Better Black & White...

[Korky]

I set myself the task of improving my black and white processing a few days ago - lots of attempts have hit the bin, but this one I'm really pleased with. I wanted to emulate some of the stuff I see on YouTube but never quite manage. This time I've stuck at it.

The car was photographed in Cyprus a few months ago and the image PP was started off in Lightroom and finished with Silver Efex in Photoshop CC.

All crits - even teeny-tiny nitpicky ones - gratefully received.

Korky

 

Owd Banger

 

 

[FUJI]

You have achieved your target 100% Korks.....a superbly presented image.

FUJI

[kev7d]

Would a little more on the whites in the car make it better?

[Ryewolf]

It might be useful to post an example of what you were trying to achieve, so we could compare..? Other than that it looks good to me and I like nice contrasty B/W images.. so it works for me.

[Black Pearl]

First off the image as you have presented it has plenty of impact and stands on its own very well so you don't 'need' to improve it.

However - as you're asking for others input - I would like to see the highlights dialled down a notch and the mid tones given a little more oomph. I Nik SEP2 push the mid tones up a notch, give them a bit more welly on the structure sliders then push down the darker shadows to maintain a solid base for the image to spring from. I don't know your feeling on adding toning to an image but I'm increasingly enjoying adding a little warmth to darker tones while keeping the lighter (paper) tone on or about zero. Works the other way going cool too.

[Phil]

Obviously this is subjective but all the tones appear to be there, so I guess you've achieved your goal.

From a purely personal point of view I'd be tempted to go a little punchier.

[Korky]

Thanks, everyone - some serious food for thought in those comments.

I think I'm getting there - this is another shot from Cyprus, a scruffy cafe in a tiny (and almost deserted) village.

[FUJI]

Beautiful silvery tonal values across the whole...._Perfik!

FUJI