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I've been tryin some different methods in raw processing conversions to BW. These were done pretty quick and painlessly. I'd like to hear your opinions, critiques, and comments. I took these in the incomparable Olympic Peninsula-a place of unparalleled beauty.










That last one has a sad sky, and I could probably blend it in properly with the raw data, but I don't know how to blend layers and I'm sorta lazy when it comes to figuring it out.

Oh yeah, all pictures were taken with the Sigma 10-20mm. You can check the exif data from the properties link on the flickr shots from my page.

Dave I like the feel of these conversions to BW could you please step me through your processing conversions to BW LOZ

I'll try LOZ, but it makes little sense to me, and there isn't much rhyme to my reason.

I use Rawshooter, and I first desaturate the Raw file. Then I move the shadow contrast slider to the right until the info buts up to the bottom left corner. then I do similar with the higlight contrast, but I'm pretty conservative with that one. Then I start moving the white balance slider and the tint, and this often gives me the very interesting effects and contrast. Often the wb goes to the far left, and the tint goes towards the right to taste. If the dynamic range isn't enough, then I leave it on the bright side and then burn the areas I need to burn in photoshop. The wheat field was burned to get the dark in between the wheat, the trees were burned because the background was a little bit grey. I also burned the highlights a little bit. I use a large brush, and low percentages (2-5%) or so. I really hope this helps. I'm sort of a free for all hack that somehow finds an end result despite not really knowing what he's doing.

All three of these work for me Dave, especially the forest - it draws you in nicely and would work really well as a wallpaper

Nice conversion, nice subject matter in all - the sky in the third one doesn't worry me at all.

These wider angle shots with the foreground so close really appeal to me, it's a type of shot that (sadly) I haven't had much luck with.