Group 99 Bulletin Board


15 threads - 48 total comments

Welcome!
The bulletin board is dedicated to discussions about Monochrome that are outside the scope of our monthly images.



Thread Title: Black & White Photography: “Is my picture better in color, or black and white”?

Lance Lewin   Lance Lewin
Committing to the Black & White Photograph: “Is my picture better in color, or black and white”?

“I especially urge students of photography to disengage from serious contemplation on how the color original connects to them as a prerequisite for critical analysis of the Black and White converted one”. L. A. Lewin

Nowadays, and for all practical purposes, every digital image is first rendered as a color image ... I suggest this forced, initial color rendering, is unique in its influential status: we are dictated to interpret the color image first ... even edit the color image in post-production before converting it to a black and white (BW) alternative. This process is much different from shooting a roll of BW film where the photographer is never introduced to color. In this scenario the photographer’s interpretation is (unbiased) or not heavily influenced by viewing a color version first; that is, choosing and studying a color image before converting to BW is not part of the equation when shooting BW film. So, the question ... “Is my picture better in color, or black and white”? ... is not part of the normal workflow when shooting, developing, and eventually presenting a BW tangible photograph.

Nonetheless, here we are, examining the color (original) first and then making a decision if the image is worthy for rendering in black and white. I argue, this (digital) workflow is interfering with how we learn to appreciate BW compositions for what they reveal on their own merits. It is for this reason I especially urge students of photography to disengage from serious contemplation on how the color original connects to them as a prerequisite for critical analysis of the black and white converted one. Instead, the initial evaluation of your work should be centered only on your BW rendering: this will lessen the tendency to judge our Black & White photography based on preconceptions learned from studying color images. Much like the artist painter who chooses to use only one or two colors in all their work, they never make and present a full-colored version for comparison, similarly, the serious photographer that practices composing work in black & white is fully committed to his or her ideals, visions and philosophy that ultimately directed them to create in this manner ... and comparisons to natural color alternatives have no place in the conversation.

The serious or advanced artist-photographer who centers her art in Black and White imagery does so, not by choosing from an assortment of color originals, but instead, the artist is impervious to the color version: her thoughts are not...’will this look better...’ but instead moves forward and (digitally converts) the color original to BW. It is not uncommon, too, to convert the color original to B&W and not like it at all. This is no different from the reaction the artist-photographer exhibits viewing his latest roll of B&W film and decides a particular subject is not as engaging as she would have hoped.

In the future, do not ask... “Is my picture better in color, or black and white” ... if you are an artist-photographer who strives to showcase your creativity through a mostly White to Black tonal gamut, then instead, direct the spectator to your B&W fine art photography for what (it) is. In this sense, we are presenting the work “as is”.

I look forward to hearing like experiences and comments regardless if in support or ones that challenge the proposed work process. In the end, it is all about sharing ideas in though-provoking discourse. Thank you.

Lance A. Lewin Fine Art Photographer/Lecturer
PSA Global Black & White Photography Mentor
PSA South Atlantic Area Membership Director   Posted: 09/01/2023 06:18:52
Lance Lewin   Lance Lewin
Update: so I am very clear .... I do mean I suggest we "disconnect emotionally" from the color version, but editing the color version is persuaded! Thank you.   Posted: 09/12/2023 11:35:09

Thread Title: Photographic Society of America PTD Competition Corner

Lance Lewin   Lance Lewin
Hello, everyone! After reading Nadia’s entry in the PSA supplemental Travel Journal, I thought it was important enough to re-post in the Digital Dialogue group pages. Here, we are reminded that “changing reality” is not allowed in PSA Travel Photography competition. In addition, I also want to stress the need to appropriately categorize one’s work if using “composite” techniques (including sky replacement) by tagging the work as a Hybrid Image, primarily when competing outside the Travel Photography category.

Below is a shortened version of Nadia Filiaggi’s original post in this months Travel Photography Journal.

Photography Travel is a documentary medium, and our images must reflect what was seen when we pressed the shutter. Removing, adding to, moving, or changing any part of an image except for cropping and straightening is not allowed. This goes for adding a different sky even if you are the author of the sky that is being replaced. (Please see the images below for reference).

(Note that using an element on an image that is not your own work cannot be entered into any section of a PSA recognized Exhibitions and is in violation of the PSA Ethics Policy).

Here are some examples showing the sky replacements selected from the Photoshop sky replacement facility: Here, it is evident how each Sky Replacement selection changes the mood and overall aesthetic of the original registered event below. Nonetheless, both examples are not authentic and thus ineligible to be used in PSA image competition.

The ‘2023 Photo Travel Guide for Judges and Chairs’ is available for download on the Photo Travel’s webpage: https://psa-photo.org/page/photo-travel

The Photo Travel Division has also set up a Gallery of staged/set-up images which our members can peruse: https://psa-photo.org/page/mo-ptd-staged-images

We have also produced new educational material that relates to the 2023 Guide: https://psa-photo.org/page/mo-ptd-resources

If you are uncertain if your image adheres to the Photo Travel Definition, please make use of the free Photo Travel Evaluation Service which members can access after login: https://psa-photo.org/page/mo-individual-image-evaluation

We look forward to hearing from you and directing your questions to the appropriate PSA administrator.

Originally posted by:
Nadia Filiaggi MPSA EFIAP
Email: ptd-esd@psa-photo.org

Best regards,
Lance A. Lewin (DD83 and DD87 Admin)
PSA B&W Photography Mentor
PSA South Atlantic Area Membership Director
Email: lance.visualizingart@gmail.com
  Posted: 03/28/2023 21:01:38
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Lance Lewin   Lance Lewin
  Posted: 03/28/2023 21:01:52
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Lance Lewin   Lance Lewin
ORIGINAL IMAGE REGISTERED BY THE CAMERA: acceptable   Posted: 03/28/2023 21:02:40
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Thread Title: Fine Art Photography Article: Compositional Structure

Lance Lewin   Lance Lewin
PSA Fine Art Photography Article: Compositional Structure

Hello, everyone! Hope you take the time to read my article in
The March issue of the PSA Journal, which can be found on the
PSA website if you do not currently receive the hard-copy of the
Journal. I very much look forward to your comments.

You can also Follow the Link below. Thank you.

https://psa-photo.org/resource/resmgr/pdf/journal_/2023/2023-03-psa-journal.pdf

Lance A. Lewin
PSA B&W Photography Mentor
PSA South Atlantic Area Membership Director
Contact: lance.visualizingart@gmail.com

  Posted: 03/19/2023 16:34:04

Thread Title: PSA Portrait competition

Gerard Blair   Gerard Blair
https://psa-photo.org/page/2022-pid-indiv-portrait-round-two
Peter gets TWO (!) HM this round - the first image you will recognize
Well done Peter - makes us proud

  Posted: 03/19/2023 11:18:38
Michael Hrankowski   Michael Hrankowski
Good on you! Congrats!!!   Posted: 03/19/2023 12:51:08
Peter Elliston   Peter Elliston
Thank you Michael   Posted: 03/20/2023 10:19:17
Peter Elliston   Peter Elliston
Many thanks Gerard   Posted: 03/20/2023 10:18:46
Barbara Asacker   Barbara Asacker
Congratulations, Peter. Well deserved. Both images are outstanding.   Posted: 03/20/2023 18:27:35
Peter Elliston   Peter Elliston
Many thanks Barbara.   Posted: 03/21/2023 03:42:20

Thread Title: Monochrome Landscapes

Michael Hrankowski   Michael Hrankowski
With my Apple News+ subscription I get the digital version of Digital Photographer. In the most recent issue was a link to download a really good eBook on B&W Landscape Photography. Thought y’all might be interested.

https://bit.ly/3MRya6l   Posted: 11/03/2022 10:55:28

Thread Title: Optimal iso

Gerard Blair   Gerard Blair
https://photonstophotos.net/Charts/RN_ADU.htm
So here is an interesting link. It purports to report on noise analysis for multiple cameras and for instance if we look at my camera canon 6D mark ii, we find that iso 100 is not the least noisy setting: if I stick the camera at 320 I get better noise elimination and 5 more stops I could apply to the shutter speed ( for the same brightness).
I tried an experiment and I convinced myself that there was at least no degradation at 320, but I am biased by hope. I got this hint from a speaker at the local club, and I think I understand the claims of this site, but does anyone have an insight as to whether or not this is a valid conclusion?   Posted: 04/24/2022 11:19:42

Thread Title: shout out to Peter

Gerard Blair   Gerard Blair
Peter - it is late I know but I needed to say congratulations. I was trolling through the PSA (PID) Creative Image Contest (to try to learn how to improve) when I saw an image that looked vaguely familiar - with Gold medal from the end-of-year - and then realized it was familiar because it was yours and was in the same building as one of your pictures we looked at in this group. I just wanted to say: well done!!!   Posted: 02/26/2022 09:07:01
Peter Elliston   Peter Elliston
Hi Gerard
Thanks for the message. Very kind of you. I think that was for ‘Reality television’ which was a creative image that has done very well in salons. Where exactly did you see it featured as I may have missed seeing it. I know it was published in the PSA monthly magazine.   Posted: 02/26/2022 12:03:28
Gerard Blair   Gerard Blair

Thread Title: 52 Frames Challenge

Barbara Asacker   Barbara Asacker
A few months ago I joined 52 Frames. Each week there is a new challenge. It pushes me out of my comfort zone, and keeps me engaged in photography. It's free and it's fun. Perhaps you are already familiar with the site. If not, click on link for more information.
https://52frames.com/about

Barbara   Posted: 02/10/2022 09:21:01

Thread Title: Michael's Showcase

Gerard Blair   Gerard Blair
Congratulations Michael - lovely image - and now I will be visiting group 3 also to follow your color work.   Posted: 10/17/2021 12:53:53

Michael Hrankowski   Michael Hrankowski
…forgot to mention… if anyone is interested in seeing what other photographers are doing with long exposure photography, check out http://ndmagazine.net/   Posted: 09/25/2021 09:27:42

Thread Title: Long Exposure Images

Michael Hrankowski   Michael Hrankowski
Barbara,

At your request I am uploading 5 of my long exposure "experiments". These are me just trying out the ND filters and using PhotoPills for the exposure calculations. The two monochrome images were taken with a 10-stop ND filter, ISO 100. The one with the three pilings were at 20 seconds and the other one at 70 seconds. The color images were taken with a 15 stop ND filter, ISO 100. The close-up with multiple pilings was a 7 minute exposure; the entire pier, 5 min; Second close up, 4 min. Long exposure works best with things that move - water, clouds, etc. I'll be experimenting more as I have two coastal trips planned in October where there will hopefully be rough water and moving clouds.   Posted: 09/23/2021 13:40:59
Michael Hrankowski   Michael Hrankowski
  Posted: 09/23/2021 13:41:20
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Michael Hrankowski   Michael Hrankowski
  Posted: 09/23/2021 13:41:46
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Barbara Asacker   Barbara Asacker
Hi Michael
Thank you for sharing your images and techniques with us. You were able to capture nice effects with your long exposure settings. I especially like the pier image. The smoothness of the water, and shadows create a pleasing image.   Posted: 09/23/2021 16:48:34
Michael Hrankowski   Michael Hrankowski
  Posted: 09/23/2021 13:42:21
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Barbara Asacker   Barbara Asacker
Nice reflections, smoothness, and shadows in this image as well.   Posted: 09/23/2021 16:52:27
Michael Hrankowski   Michael Hrankowski
  Posted: 09/23/2021 13:45:46
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Randy Andre   Randy Andre
Hi Michael, I am enjoying looking at your long exposure images. I did not think that the reflections would be as distinct as they are. Perhaps when you post another long exposure you could also post a short exposure (almost said normal exposure) image to show some of the differences. I also only see 1 monochrome image, did one not post?   Posted: 09/24/2021 02:30:39
Michael Hrankowski   Michael Hrankowski
Randy, thanks for your comments and bringing t hat to my attention. Not sure why the other monochrome didn't upload, but here it is.   Posted: 09/24/2021 09:54:50
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Randy Andre   Randy Andre
I like this one the best, something about the reflections of the pilings melding in with the actual pilings is excellent.   Posted: 09/24/2021 19:54:03
Michael Hrankowski   Michael Hrankowski
Randy, since you asked, here is my test exposure for the Edmonds Pier shot. To properly calculate the long exposure, I'm learning to take a "normal" test shot (or shots) to get an ideal base exposure from which to calculate the long exposure shutter speed.   Posted: 09/24/2021 09:58:40
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Barbara Asacker   Barbara Asacker
I'm glad you posted the normal shot to show the comparison. The long exposure shows a calm day. The normal shot shows an unsettled day with threatening clouds. Different emotions are attached to each image.   Posted: 09/24/2021 11:22:45
Gerard Blair   Gerard Blair
In trying to understand the mechanism, I am thinking the effect is to average the light for each pixel over time. Which is a surprisingly analog approach on a digital camera.
This reminds me of another technique I learnt recently which is to reduce noise in high ISO images ( if you need this setting for low light conditions say) which is done by taking multiple shots and then in photoshop one would stack them and then take the average using the mean function. This eliminates the digital noise, in the same way as the ND technique eliminate the wavea’ motion.
Michael, thanks for the pictures, I love the last one, so ethereal   Posted: 09/25/2021 06:36:55
Michael Hrankowski   Michael Hrankowski
Gerard, using ND for long exposures is no different from any other blur achieved from a "normal" slow shutter speed or camera movement. It's just that the exposure time with ND filters is extended into minutes rather than seconds. Digitally speaking, I assume it would be the same as applying a motion blur filter in Photoshop. Regarding noise reduction in Photoshop - I'm not familiar with the technique you describe and I don't know how the mean function works… I'm still learning Photoshop. Personally, I rely on Topaz DeNoise. I'm constantly amazed at how well it works.   Posted: 09/25/2021 09:25:23
Gerard Blair   Gerard Blair
I have to disagree about ND being similar to motion blur - think of it this way, you could not start with a single image of waves under the pier and then achieve the clarity in the reflections by changes within photoshop. By doing a long exposure you are essentially sampling the image continuously during that time: with the grass, that causes a blur because the grass is moving, with the waves you are adding clarity because the random noise caused by the motion in the water is making the local image lighter as often as it makes it darker ... and so the average light intensity is as though the water did not move at all.

The averaging in photoshop (in case anyone wants to play) is in File->Scripts->Statistics; one day, though, I will spring for Topaz.   Posted: 09/25/2021 10:28:45
Michael Hrankowski   Michael Hrankowski
Gerard, perhaps you misunderstood my comparison of ND to Photoshop motion blur. I was only suggesting the effects at the electronic level may be similar. I was not suggesting one could actually achieve the same effect using motion blur in PS as one can using ND filters. …but then again, I’m no electronics engineer so I have to admit my knowledge of those details are pretty much non existent!   Posted: 09/25/2021 11:18:24

Thread Title: Hurricane coming this way - Baton Rouge, LA PRAYERS!!

Linda M Medine   Linda M Medine
Today is Sunday August 28, 2021 - 12:20pm Hurricane will hit here tonight. PRAYERS!!   Posted: 08/29/2021 12:25:55
Tom Pickering   Tom Pickering
Prayers going up.   Posted: 08/29/2021 23:36:55
Randy Andre   Randy Andre
Stay safe, prayers lifted   Posted: 08/30/2021 03:11:34
Peter Elliston   Peter Elliston
Hope you are keeping safe.   Posted: 08/30/2021 09:48:52

Thread Title: Thibault Roland Workshop

Michael Hrankowski   Michael Hrankowski
I’m really excited to attend my very first live photography workshop at the end of August. Thibault Roland (Google him!) does some amazing work. Most of his work is monochrome and he specializes in long-exposure photography. Our workshop is a 3-day event in The Palouse - a beautiful, rural area in Eastern Washington. Assuming I get some halfway decent images, I look forward to sharing some images in our group.   Posted: 07/21/2021 20:34:07
Leanne Moore   Leanne Moore
Sounds fantastic Michael. I am jealous. I am in country Victoria in Australia and we are in COVID lockdown at the moment, its our 5th one this year. I haven't been out to a workshop for 18 months. Can't wait to see some images and hear all about it.   Posted: 07/21/2021 23:22:41
Randy Andre   Randy Andre
Sounds like a great workshop, looking forward to seeing your images.   Posted: 07/22/2021 08:03:54

Thread Title: Intro

Leanne Moore   Leanne Moore
Hi everyone, thought I better introduce myself. I am an Aussie from Hamilton Vic. I've been taking photos since the film days ....on and off. I struggle with editing images in Monochrome. I am hoping to get better with producing images through this group. So be blunt, I can take it.
I am so looking forward to being a member of this group and getting to know you all and helping each other.
  Posted: 05/13/2021 23:52:04
Gerard Blair   Gerard Blair
Welcome aboard - we are all new this month so we are all starting out fresh. It is only the 14th - so why not post a struggling edit and we can give it a go together?   Posted: 05/14/2021 07:16:11

Thread Title: Introduction

Michael Hrankowski   Michael Hrankowski
Hello Group 99 members! I wanted to introduce myself. I haven't done much monochrome since my high school days back in the dark ages! I am here to improve my B & W images and appreciate frank (blunt is completely okay!) commentary and advice. Any tips / advice anyone has on editing, composition, subject matter are welcomed with open arms. I'm looking forward to my participation with you all.   Posted: 05/03/2021 10:43:45
Linda M Medine   Linda M Medine
Michael, Nice to meet you. I love BW too. I too am here to improve my photography work. It should be fun.   Posted: 05/03/2021 11:14:15
Barbara Asacker   Barbara Asacker
Hi Michael,
I know you opted out of receiving server messages but I also sent you a personal email from my account last week and never received a response. Please let me know what messages you are receiving. I know you changed the original email to the gmail account. Is that correct? I may need to send you important information.
Thank you
Barbara   Posted: 05/14/2021 10:43:31

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