Just like writing a third album the third week of the One Four Challenge can be in itself a challenge. Of course there is an unwritten rule in this challenge that one week an image needs to go Monochrome. This week, is that week.
For this image monochrome was going to be an interesting balance, there is a lot of highlights in the snow and I had to be careful not to completely blow out the detail I had manged to get in last weeks image. I wanted to go for a film feel with the black and white; something people will look at and not jump and think it is a digital image.
I created a virtual copy of lasts week picture in Lightroom reset all the settings and then synced; clone, sharpening and noise reduction. I had and idea of what black and white toning might work, I applied a preset i created a while ago I jokingly named Daguerreotype. This preset is really just a strangely contrasted black and white preset. I tweaked the basic adjustments to stop tones from being clipped. I applied a few local adjustments to emphasize the path more, sharpen and lighten the shadow detail in the trees. I also added a slight split toning to give bit more depth and subtle contrast.
Overall I think the black and white transformation has worked well and it does have a slight film feel to it.
-
- Week1
-
- Week2
-
- Week3
What do you think about the changes, let me know in the comments below.
Remember to check out Robyn’s post as she is the creator of the challenge.
Remember if you liked this post to; like, share and subscribe.
If you wish to get notifications when I post on my blog, you can follow me on Twitter@apertureF64, on Facebook.com/aperturesixtyfour or alternatively be emailed by subscribing below. All images are the Copyright of Benjamin Rowe , ALL RIGHTS Reserved unless credited to another photographer. For more information please read my Copyright Statement
Aperture64 
Ben, you make me desire Lightroom! Fabulous job on each of these edits Although I tend to prefer contrasty images as in the first one, I actually am split between Week 2 and 3 this time. I think because the man is almost lost in the dark in #1. However, the more I look, the more I am enticed by all the frostiness of this week’s image!
Lightroom is a very good editor and IMHO not badly priced at $10 a month with photoshop included.
The tricky balance I find with this image is the contrast vs the details. In the trees it seems that it is very contrasted with gone details over lapping. Of course to much balancing leaves the man getting lost as the moves to the trees. This is something to think about for next week.
You’ve done a great job, Ben….beautiful tones and great depth to the image. 😀
Thanks Sue, glad you like the depth I have managed to draw out. Thanks for taking the time to comment.
😀
Just to let you know that I get notices of your new posts in my email, but for the last week when I click on the name of the post (to go directly to it) I’ve been getting a page that says “page not found”. I have no idea how you fix that – but yours is the only WordPress Blog notice that gets a response like that. PS I still like the first week best, because for me that is the colour of winter.
It is not just you that has been having issues with posts, I have had the same with ping backs and things not appearing in the reader. Something strange is going on.
I also like the rich colours in week one as well.
Excellent edits, I really like the black and white one, I think it works really well. I love Lightroom, so easy to edit non-destructively and create such different images.
Hi Karen, lightroom is an easy editor to use because it is quite intuitive and there are lots of little gems that once discovered can really boost an image.
Glad you like the black and white. Will need to top it next week now.
I totally agree Ben, it is my editing or
Hit send on my phone too early (clumsy fingers), what I was going to say is that it is my editing tool of choice too 😄
I think the black and white worked the best. I am kind of obsessed with trees these days, i took a lot of pictures mainly b&w.
I am of the same mind. The black and white has really transformed this picture although last week’s colour version is the best I think I can do in colour.
Thanks for commenting Andrea.
I like this one a lot!! I think so far my favourite! I like the black and white of the trees on the snow giving it a more wintery look!!!
It has made it quite wintery hasn’t it. Glad you like it.
I like this one a lot too Ben! It conveys the cold and greyness of winter beautifully and on this screen, there still seems to be some warmth in the foreground shadows. I love it. Your film preset is great! This is my favourite of the 3 so far. Nice work 😃😃
We do have an unspoken monochrome or BW week dont we? It works 😀
Hi Robyn there is a kind of unwritten rule but I think it is also because it makes sense when trying to create four different versions.
Ben, I really like this image. The path and the figure really stand out and draw you in. Of the images so far, this one seems to tell (or hint at!) a story.
Hi Karen, the more I look at this picture the more cinematic it feels. I suppose you could write a story to go with this picture as there is so much unknown in the frame.
I really like the mono .. You are a legend with lightroom 🙂
Thanks Julie, I will take the title of legend gracefully.
There’s a slight solarized silvery look to this week’s image that increases the icyness of the image – very nice!
There is a slight negative contrast I am not sure how I managed this, it could be due to the split toning.
Thanks for an insightful comment.
I like this one very much. The Y is definitely more defined.
Thanks Raewyn, I am liking this version a lot as well.
Nice! I’m feeling a theme – from my perspective – with your edits this week. For me they change in ‘time’ – I think I see things this way a lot 🙂 – and I do see the film reel effect you were going for. It looks 1960s – 70s to me and it works.
I am glad you see the film feel and 60’s/70’s is what I was aiming for so I think I can call this edit a success.
😀