Amazing Mono's from dull digital images

[JonBowcutt]

Ever tried to convert dull raw's or jpg's from colour to mono, only to be dissapointed with the results?? I cant believe how many people dismiss mono's in the world of train photography(especially with digital). Ive been on charters where im the only one with the camera out....! Ive had the p#*! taken out of me, only for my friends to say there brilliant when they've looked at the results!

Follow the link below and let me know your thoughts

http://www.jonbowcutt.co.uk/archives/659

Cheers
Jon.

 

[Demps]

Agreed. I do a bit of mono in other types of photography and absolutely love it, even the occasional railway related image. Its funny, me and my mate where flicking through a traction magazine and we discusssed how some of the older photographs in mono where breathtaking, completely under rated.

I vote for more artiste in railway photos

 

[JonBowcutt]

Nice to hear from someone else who enjoys the dark side of photography!! As you say when you find the good 50's & 60's shots they do blow you away.......i guess i like recreating those with my own twist for good measure! I go lineside with as much anticiapation when its cloudy as sunny, you just have to change tact a bit and get the old grey matter working. The results can be magic! I love listening to the old boys who spend all day moaning bout the weather & saying "that would have been shot of the century if we'd had full sun"..........Get a life and break the mould thats what i say!

 

[Buffer68]

I agree that black and white pics look great whether they are old photos or converted digital. Photoshop is the obvious choice for this but if like me you have an Apple Mac computer, iPhoto which is bundled and fantastic will convert photos into black and white or sepia. It also offers cropping, straightening and enhancement including red eye removal. The library facility is superb too. For more options, Apples' Aperture software is akin to Photoshop at a fraction of the price. Don't worry if you've always been Windows,; Macs are really friendly and nowadays even run Windows XP or Vista.

 

[Phoenix]

Finally people who see sense to be fair I get the odd jibes for turning an image B&W or Mono but I feel that it is a good thing and lets you flex you creativity and I try wherever possible to do it but on a self taught basis so some are good and others well not so good.

Ill let you judge the link below is to a collection of images of class 52's which a have used B&W or mono and I intend to take a shot of every surviving class member in this way as I feel that the best shot of the class are the vintage ones.

Tell me what you think be great to see if im doing it right

http://retrospective.ukgeeks.co.uk/c1703660.html

 

[Demps]

The results can be magic! I love listening to the old boys who spend all day moaning bout the weather & saying "that would have been shot of the century if we'd had full sun"..........Get a life and break the mould thats what i say!

Thank god for people like you, i do rail photography sometimes with dudes who have the no sun no game persona, its annoying to say the least, fair do's they do a lot of slide photography, but its still annoying.

Getting out there, getting wet, getting cold will get you the shots you only dream off. Amazing photos rarely come out of the box. I know when ive spent a day doing something railway in rubbish conditions, i dont always get the photo i want, but just sometimes, that one photo you've being dying for, which speaks emphasis on reality, the rain belting off the side of a 91 with sparks flying, it really makes your week.

Tell me what you think be great to see if im doing it right

http://retrospective.ukgeeks.co.uk/c1703660.html

Those are ace mate, no doubt about it.

 

[Mike McCormac]

I too am a big fan of a nice crisp mono picture. Especially one with a grainy, gritty quality to it.

Many people ask how to do it, so a while back I posted an entry on my blog describing my approach. Its a few months old now, but still works a treat. Check this out...

http://www.mikemccormac.co.uk/wordp...-and-white-pictures-from-your-digital-camera/

Enjoy and get out there in the rain!!