B&W at the snow (new images)

[robert]

I need help. The scenery is just amazing but I am struggling to come back with images I am happy with. Is it my composition, something technical or am I just not seeing the images/opportunities.

Please give feedback. The 5th is to give an idea of what is out there. Click for larger.








2 shot pano handheld





Thanks
Robert

[shakey]

Like #4.

I guess there are two issues..firstly composition..and secondly exposure/B&W conversion.

Here's my thoughts

#1...out of focus thing in the right foreground is distracting. Everything else is overexposed.

#2 & #3..I love snowgums..and I love their colours. I don't think converting them to B&W adds character

#4 I like this shot. How did you do the B&W conversion? I think it could be made a bit more "punchy" with some tonal adjustments

#5. Amazing clouds. Ho-hum foreground. Crop out lower third and do some PP on the mountain peaks and clouds to create some sort of tension.

I like using the channel mixer for B&W stuff but there are many ways of doing it

Anyway...I'm packing away the skis for another year.

[jase80]

I think shot 4 is really nice but as said above, it could benefit from a little "punch" to turn it into a great image.

[phoenix]

I'm not a huge fan of B&W for the sake of B&W and it seems like this is the case for a lot of these shots. I just went through my top 100 shots in my library and found only 1 was B&W and 3 were desaturated but still had some colour.

I'm assuming these were colour photos converted to B&W later? Can you post the colour ones and see what we can do with them?

[Reschsmooth]

I love B&W, and often think colour can be distracting. However, I think either the subject matter or the B&W conversion has resulted in images that are lacking something.

I am not sure what conversion process you used, but it appears that perhaps you have pushed the green and red channels too far (not 100% sure)?

I agree with previous comment that the snow gums would probably look better in colour.

[robert]

Thanks guys,
These were taken with an IR modded camera so it is B&W by default. They are pretty much straight from the camera so I know the tonal and contrast need work- i just wanted feedback on the originals if that makes sense. The black sky and white clouds is the IR effect in play.

My colour shots of the snow gums look fine- maybe i just need to be more discerning with the IR/B&W.

An example of colour shots. Click for larger







4 Shot pano


Thanks guys

[phoenix]

See i definitely like all the colour ones much better. With a little more PP you could get them really popping. The first and last in particular are very nice.

[wendellt]

i like 2 and 4 the most
4 has the most balanced spatial elements

i think your also being hard on your self
the compositon is o.k but in soem images you are cuttign off things liek the side of trees or clouds if you shoot slightly wider you may get something more framed

also that black and white conversion looks liek soem sort of infra red post because the leaves are white which is cool

i guess for landscape the guidlines is balance between elements nto havign too much negative or positive space
and to liven things up have a central point of interest inthe subject matter liek focus on soemthign in the foreground and have the background complimenting
otherwise use lines to lead the eye into the centre of the image or one part of it best example your image 4

hope this helps

[Man Tripod]

I need help. The scenery is just amazing but I am struggling to come back with images I am happy with. Is it my composition, something technical or am I just not seeing the images/opportunities.

Please give feedback. The 5th is to give an idea of what is out there. Click for larger.


Thanks
Robert

G'day Robert.

Like you snow gums. I have similar problems to you down there in summer. It's hard to show how nice the place is in an image. I think you really need something to give a sense of scale in mountain shots. I typically use trees, people, clouds or other man made objects (roads, paths or buildings)

If you were impressed with what you saw from the Kosciuszko Road pop over to the western side of the range next time you are down there.