Assignment: "High Contrast Black and White" April 7 - 21

[Saralonde]

This week we're looking at High Contrast Black and White. You will probably have less shades of gray in these. If you have Lightroom, this article might help.


As always, rules:

Just a note to new posters: DO NOT start a new thread for your post. Please just hit the reply button at the bottom of any current post and put your image there.

1. Your original image you submit should be taken between the 7th of April and the 21st of April. Each week as an assignment closes on the Wednesday, it will be AUTOMATICALLY deemed *CLOSED* after 8am GMT ( 3am EST) and any posts after that time will not be eligible for the assignment competition. Don't wait until the last minute to post!

2. Your post must include "Assignment: High Contrast Black and White" (to show your permission to count it for the contest) and the date the picture was taken (to show that it is a valid entry).

3. EXIF data should be intact. It helps if you can include the main points (including camera, lens, date taken, ISO, shutter speed and aperture) in the text of your message.

4. Only one entry per member (if you can't restrain yourself until the end of the first week you can post two or three separate pictures but your entry should be in a separate post and the only marked with the text above). It must be an original image taken by you.

5. Remember the cross-site image size limit (740px on the longest side). (If it's wider than the image above, it's disqualified)

6. If the image does not exist in post at the end of the contest, it is disqualified. If you modify anything on flickr and re-save the image then the link is broken and the message needs edited to link the picture again before it will be included in the contest.
For everyone, please do not repeat other people's photos by quoting them until the contest is over. If you want to comment on or discuss an entry you can use a link to it (or just delete the picture from the quoted text).

7. If you are looking for the winners of the mini-contest, please check the front page of the DPS blog Saturday late afternoon (EST) and here.

Next assignment: Our next assignment is a month long one. Despite the colorful time of year we are in, we are going to concentrate on Black and White photography, with a different theme each week. You may use your camera on a black and white setting if you want, but doing it in post processing will give you more control.

Next week: "B&W-Ten Minutes From Home". Remember our "Ten Minutes From Home" assignment from 2 years ago? It is the same thing, only your subject must be in b&w. Walk, bike, drive or fly exactly 10 minutes from where you live and shoot what's there. No 9 minute or 11 minute trips. You have to shoot what is there and even if just a few feet down the road is a better shot, you must work with what you have.

Some help:

Key Ingredients for Black and White Images

5 Black and White Photography Tips

Learning Black and White Photography

31 Stunning Black and White Subject Study Photos on Imagekind

How to Convert Color Digital Images into Black and White Ones

How to Create Black & White Images from a Single RGB Channel

How to Create a Black and White High Contrast Sky from a Colour Image

New ebook The Magic of Black & White Photography (Part 1)

[sdhondatuner]

This is my self portrait for April 12 (shot 102 of 365). I've wanted to do this shot for a while. Making it coincide with this week's assignment made it easier to do.




Taken: 04-12-2010
Camera: Nikon D90
Lens: Nikkor 55-200 mm
Exposure: 0.008 sec (1/125)
Aperture: f/5.6
Focal Length: 70 mm
ISO Speed: 400
Exposure Bias: +1 EV
Flash: On, Return detected

PP: Adjusted RAW, Converted to B&W, Increased contrast +25 and set layer to 100% Overlay, Burned beard, Cropped, and Sized for flickr in PSE6.

Side note: I don't smoke so I made a fake cigarette with a colored pencil

[WildRain]

Somewhere



Camera: Canon PowerShot A1000 IS
Exposure: 0.003 sec (1/400)
Aperture: f/2.7
Focal Length: 6.2 mm
ISO Speed: 80
Exposure Bias: -1/3 EV
Date: April 13, 2010

[a_brewley]

Camera: Canon EOS 7D
Exposure: 0.003 sec (1/320)
Aperture: f/4.0
Focal Length: 100 mm
ISO Speed: 400
Exposure Bias: 0 EV
Flash: Off, Did not fire
Taken April 13, 2010

Adjusted in lightroom to increase the contrast.

[Foreverjules929]

Taken: 4/10/2010
Camera: Canon Rebel XS
Lense: Canon EF 50 mm f/1.8 ll
Exposure: 0.003 sec (1/400)
Aperture: f/2.2
Focal Length: 50 mm
ISO Speed: 400
Exposure Bias: 0 EV
Flash: No Flash

Increaded Contrast & retouched with Photoshop CS3

[MamaSadieBell]

Nikon D300
1/60
f4.5
ISO640
no flash

[Keikyu]

Tracks

Tracks from the ebb of the ocean and the tires of the lifeguard truck.
Curves slightly stretched for a little more contrast.
Camera: Nikon D40
Exposure: 0.003 sec (1/320)
Aperture: f/9.0
Focal Length: 50 mm
ISO Speed: 200
Taken on April 11, 2010

[MamaSadieBell]

I love your picture! Great shot!

[ydnew44]

http://

Camera: Canon EOS 350D Digital
Exposure: 0.017 sec (1/60)
Aperture: f/20.0
Focal Length: 50 mm
taken 13th April

[DGreenawald]

Flower in the rain:



EXIF:
Taken April 8, 2010
Camera: Sony a-230
Focal length: 55 mm
ISO: 100
Aperture: f/10
Shutter: 1/160 s
Flash through plastic bag