Tag Archives: b&w conversion

 

Converting an image to black and white can create a different mood and sometimes add more drama to a scene. Many of the images you capture in the Palouse can be very effective utilizing this conversion process. I really enjoy converting images that have barns and a strong contrast between the sky and the rest of the scene.

 

 

 

The barn pictured above was the color image that I used to create the black and white conversion. The color version had been adjusted in Aperture to depict what the scene looked like as I captured it.

A great product that can be used for black and white conversions is Silver Efex Pro by Nik software. For my workflow it is the simplest and most effective conversion tool that I have found. The procedure that was used to create the black and white conversion follows.

In Aperture, I selected the Nik software plugin for Silver Efex Pro.  When the image opened I selected the high structure preset and added a red filter.  Slight adjustments were made with the sliders until the conversion was to my liking. The entire conversion process took about fifteen seconds. The original conversion is shown below.

 

Afterwards the image ws cropped to bring the barn into the foreground and let the sky become more prominent. Each version tells a little different story. The full version with the leading lines of the furrows shows the impact of farming in the photo. The cropped version emphasizes the drama of the sky.

 

The Palouse with its landscapes allows you to experience very dramatic and inspiring vistas. Hopefully this idea of converting images to black and white will help you to share a different perspective with others as you explore this area of eastern Washington.