Man in a hat

[bugmeister]

He was actually cycling around on a 1930s trike, but the background was so rubbish, I ended up coming in really tight to avoid the clutter.

 

 

EOS5Dii, Canon 70-200 f4L @ 1/640s @ f8 @ 200mm

[Korky]

A super portrait - all the better for being in B&W. I like the square format, too.

 

Korky 

[NannyFerret]

I love it!

[Martyn]

Love the crispness and clarity of the beard. Did you convert this from colour? I'd love to know what process you followed.

[Phil]

Fantastic portrait Bugs, a real character

[bugmeister]

Did you convert this from colour? I'd love to know what process you followed.

I always shoot in colour and then convert if I decide the mono version will work better.

 

For this one, the conversion was the simplest possible method of a hue/sat layer to desaturate, then a slight increase in both brightness (5%) and contrast (10%).

[annie]

wonderful portrait bugs, I real must for the large view,

[FUJI]

What a great character study..........well taken and processed Bugsy.

FUJI

[bugmeister]

Thank you folks, much appreciated

[ChrisLumix]

I always shoot in colour and then convert if I decide the mono version will work better.

 

For this one, the conversion was the simplest possible method of a hue/sat layer to desaturate, then a slight increase in both brightness (5%) and contrast (10%).

 

This begs the question - would shooting in B&W actually make a difference to how we approach a shot? Is there such a thing as 'looking through monochrome eyes' when out and about? I do admit that I mix the two approaches, but don't feel that the pictures actually shot in B&W suffered by not being in colour (sometimes I took colour versions too).

[bugmeister]

Good question, but I take the attitude that if I do the conversion I have control, and if I don't like it I can always revert to colour, whereas if the camera does the conversion, someone or something else has the control.

 

I do occasionally take a picture with the intention of converting it, but so seldom that I don't consider letting the camera make the conversion decisions.

[ChrisLumix]

Good question, but I take the attitude that if I do the conversion I have control, and if I don't like it I can always revert to colour, whereas if the camera does the conversion, someone or something else has the control.

 

I do occasionally take a picture with the intention of converting it, but so seldom that I don't consider letting the camera make the conversion decisions.

 

I take it you're a youngster of the digital era, bugs? I just don't recognise that feeling at all - as an amateur who took B&W in the 70s and did some of my own D&P too, I felt I was more 'in control' than handing over my films to a lab to process. And somehow, I used to think, when appraising a shot for shooting on Ilford FP4, that I was taking a 'proper photo' instead of my 'colour snapshots'! 

 

But, to quote Clodagh Rodgers (oh Google her, for heavens sake ) - "it's different now".

[bugmeister]

I take it you're a youngster of the digital era, bugs? I just don't recognise that feeling at all - as an amateur who took B&W in the 70s and did some of my own D&P too, I felt I was more 'in control' than handing over my films to a lab to process. And somehow, I used to think, when appraising a shot for shooting on Ilford FP4, that I was taking a 'proper photo' instead of my 'colour snapshots'! 

 

But, to quote Clodagh Rodgers (oh Google her, for heavens sake ) - "it's different now".

Oh I could get to like that kind of statement

 

I used to shoot, develop and print FP4 and HP5 many moons ago, in fact I still have an enlarger packed away somewhere. I never did get the hang of printing colour though. I also still occasionally use Tri-X although I don't develop it myself any longer...  maybe I should dig out the tanks again.

 

I see what you're thinking about the control of taking the shot and thinking in mono, but it's just the fact that I can use colour or mono if I take it in colour, but I don't have that option if I take it in mono.

[ChrisLumix]

Oh I could get to like that kind of statement

 

I used to shoot, develop and print FP4 and HP5 many moons ago, in fact I still have an enlarger packed away somewhere. I never did get the hang of printing colour though. I also still occasionally use Tri-X although I don't develop it myself any longer...  maybe I should dig out the tanks again.

 

I see what you're thinking about the control of taking the shot and thinking in mono, but it's just the fact that I can use colour or mono if I take it in colour, but I don't have that option if I take it in mono.

 

Nor me! And my darkroom was my bedsit with binliners taped to the windows My enlarger was one of those E European cheapies - Meata? Meopta? Beomax? 

 

True - but my question was, if you shoot in B&W, does it change your thinking about the shots themselves? I'm undecided, but I rather think there is an element of 'thinking in B&W', plus of course, there's what you see in the viewfinder. Just a thought.

[bugmeister]

I think that if I go out intending to shoot mono then I look for subjects particularly suitable for mono. That is especially relevant with film because you can't just chop and change between shots.

.

If, as usual, I am shooting colour or digital generally, then I may see something that makes me think mono, but I will still shoot in colour knowing I don't lose anything since I can convert it and I still have the colour option as well.

[FUJI]

Since being dragged kicking and screaming into the........Dark Side.........( could never understand why folks wanted to return to pre- color, mono film days) .........it was Phil, and BP, plus other mono fans who eventually persuaded me otherwise........after this I just couldn't believe the sheer quality and impact of certain mono work........I joined a specialist forum, so I could learn and practice further......it was members of that site who nursed me though the intricacies of using brushes and layers, to totally transform selected shots.....now, my mono work gives me great pleasure, to get the best from a shot takes time, and thought plus a good dose of creativity.

I especially love to work with chrome and other shiny surfaces......love to experiment with photo filters to intensify the blacks into a velvety depth.....get great pleasure in working High-Key portraiture , and, teasing out every texture and tone possible.

All of my mono work was initially shot as a full colour RAW, t be converted then processed either way, depending upon the subject.

FUJI

[Beth]

Love it Colin.  Very defined and crisp. Well done. 

[fuzzyedges]

I am sure I have taken this guys image at Ramsey

It was part of my beard seris on the old forum

He is quite photogenic and well taken by you

 

I have always shot i colour from the 70's I appreciate the nostalgic value of BW but I love the spectrum too much to contemplate shooting only in mono

[bugmeister]

I am sure I have taken this guys image at Ramsey

It was part of my beard seris on the old forum

He is quite photogenic and well taken by you

 

Indeed, this was at Ramsey a couple weeks ago.

[fuzzyedges]

Indeed, this was at Ramsey a couple weeks ago.

 

mine was some 4 years ago or so

[NannyFerret]

Do you thin you still have the shot, Fuzzy.
It would be good to see how much the man had changed.

[fuzzyedges]

Do you thin you still have the shot, Fuzzy.

 

As if by magic (with my system of filing magic is what you need ) saying that it is second to none (starting at none and sinking lower)

 

 

 

Sorry if this hi jacks the thread

And please dont use this as a which is the better as both are from different people

[NannyFerret]

Wow! His hair and beard are thicker on Bug's shot but there's no mistaking him is there. 
A fantastic pair of shots.

[Creativesnaps]

Nice candid and i think the square crop works well.

[bugmeister]

Definitely the same guy and it's interesting to see how instantly recognisable he is after four years and with a slightly different beard. Thanks for posting that comparison.