Went to the graveyard. Turned my camera to black and white,

[alfredo]

took a deep breath and charged ahead. I usually shoot in color then convert to B&W, so I'm out here without a net, no crutch, going old school. I had no idea how the B&W setting will look, but I was hoping it would be more than a nice walk through a cemetery.

The Results remind me of the days where Panatomic-X was the choice of those who wanted fine grain. It wasn't as contrasty as Tri X. It was rather slow at ASA 32. Still, it was a beautiful film. So I am pleased with how they looked out of the camera. It will take me a bit to learn how to deal with them in post processing. It seems little is needed.

Here's the facebook link:

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=247117&id=641107861

[ManiacJoe]

1. I really like the angel.

From the lighting, some fill flash was used?

[alfredo]

3. Thanks. Yes some flash was used.

This is becoming my favorite.

[Callalily]

2. Very dramatic! n/t

[Mira]

4. I look at this as a great start. And a wonderful idea

:evilgrinicon:
for me.

I mentioned I only found the way to turn my camera to b/w last week. Now with the colors having been so ablaze it was not the time to experiment.
The few shots I took made me realize just what you are saying: lots like Tri-X which I used to shoot a lot with, little work needed if any, and the quality is superior to the b/w conversions I have made in Picasa and looks more like the photographs I used to take long long ago.

The idea is to head for the grave yard.
We have one in town that is "to die for". The Old Salem God's acres founded by the Moravians.

On your shots I feel like wanting to see more.
I mean that they are cropped tightly, even the third one, and leave me wanting to see a little more breathing room around the subjects.
But that could be because I have a wicked cold and breathing is not easy right now.

[alfredo]

7. Mine came out like Panatomic-X, not near as high contrast.

That could have been because of the overcast conditions. I'm a big Tri-X fan, but Panatomic-X was a favorite for certain effects. Quite a few needed no cropping. The ones that did, it is obvious.

Do your B&W come out high contrast or low like mine?

Some came out dark, but I didn't do much tweaking, because it seemed to be the mood of the day. There was a wind storm the day before, leaves and debris was everywhere. Some luck!



I think there is still a good case for conversion in post processing, but as I re learn more about working with B&W that might change. This weekend I will reshoot the staircase shots in native B&W to see the difference.

[Mira]

9. You know I can't intelligently talk to you about

this. (YET)
but to answer you question, in the few shots this week, my trials, the contrast is so much more pronounced than in a conversion it simply makes me yearn for playing with it. And your graveyard has me itching to get over this cold, hoping for the rest of the leaves to fall, and to crank up my truck and head to the graveyard (2 miles).

I think what I may well do is shoot some same scenes in color and then b/w - on the spot - successively. And then play with the conversions and comparisons.

I will look for the re-shoot of the stairs (great photo, makes me hold my breath because of the depth) with
as
Frankiein Rocky Horror
says:
An-Tici-Pation

[alfredo]

10. That's a great idea. It removes a variable of different light

and time of day. I hope I have the same brilliant light I had when I did the stairway shoot the first time.


I had a vertigo nightmare two nights ago. I was walking up and down stairs without handrails.

[BuddhaGirl]

5. LOVE the shot in sepia on your FB page!

all of them are great!

[alfredo]

11. Thanks. The sepia was a how I dealt with the white

areas on the stone.

[NV Whino]

6. Those are beautiful!

Full tonal range, and that fill flash really makes that angel.

[alfredo]

8. The flash on the Canon G10 is weak, but in this situation

it worked.

All in all the day was a success because the camera returned results I can live with. I am normally a high contrast kind of guy. This make me approach PP in a different way. A bit of white balance, curves, and light sharpening to suit my personal tastes was all that was really needed.

Knowing you are "loaded" with B&W affects the subjects you select.

Here's some examples of Panatomic-X.

http://www.flickr.com/groups/16391069@N00/

[Solly Mack]

12. Excellent! Thanks!

Off to view more

[alfredo]

13. Thanks

[postatomic]

14. I've never used the B&W settings

But you've inspired me to give it a try. And it's nice to see someone else has an interest in Cemeteries.

[alfredo]

15. Please post some of your results when you do a b&w shoot.

Welcome to DU and the photo forum.