Paul Smith
September 2023 - Cowboy Teamwork
About the Image(s)
I have been revisiting photos from this summer’s Montana excursion…looking for images that were nothing stellar in color, but made a better statement in B/W. I am amazed how well B/W tells a story that color cannot. I offer here, a story of a Branding showdown…a get-together of four different ranches that collectively round up the calves, insuring the correct ranch iron is used, then branding the calves as a Team. Considering the number of things that could go wrong, I found it very organized. Canon 90D, Canon 17 - 85 lens, minor edits in ACR, then conversion to B/W and contrast edits in NIK
This round’s discussion is now closed!
7 comments posted
Dawn Gulino
Paul, I agree! Changing some images to B&W certainly make them stronger and seems like this one works! I like the stoppage of motion mid horse trot. I'm assuming you had a high shutter speed. I also like the cow in front of the cowboy looking toward you as well.
I think it may make it stronger if you were either crop out the cowboy on the right or just darken his had a bit as I keep seeing it. The clouds are great and I think if you add a bit more contrast by darkening the blues a bit it would balance it a bit more and really pop. Posted: 09/16/2023 14:56:58
I think it may make it stronger if you were either crop out the cowboy on the right or just darken his had a bit as I keep seeing it. The clouds are great and I think if you add a bit more contrast by darkening the blues a bit it would balance it a bit more and really pop. Posted: 09/16/2023 14:56:58
(Group 39)
"darken the blues"? What tool would you use for this? Please explain...and thanks for your comments. Posted: 09/17/2023 11:00:41
Dawn Gulino
Hi Paul, didn't see your question until now! I don't know if it would work, but what I meant was if you use Lightroom, after you convert, move to the B&W module and play with the blue, that would darken the sky a bit and make it pop a bit more. this is a very quick example for you to look at and I didn't edit anything there then did this as an example for you. The left is just a B&W conversion, the right is B&W conversion and then I went to the B&W module and adjusted the blue. There are may different ways you can do this, this is just one. Hope that makes sense! Posted: 09/23/2023 17:20:29
I like the how you always find a way to have your photos tell a story, and this one is no exception. I make me wonder what the cowboys are thinking. I think your composition is good with the two cowboys as the primary interest point and I like how you have them centered in the frame. The details of the clouds also are a positive element for me. And, as always, I think you make excellent use of B&W.
Like Dawn, I think the cowboy on the far right is distracting and I believe it would help if you cropped from the right to eliminate him and I think that would help bring more attention to the two cowboys in the center. Posted: 09/23/2023 13:03:00
Like Dawn, I think the cowboy on the far right is distracting and I believe it would help if you cropped from the right to eliminate him and I think that would help bring more attention to the two cowboys in the center. Posted: 09/23/2023 13:03:00
Neil Bellenie
This is another of Paul's excellent people shots. There is a whole story in this picture - the riders look anxious to move along - maybe there's a storm a brewing or rustlers are tracking them and their herd. Looks timeless in B&W. Great shot. Posted: 09/23/2023 23:02:52
Another one of your great B&W's! Dawn did a good job explaining "darken the blue". It's a strategy with a long respectable lineage (think of Ansel Adams' "Monoloith, The Face of Half Dome" with red filter) and one strategy I often employ. I'm not sure how effective it would be on this imag,e though, since most of the drama in the sky derives from the darker clouds.
One has limited options when framing up the composition at a time like this, but I think it unfortunate that the tops of guys' hats nearly coincide with the horizon. Posted: 09/27/2023 08:56:46
One has limited options when framing up the composition at a time like this, but I think it unfortunate that the tops of guys' hats nearly coincide with the horizon. Posted: 09/27/2023 08:56:46
Great story telling image. Works very well in Mono. The cloud adds a lot to the story. Exposure is good.
I think it will be better if there is more room on the left where the cowboys are heading into.
Posted: 09/28/2023 01:59:03
I think it will be better if there is more room on the left where the cowboys are heading into.
Posted: 09/28/2023 01:59:03