New possibilities for the classic craft of black-and-white
By William Neill
After spending the night in Lone Pine, a winter storm was just beginning to break up and hadn’t cleared yet when I went out to photograph at sunrise. By mid-morning, the clouds started clearing to reveal fresh snow down to the base of the Sierra! Fortunately, the low angle of the winter sun still brought out great texture in the rock formations. The wind was intense, so I made my exposures while standing in the leeward side of my vehicle. I was working with my Canon EOS-1Ds Mark II and a 70-200mm L series lens.
Although I have little practice in black-and-white conversions, in short time I was tweaking the nuances of shadows and light, attempting to convey the brilliance of that winter morning.
Both techniques involve variations on the tried-and-true method of using a Channel Mixer adjustment layer, which I’ve also used successfully in the past. With the most recent update of Photoshop CS3, there’s an additional method of using the new Black & White adjustment layer. I experimented with the three options mentioned here, as well as a few combinations of each approach. The image shown here is one of those combinations, which includes a Channel Mixer and a Black & White adjustment layer. I also used a Selective Color layer to fine-tune the blacks and the whites in the image.
Although I have little practice in black-and-white conversions, in short time I was tweaking the nuances of shadows and light, attempting to convey the brilliance of that winter morning. Where better to envision and appreciate the art of the master than in front of the magnificent Sierra and the Alabama Hills? I thoroughly enjoyed the process of paying homage to Ansel!
To visit William Neill’s blog or sign up for newsletter updates on his Landscape Essentials course with BetterPhoto.com, and for information about his books, portfolios, new images and more, go to www.williamneill.com.
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Although I have little practice in black-and-white conversions, in short time I was tweaking the nuances of shadows and light, attempting to convey the brilliance of that winter morning.
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