appreciate it. All the best, Kent.

Thanks for the comment Kent. I'm glad this makes you want to go back -- it certainly makes me want to go back and I was there in June!

 

And, you most welcome for the comments on your "feature". I meant every word.

Great Capture! Reminds me of Ansel's shot from the same location. ( also our good buddy, Leo Burkey here at PN ) I just discovered your black and white series while checking out the top folios for the week. Fantastic series and well done. I use Lightroom 2.0 and really like the developmental side of it. Not real crazy on the management part though. Making a cd of what I've shot is a royal pain in the keester. Seriously thinking of taking it off and sticking with CS3 extended. Maybe add CS4 to it and call it good. Anyhow like I said its a great series and congrats on a job well done...RAY