How I Did It:
I July this year, Paula and I visited the National Glass Centre at Sunderland on the English north east coast about 25 miles north of where we live. The centre is very interesting and I was hoping to get some good shots of glass blowing. Unfortunately I couldn't get close enough to the action to get any good close-ups (health and safety rules), so at lunchtime I went outside to see what there was. The Glass Centre is situated at the mouth of the River Wear and opposite the Port of Sunderland. I saw this bright yellow Big Lift ship, used in servicing the North Sea oil and gas industry, and thought it could look good against the blue sky and white clouds. Camera was my Lumix G9 with the Leica 12-60 lens at 12 mm focal length. Exposure was 1/1300 at f/8 and ISO 200. Back home I took it into ON1 RAW and applied NoNoise AI as my normal starting point and cropped to a 5x3 aspect ratio. Then I applied the b/w filter and pulled the Red slider way to the left, the Yellow hard to the right and the Aqua & Blue sliders well to the left. These adjustments gave a good mono starting point by brightening the ships hull and darkening the sky. Next I used Curves to add overall contrast and then I followed this with Curves on the ship's hull to brighten more. Finally I added the Sunshine filter which just give a bit of extra 'pop'. I have added the original to show the starting image.
11 comments posted
Dr Isaac Vaisman
Guy, very good B&W interpretation and PP to create this dramatic contrast of the clouds and sky as well as the rest of the image. The image is sharp and nicely composed. It is unfortunate that you were not able to get good images of the glassblowing process. Posted: 09/05/2023 09:36:15
Guy Davies
Hi Isaac. Glad you survived the recent bad weather in Florida. Yes, it's a pity about the glass blowing pictures but I'll take another look to see if I can find something worth putting up for next month. Posted: 09/05/2023 09:53:36
Vella Kendall
Good contrast, some of clouds look 3D. Every thing is sharp. I have to admit that I like the color version better, probably because I love yellow. Nonetheless your black and white works given the beautiful clouds making a dramatic sky. Posted: 09/09/2023 15:58:08
R Gary Butler
Guy, I feel you did a good job in transitioning from color to monochrome. To me you have achieved good tonal contrast between the sky and the water. As I look at it, the big cloud above the ship didn't't do you any favors. I think that the smaller type clouds seen in the background would not steal the viewers eye (as it does mine to some degree) away from the ship. Very nice sharpness and detail on the ship's super-structure. Posted: 09/10/2023 14:57:39
Guy Davies
Gary, I take your point about the big cloud. Too big to clone out so maybe I should just tone it down a little. Posted: 09/11/2023 04:48:20
Ian Chantler
Hi Guy
It really suits mono with the conditions on the day,having been a a marine cargo superintendent based at Seaforth docks but working ports all over the country this is a very familiar and nostalgic image for me ships come in all shapes and sizes and have so many different purposes.
The ship for me is perfectly positioned in the frame a sky to behold which so works in mono,the diminishing quayside adds balance great image and a trip down memory lane for me. Posted: 09/10/2023 15:00:56
Ian Ledgard
(Group 18)
Hello Guy,
When in the area a couple of years ago I saw the signs for the Glass Center but did not have enogh time as I was more interested in Roker pier and lighthouse!
I think you were correct to convert to mono for me it cries out for that treatment. The big cloud does not bother me but if it is a concen why not crop down toleave a panoramic image. Posted: 09/12/2023 11:26:25
Guy Davies
Hi Ian. Nice to hear from you. I hope you are keeping well. The Glass Centre is likeley to close soon because the building has become dangerous and would be too expensive to repair. Posted: 09/12/2023 11:53:57
Erik Rosengren
I'm pleased that you are feeling better and getting out with Paula to make more images. The image is sharp, exhibits proper subject placement on your canvas and good use of the Rule of Thirds. Mono might strengthen the various textures. Posted: 09/15/2023 18:44:54
Bill Buchanan
A very good composition. The choice of black and white was a good one. I felt that there was detail missing in those beautiful puffy clouds. I took the liberty of opening the color image in NIK Silver Efx and trying various black and white presets. I also cropped the sky and foreground. Using the masking features in Photoshop I selected the ship and tweaked slightly the brightness and contrast. I hope you like the changes. Posted: 09/23/2023 11:42:12
